Program on the Environment

Compound flooding, the simultaneous occurrence of two or more flood drivers such as storm surge, heavy rainfall, and high tides, poses a growing threat to coastal communities worldwide. As climate change intensifies these events, the compounding effects on local environments and vulnerable populations are projected to worsen significantly. Despite this urgency, practitioners lack accessible, actionable resources to guide resilience planning at the community level. The purpose of this study was to develop a practical guide for coastal planners and community practitioners seeking to strengthen local resilience to compound flooding events. To accomplish this, a comprehensive literature review was conducted to identify the most relevant scientific and policy frameworks. Interviews with practitioners and site observations were also completed to document existing best practices and strategies for meaningful community engagement. Findings indicate that the most effective guides provide direct, community-adaptable information rather than one-size-fits-all prescriptions. The inclusion of case studies was found to foster emotional connection to the issue, increasing community buy-in. Guides that prioritize flexibility across different geographic and social contexts showed the greatest potential for widespread adoption. These results suggest that well-designed, adaptable resilience guides can meaningfully reduce community vulnerability to compound flooding. The best practices identified in this study will also serve as a foundation for future guide development, supporting more resilient coastal communities globally.