Originally called StormSmart Coasts, the StormSmart Communities program was developed by CZM to help local officials prepare for and protect their communities from coastal storms and flooding—both now and under higher sea levels. Whenever possible, the program taps into existing resources and aims to provide Massachusetts communities with tried-and-true actions that they can take to reduce their risks. CZM launched the initial StormSmart Coasts website in May 2008 to consolidate and simplify these resources.
In 2013, the StormSmart Coasts website was broadened to include information for coastal property owners on a wider range of coastal hazards issues. The information developed specifically for local officials is now called StormSmart Communities. This program provides ongoing assistance with local implementation of StormSmart strategies.
The launch of this program benefitted greatly from the hard work of three former CZM employees:
- Wes Shaw, who developed the initial StormSmart Coasts website and fact sheets as a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Coastal Services Center Coastal Management Fellow at CZM from 2006-2008.
- Daniella Hirschfeld, who led five implementation pilot projects from 2008-2010, also as a Coastal Management Fellow.
- Andrea Cooper, CZM's Smart Growth Coordinator from 2005-2008 and StormSmart Program Manager from 2009-2010, who mentored Wes and Daniella.
The program also would not be possible without the generous contributions of time and expertise by many, including:
- Edward A. Thomas, Esq., President of the Natural Hazard Mitigation Association (formerly with Michael Baker Jr. Engineering).
- Staff and members of the Association of State Floodplain Managers.
- Staff of the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation's Flood Hazard Management Program.
- Local officials from many Massachusetts coastal communities.
The success of StormSmart Coasts in Massachusetts led to the development of a national StormSmart website and network in 2009. NOAA, the Northeast Regional Ocean Council, the Gulf of Mexico Alliance, and others supported the StormSmart Coasts Network. It included StormSmart Connect, which provided local decision makers and other coastal professionals with the opportunity to connect and collaborate online. As of 2023, the tool is maintained for the Gulf of Mexico.