Identifying adaptation and limits in the face of persistent river and coastal flooding and its impacts on the gullah communities lori pennington-gray (PI) endowed professor & director university of…

This $198,187 Cooperative Agreement award was provided by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) under the Sea Grant Support program (CFDA 11.417). The project, running from January 1, 2025 to December 31, 2026, aims to evaluate and enhance the resilience of historically marginalized Gullah communities in South Carolina against persistent river and coastal flooding. Through mixed-method research including oral histories and policy analysis, the project will develop culturally informed, sustainable adaptation strategies to address the physical, cultural, and economic impacts of flooding on these communities. The award will fund detailed reports, stakeholder presentations, and resource manuals outlining new adaptation approaches that respect Gullah traditions. This initiative seeks to serve as a model for promoting effective, culturally sensitive environmental resilience strategies in other high urban social vulnerability coastal areas. The South Carolina Sea Grant Consortium, a state agency focused on coastal and marine research and outreach, is the primary awardee for this project.

Identifying adaptation and limits in the face of persistent river and coastal flooding and its impacts on the gullah communities lori pennington-gray (PI) endowed professor & director university of south carolina smartstate center, college of hospitality, retail and sport management 803-576-7386