Vulnerability Tools & Data
The tools below can support a range of needs, from starting conversations about adaptation and resilience (such as mapping coastal flood exposure), to assessing local capacity, to supporting more advanced data analysis (such as identifying areas for open space preservation credits).
This page is organized to help users navigate both planning-focused tools and broader data resources. The first section highlights resilience and adaptation tools, including resources for hazard and risk identification, community assessments, planning and engagement, and shoreline management. These tools are often used to support local decision-making, project development, and the development of resilience strategies.
The second section includes additional tools and data to support coastal resilience, such as direct GIS data downloads, searchable databases, interactive map viewers, coastal indicators, and climate science resources. These resources can help users explore conditions, access underlying data, and support more detailed analysis.
These tools help put key questions into context and support informed decision-making. If you don’t find what you’re looking for here, additional resources may be available on the Planning and Policy webpage.
Resilience & Adaptation Tools
Understanding your community’s vulnerability and risk tolerance is a critical step in building resilience. While most communities have a baseline risk assessment through local or regional hazard mitigation plans, the tools below can help supplement existing data and support public engagement.
Stormwater Management
- NOAA Adapting Stormwater Management for Coastal Floods
Develop a customized stormwater report through a four-step process that defines local flood thresholds, tolerance levels, and evaluates impacts under various sea level rise scenarios.
Visualizing Social Vulnerability and Environmental Justice
- Explore the Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) Map developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
This tool illustrates how factors such as socioeconomic status, household composition, disability, and language vary across census tracts. For additional context, visit the Data to Support Coastal Adaptation and Resilience page.
Flooding
- NC Floodplain Mapping Program
Access resources for residents, professionals, and community officials related to flood risk and mapping.- Flood Risk Information System (FRIS) Portal
View effective and preliminary flood maps, building-level risk data, and flood insurance estimates. - Flood Inundation Mapping and Alert Network (FIMAN)
Monitor real-time gauge levels, forecasts, and weather radar across North Carolina.
- Flood Risk Information System (FRIS) Portal
Coastal Flooding
Mapping
To compare the capabilities and methods used across coastal flooding tools, view the coastal flooding comparison matrix.
- NOAA Coastal Flood Exposure Mapper
Visualize exposure of people, infrastructure, and natural resources to coastal hazards such as storm surge and sea level rise.- NOAA Sea Level Rise Viewer
Explore additional scenarios, including marsh migration and social vulnerability overlays.
- NOAA Sea Level Rise Viewer
- Coastal Resilience Portal (The Nature Conservancy)
Identify areas exposed to flooding and sea level rise, as well as opportunities for open space preservation and resilience planning. - Surging Seas Risk Zone Map (Climate Central)
Assess potential impacts to people, infrastructure, and property under different water levels and climate scenarios.
Self-Guided Training and Walkthrough
- NOAA Coastal Inundation Toolkit
Follow a step-by-step process for assessing and addressing coastal flooding hazards using multiple tools.
Other Hazards
- Hazardous Extreme Risk Assessment (HERA) Tool
Provides statistical data on the probability of hazards such as wildfires, drought, and severe storms. - Carolinas Precipitation Patterns and Probabilities (CP3)
Offers data and maps related to hydroclimatic extremes such as rainfall, drought, and agricultural impacts. - FEMA Hazus Software
Estimates potential losses from natural hazards and supports visualization of impacts for planning and mitigation.
Assessments and Processes to Guide Work
Whether your community is just beginning adaptation planning or looking to strengthen existing efforts, the tools below can help facilitate discussion, assess needs, and guide decision-making.
