Out of Harm's Way: Prioritizing Community Assets in Westport, WA

Abstract

This thesis project develops a three-step methodology to prioritize community assets in hazard-prone areas for community resource-sharing objectives, with a focus on the city of Westport, WA and the surrounding coastal area. The area of study is at risk of islanding, being cut off from the surrounding urban centers due to natural disasters and hazards. The research begins by parsing community-identified assets from prior workshops to create a comprehensive asset inventory aligned with local knowledge and values. Next, assets were mapped against hazard exposure scenarios, including tsunami and sea level rise. Finally, the study applied a multi-criteria analysis (MCA) framework, informed by community-identified themes related to resource sharing, to rank assets by their potential to enhance post-disaster resilience. Results highlight public spaces like parks and the school as priority assets for resilience efforts, given their roles in community life. This study emphasizes the importance of integrating community perspectives and dynamic hazard assessments into resilience planning to enhance local preparedness. The project also outlines opportunities for future research, including community asset scoring.