Assessing the Potential Impact of Extreme Weather in Southern Georgia

To help the Valdosta-Lowndes Metropolitan Planning Organization (VLMPO) develop a vulnerability assessment of its transportation infrastructure, Gresham Smith examined over 220 roadway segments and 100 bridges in Lowndes County to examine their vulnerability to extreme heat and inland flooding. This assessment was conducted through the Federal Highway Administration’s spreadsheet-based vulnerability assessment scoring tool to understand a transportation facility’s exposure, sensitivity and adaptive capacity. The analysis revealed which road segments and bridges are currently vulnerable to extreme weather patterns and how this is expected to change by the end of the 21st century. The results inform where the VLMPO should work with local partners and the Georgia Department of Transportation to invest in transportation infrastructure to implement resilient design patterns and ensure minimal disruption when weather events do occur. Our analysis was subsequently used to develop strategies, policies, and measures for the Southern Georgia Regional Commission and VLMPO to address vulnerabilities. This final report was shared with the VLMPO Technical Advisory Committee and helped to inform a hazard mitigation plan update for Lowndes County.