Between 2022 and 2024, Maine experienced an extraordinary nine natural disasters, each severe enough to merit presidential disaster or emergency declarations. Today, a year and half after the worst of those storms battered inland and coastal towns in December 2023 and January 2024, recovery is still underway.

As members of the Infrastructure Rebuilding and Resilience Commission convened by Gov. Mills in the wake of those winter storms, the steep costs of disasters are never far from our minds. Devastating flash floods in Texas, New Jersey and Vermont in recent days tragically reinforce that the stakes couldn’t be higher.

Even as communities in those states continue to grieve and grapple with the losses, difficult questions are arising about what must be done to prevent or mitigate such destruction. Here in Maine, our commission contended with similar questions during its yearlong work, informed by Maine people at our listening sessions across the state and the valuable expertise of our 22 fellow members.

Our product is Maine’s first Plan for Infrastructure Resilience, which makes strategic and actionable recommendations to strengthen infrastructure and reduce disaster risk; improve disaster preparedness, response and rebuilding; and sustain Maine’s momentum through strategic investments.

As the town manager in Jay and economic development director in Stonington, we know too well the toll extreme weather takes on our communities and the challenges of investing both time and money in resilience. But we also know that the cost of inaction is far higher. As we delivered our final plan to Gov. Mills and the people of Maine in May, we highlighted studies showing that every $1 invested proactively in resilience saves communities $13 over the long term in damage, cleanup costs and adverse economic impact.

Bold action saves both lives and livelihoods. Communities are essential leaders and partners in this work. And we’re not alone — the state and organizations across Maine stand ready to help. The Community Resilience Partnership (CRP) awards grants to communities to make local investments in climate resilience, clean energy and energy efficiency. Since 2021, it has supported nearly 300 projects across all 16 counties and is currently accepting new applications through Aug. 29. Our towns of Jay and Stonington used previous CRP grant awards to design more flood-resistant roads and culverts and make resilience plans for our economically vital infrastructure.

Communities can take action by:

• Completing vulnerability assessments to identify risks and needs, supported by a CRP grant.

• Creating or updating a local capital investment plan to prioritize infrastructure resilience among other community needs.

• Establishing a “resilience reserve account” to start saving for future resilience projects, local cost share for grants or unexpected storm damage.

• Matching priority resilience projects to funding and financing options aided by a CRP regional coordinator.

More help is on the way. LD 1 is bipartisan legislation that devotes $39 million to enhance emergency planning at all levels of government, prepare our communities and infrastructure for severe weather and reduce long-term storm-related risks and costs for homeowners and businesses. This builds on the historic $60 million Gov. Mills and the Legislature invested in storm relief for working waterfronts, infrastructure projects and business recovery.

With this support, communities can marshal the resolve and resources now to face the challenges ahead. Maine’s new plan puts us ahead of the game, critical progress with the fate of federal resources and disaster funding more uncertain than ever. With relentless focus and attention, Maine can maintain the meaningful momentum we’ve gained since the devastating storms of December 2023 and January 2024 that prompted the creation of our commission.

We invite community leaders from the more than 260 communities already enrolled in the Community Resilience Partnership to join us at for a webinar at noon on July 23 to learn more about the Plan for Infrastructure Resilience and how they can take action. Visit this link to register for this virtual event, or visit Maine.gov/future. We urge you to join us in this important work.