Community Resilience

Community resilience refers to the ability of a community to withstand, adapt to, and recover from the various impacts of climate change. This involves strengthening infrastructure, fostering social networks, and creating resources that allow people to better prepare for and recover from extreme weather events, disasters, and other climate-related challenges.

The Sustainability Department collaborates with jurisdictions, stakeholders, and community-based organizations (CBOs) to explore solutions that reduce harm from climate impacts. Pilot projects, such as the Community-Led Resilience Pilot Program, help create an understanding of opportunities for community resiliency across different risks and strategies.

Community-Led Resilience Pilot Programs

Working together to prepare for climate impacts.

The Sustainability Department created the Community-Led Resilience Pilot Program to empower local organizations to take the lead in preparing for climate impacts. The program aimed to enhance the ability of communities to withstand, respond to, and recover from climate-related disasters such as heatwaves, flooding, and wildfires. Through this initiative, the county partnered with nonprofit organizations, community groups, and faith-based organizations to pilot community-based solutions to climate resilience. The program focused on addressing the unique vulnerabilities of different populations and equipping organizations with the tools and knowledge they need to build local resilience.

San Mateo County Community-Led Resilience Pilot Program Report (PDF)

Senior Coastsiders

Senior Coastsiders, a gathering place and resource center for older adults, transformed their community center into a Resilience Hub, which opened on August 17, 2022. To achieve this, they used County grant funding to purchase and install air coolers, air purifiers, misting fans, indoor and outdoor air quality monitors, and solar window coverings for temperature control. These measures protect the health of their members during days with extreme heat and poor air quality. The Hub is now available to its over 2,000 members and can accommodate up to 269 visitors at a time.

Go to Senior Coastsiders

Hope United Methodist Church pastor in front of church with solar panels and other community resilience pilot program improvements

Hope United Methodist Church | California Interfaith Power & Light

Hope United Methodist Church, a welcoming and inclusive faith community in South San Francisco, transformed their space into a Resilience Hub. They partnered with California Interfaith Power and Light (CIPL) and used County grant funding to purchase and install a backup battery system to complement their existing solar panels and upgraded their HVAC system with MERV-13 filters. Additionally, they added HEPA filters to extend the life of their air purifiers. The Church and CIPL also conducted engagement events in South San Francisco to educate the community on climate and disaster preparedness. These efforts are helping the community be prepared for future emergencies.

Go to Hope United Methodist Church

event table for Center for Independence of Individuals with Disabilities serving San Mateo County

Center for Independence of Individuals with Disabilities (CID)

The Center for Independence of Individuals with Disabilities (CID), a center operated by and for people with disabilities and older adults, used their grant funding to acquire ten portable power stations to loan to at-risk individuals who rely on electricity for critical health equipment. These portable power stations can be deployed during emergencies and Public Safety Power Shutoffs. CID also served a broader audience through educational events and developed personalized disaster preparedness plans for 227 individuals.

Go to Center for Independence

El Concilio of San Mateo County

El Concilio, a bi-lingual Latinx-led organization that provides services to underserved communities, conducted a study to compare the effectiveness of two heat resilience measures for renters: portable heat pumps and cellular shades. They began by surveying residents about past- and post-heat season heat impacts and distributed heat resilience information to 40 low-income renters. The study found both measures effective and well received, with portable heat pumps generally being the preferred option.