Neighborhood Resilience Planning

In early 2022, the Planning and Development Department began work to guide three communities, Edgebrook, East Houston, and Independence Heights through a public engagement resilience planning process. These neighborhoods were continuing to recover from recent climate related disasters such as hurricane Harvey in 2017 and other flooding events. In early 2023, the Planning and Development Department began Neighborhood Resilience Plan development in three additional neighborhoods, Braeburn, Greater Inwood, and Greater Fifth Ward. All of these plans are complete and can be found on the pages listed at right. Resilience efforts are under the guidance of the Mayor’s Office of Recovery and Resilience.

What is Neighborhood Resilience Planning?

Resilience community planning seeks to build the capacity of a community to prepare for, withstand, and recover from shocks and stresses. The goal of Houston’s Neighborhood Resilience Planning (NRP) is to create a community that can adapt and thrive in the face of a range of potential challenges, such as natural disasters, economic challenges, or to improve social empowerment strategies. This initiative will provide local, place-based strategies that are tailored to the unique needs and circumstances of the community.  It will be developed through a collaborative effort between community members, local organizations, and government agencies.

Neighborhood Resilience Planning Guide

The Neighborhood Resilience in the City of Houston Planning Guide has been carefully crafted to assist neighborhoods in creating their own customized Neighborhood Resilience Plan. This comprehensive guide offers clear guidance and step-by-step instructions, walking neighborhoods through each component of the planning process.

By following the Planning Guide, neighborhoods gain a thorough understanding of the key elements involved in creating a robust and effective plan. It not only outlines the necessary components but also organizes the process into a series of standardized tasks, encouraging neighborhood and civic groups to take ownership and actively participate.
The guide presents information on the specific actions or information needed to initiate each task, as well as the expected outputs or deliverables that should be generated. While the overall process remains consistent, neighborhoods have the flexibility to tailor the details to best suit their unique needs and circumstances.

With the Neighborhood Resilience Planning Guide, neighborhoods can embark on a transformative journey towards resilience, leveraging their local knowledge, strengths, and aspirations. By utilizing this invaluable resource, communities can develop plans that address their specific challenges, enhance their strengths, and build a more resilient future.. The Neighborhood Resilience Planning Guide helps neighborhoods create their own Neighborhood Resilience Plan. It provides guidance and steps. It describes each of the components of the planning process It also organizes the process into a set of standard tasks for neighborhood and civic group ownership. It recommends the information or actions needed to begin that task and the expected outputs or deliverables. While the overall process doesn’t change, details can be customized to fit the needs of the neighborhood.