Resiliency

Why Focus on Resiliency

Ragbrai in Iowa

In the face of uncertainty caused by natural or man-made disruptions, the department will be ready to meet its commitment of providing a safe, efficient, and convenient transportation system.

Characteristics of Resiliency?

There are many ways in which resiliency of a system can be defined. We define resiliency as the ability to anticipate, prepare for, and adapt to changing conditions and withstand, respond to and quickly recover from disruptions.

But, having a strict definition often disguises the fact that the concept of resiliency is complex and isn’t just one thing.

To more fully capture the essence of what a resilient system is, it is often characterized by the four properties listed below. A resilient transportation system is:

Robust

The system is strong enough to withstand a given level of stress or demand without suffering degradation or loss of function.

Robust Arm

Redundant

Elements of a system exist that are substitutable and capable of satisfying the functional requirements of the system in the case of disruption.

Redundant

Resourceful

There are resources (i.e., monetary, physical, technological, and informational) available that can be leveraged in the process of recovery.

Resourceful

Responsive

There is the capacity to meet priorities and achieve goals in a timely manner in order to contain losses, recover functionality, and avoid future disruption.

Responsive
Disruptions
Natural, Environmental, & Extreme Weather EventsHuman-induced Hazards
  • Flooding
  • Erosion
  • High Wind
  • Increased precipitation (e.g., rain, snow, ice)
  • Landslide/ Rockfalls
  • Tornados
  • Snow/ Blizzard
  • Averse actor physical threat
  • Congestion
  • Cyberattack
  • Asset failure

Our Strategies

The strategies listed below are just a sample. A full list, along with background information and implementation details, is available in the Resilience Improvement Plan.

  • Develop a Flood Operations Plan to support flood event response.
  • Develop a comprehensive statewide flood mitigation strategy.
  • Partner with HSEMD and local jurisdictions on comprehensive flood mitigation planning.
  • Explore vulnerability assessments for various hazards for our transportation system and others.

Hazard Analysis

In support of the strategy aimed at ‘Exploring vulnerability assessments for various hazards for our transportation system and others,’ the below are current Iowa DOT efforts that accomplish that strategy. The list will be added to continuously as new hazard analyses are developed and explored.

Statewide Flood Resiliency Analysis

Contact

For more information about the Iowa DOT resiliency efforts, please contact sustainability.resiliency@iowadot.us or: