Collaborating for Climate Resilient Manufactured Housing Communities across Northern New England

Across northern New England, the impacts of repeated heavy flood events in recent years highlight the vulnerability of manufactured housing communities (MHCs) to climate-related extreme weather events. Research conducted in the wake of Tropical Storm Irene identified the flood risk for these communities across Vermont, however the flood exposure of MHCs in nearby states was unknown. To fill this knowledge gap, collaborators in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Maine evaluated existing data and developed databases to geolocate MHCs with FEMA FIRM maps. Preliminary results indicate that 11% of MHCs across the three northern New England states are at least partially located within FEMA-mapped floodplains. Beyond flooding, engagement with agency stakeholders and community residents identified socioeconomic and accessibility factors unique to MHCs, making these frontline communities that are especially vulnerable to a range of weather hazards including heavy rain, high winds, and extreme heat. The synthesis of community-level data and the increased understanding of residents’ climate concerns provide critical insight that will improve planning to address and mitigate the impacts of hazardous weather on MHCs.