| Name and Developer | Description | Level of Effort / Capacity Needed | Locations Used |
|---|---|---|---|
| Resilience Evaluation and Needs Assessment (RENA) NC Division of Coastal Management | A two-phase process that includes community asset mapping, issue identification, public engagement, and vulnerability hotspot analysis. Serves as a starting point for resilience planning and project development. | Low–Medium Staff questionnaire, 2–4 hour public workshop, and follow-up synthesis | Edenton, Oriental, Pine Knoll Shores, Duck, Hatteras Village |
| Coastal Resilience Index (CRI) Self-Assessment NOAA and Mississippi/Alabama Sea Grant | A self-assessment tool that evaluates a community’s ability to adapt to coastal hazards, producing an overall resilience score and sub-scores across critical service areas. | Low–Medium Typically requires one to two days of focus groups | 50+ communities across five Gulf of Mexico states |
| Getting to Resilience: Municipal Checklists New Jersey Office of Coastal Management | A set of five checklist-based assessments to support local planning, hazard mitigation, and adaptation. Helps identify opportunities to reduce vulnerability and improve plan integration. | Low–Medium One to two days of focus groups; facilitator recommended | 7+ communities in New Jersey |
| Plan Integration for Resilience Scorecard Guidebook Texas A&M University and U.S. DHS Coastal Resilience Center | A GIS-based process for evaluating how well local plans align and identifying gaps. Supports improved coordination across planning documents to reduce hazard vulnerability. | High Requires GIS analysis and significant staff time (multiple hours per plan) | Washington, NC; Norfolk, VA; Fort Lauderdale, FL; Boston, MA; Tampa, FL; and others |
| Asset Vulnerability Assessment Protocol Western Carolina University and National Park Service | Establishes a standardized methodology and best practices for evaluating vulnerability of built assets to coastal hazards. | Medium–High Typically requires coordination with WCU for implementation | Duck, NC; 15+ National Park sites |
For additional tools and frameworks, explore NOAA’s Coastal Community Resilience Indicators and Rating Systems overview.
Getting Community Buy-In and Sustaining Support
Successful resilience planning efforts are inclusive, sustained, and supported by a broad range of stakeholders. Building local capacity and empowering community members is key to achieving meaningful and lasting outcomes.
The Community Tool Box, developed by the Center for Community Health and Development at the University of Kansas, provides guidance on community engagement, planning processes, and implementation strategies.
For additional resources, explore:
- NOAA Introduction to Stakeholder Participation
- Getting to Resilience: Guide to Risk Communication and Engagement
Data to support communication and decision-making:
- NOAA Coastal Fast Facts
Provides national statistics and infographics that can support presentations and discussions around coastal resilience.
Effective management of ocean and estuarine shorelines requires action at multiple scales, from individual property owners to multi-jurisdictional and regional efforts. The resources below provide an overview of shoreline management strategies, key environmental and regulatory considerations, and ways nature-based solutions can support coastal resilience.
Handbook
- How to Protect Your Property from Shoreline Erosion
A practical handbook for property owners that explains common shoreline protection options.
Interactive Mapping
- N.C. Division of Coastal Management Shoreline Data Mapper
View erosion rates, setback factors, static vegetation lines, and other shoreline data. - Living Shoreline Explorer (The Nature Conservancy)
Highlights areas that may be suitable for living shoreline projects in coastal North Carolina.
Identifying Nature-Based Solutions
- Naturally Resilient Communities
Explore and filter potential solutions based on hazards such as coastal erosion, tidal flooding, and storm surge, with a focus on the Southeast U.S.
There are hundreds of tools available, each designed for different purposes and user needs. Finding the right tool for your objective can be an important step in successful planning and implementation.
- NOAA Digital Coast Tools
A collection of tools that support data visualization, localized reporting, and detailed analysis of coastal resources and issues. - U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit
Provides guidance on the steps to resilience along with tools, case studies, and subject matter expertise from across the country. - Climate Mapping for Resilience and Adaptation (CMRA)
A federal tool that combines climate hazards, community vulnerability, and infrastructure data to support resilience planning and decision-making.
The geospatial datasets and mapping tools below can support a range of planning and analysis efforts, including comprehensive and hazard mitigation plan updates, vulnerability assessments, and the development of stormwater or parks and recreation plans. They can also be used in workshops and outreach efforts for both technical and general audiences.
These resources are best used alongside the most current and detailed data available at the local level, such as information maintained by municipal or county departments (e.g., planning, GIS, public works, parks and recreation). When using these datasets to inform policy or programs, be sure to review and clearly communicate key metadata such as data source, resolution, geographic projection, and update frequency.
Don’t see what you’re looking for below? Visit the Vulnerability Tools and Data page for additional resources.
Data to Support Coastal Resiliency
Environmental
Environmental datasets can help communities identify sensitive natural resources, understand regulatory constraints, and evaluate areas that may be vulnerable to flooding, erosion, and long-term coastal change.
- N.C. Division of Coastal Management Interactive Map Viewer.
Coastal wetlands, estuarine shoreline, oceanfront and inlet areas, static vegetation lines, and setback data from the N.C. Division of Coastal Management. - Sea Level Rise Scenarios from NOAA Digital Coast
Includes projected scenarios from 1 to 6 feet of sea level rise, along with supporting datasets.
Infrastructure
Infrastructure datasets can help communities evaluate flood exposure, identify vulnerable assets, support recovery planning, and inform infrastructure upgrades and resilience investments.
- Building footprints, flood zones, and elevation data from N.C. Emergency Management
Includes first-floor elevations, floodplain data, and LiDAR-derived elevation models.- A free account is required to access and download data.
Social Vulnerability
Social vulnerability is often expressed as an index based on factors such as income, employment, household characteristics, and race and ethnicity. Before using the datasets below, consider reviewing the Social Vulnerability section of the Planning and Policy page for additional context.
These datasets can help communities identify populations that may be more vulnerable to flooding, disasters, or other environmental stressors and support more equitable resilience planning.
- Social Vulnerability Index (SoVI) for North Carolina Census Tracts from NOAA Digital Coast
Based on annual Census data. - Social Vulnerability Index (SVI) for U.S. Census Tracts from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
Provides sortable national-level data updated annually.
North Carolina
Statewide geospatial datasets can support planning, hazard mitigation, infrastructure management, environmental analysis, and resilience-focused decision-making.
- Access statewide GIS data through N.C. OneMap
Download regional and statewide datasets, including parcels, satellite imagery, roads, and additional mapping resources. - Explore environmental datasets through the N.C. Department of Environmental Quality Online GIS portal
View and download datasets related to air, water, land, regulatory programs, monitoring, restoration, remediation, and education and outreach activities.
Southeast
Regional observing systems and coastal datasets can help communities monitor ocean conditions, forecast hazards, and support resilience planning across the southeastern United States.
- Access coastal and ocean observing data through the SECOORA Data Portal
View and download data related to physical oceanography, forecasts, real-time observations, gliders, and surface currents.
National
National geospatial datasets can provide broader context for coastal planning, environmental analysis, and resilience assessments.
- Explore coastal datasets through NOAA Digital Coast Data
Access national datasets related to topography, bathymetry, land cover, hazards, imagery, demographics, marine habitats, shoreline conditions, ocean planning, and surface water.
The Nature Conservancy
Mapping and visualization tools can help communities evaluate flood risk, sea level rise, habitat vulnerability, and resilience opportunities at local and regional scales.
- Explore flood risk and resilience scenarios through The Nature Conservancy Coastal Resilience Explorer
Includes flooding and sea level rise projections, community and habitat vulnerability information, Community Rating System features, and other coastal resilience tools.
North Carolina Division of Coastal Management
Interactive mapping tools from the Division of Coastal Management provide access to coastal hazard, shoreline, and public access datasets across North Carolina’s coastal region.
- Access coastal hazard datasets through the N.C. DCM Interactive Map Viewer
Includes erosion rates, setback factors, shoreline position data, and other coastal management layers. - View public access locations through the N.C. DCM Beach and Waterfront Access Viewer
Displays public beach and waterfront access sites across coastal North Carolina.
NOAA, USGS, and Other Federal Resources
Federal mapping and forecasting tools can support coastal hazard assessment, storm monitoring, shoreline analysis, and resilience planning.
- Explore land cover and elevation data through the NOAA Digital Coast Data Access Viewer
Access imagery, elevation, land cover, and other coastal datasets. - View coastal storm forecasts through the USGS Total Water Level and Coastal Change Forecast Viewer
Explore forecasted total water levels and coastal change conditions ahead of major storms. - Explore shoreline and storm impact data through the USGS Coastal Change Hazards Portal
Access data related to shoreline change, storm impacts, coastal erosion, and sea level rise.