New PSC Report Empowers Residents to Improve Community Resilience

A new, first-of-its-kind report released by the Preservation Society of Charleston guides residents on how they can increase the resilience of their properties in the face of flood, wind, heat, and even earthquakes.

The Resilience Guidance for Charleston, released June 24, breaks down a typical residential property into key elements and provides recommendations that anyone can tackle — everything from the basics of routine maintenance to the use of innovative technologies. And if someone’s planning a more extensive renovation, the Guidance can help counsel residents and contractors on how to make their homes and yards more resilient in the process.

“The Resilience Guidance is the outcome of a meticulous study of Charleston’s unique vulnerabilities to weather events, drawing on experience and insights from leading experts in the building trades,” said Brian Turner, President & CEO of the Preservation Society of Charleston. “This publication is a roadmap for all residents, not only owners of historic homes, to take meaningful action that will contribute to our city’s resilience.”

Charleston Mayor William Cogswell noted in an introductory letter that the Guidance was “designed to be approachable and budget-conscious, ensuring that every resident can take meaningful steps towards safeguarding their property.”

The Resilience Guidance is free and accessible to the public on the Preservation Society of Charleston website, at preservationsociety.org/resilience.

“This is the type of technical information, structured in an easy-to-reference format, that residents and professionals can put into action starting today,” said Fillmore Wilson, the retired Head of Construction for Meadors, Inc., who worked as a volunteer peer reviewer on the Guidance. “Resilience improvements do not have to be costly, and each section of the Guidance provides dozens of recommendations for how to get started.”

“The Resilience Guidance for Charleston is a pioneering public interest initiative,” said Dominique M. Hawkins, managing principal of Preservation Design Partnership, which wrote the Resilience Guidance. “It’s the first of its kind, with local community leaders gathering this much information into one place in an effort to help residents be better prepared for severe environmental events.”

The Resilience Guidance was funded in part by a grant from the Moe Family Fund for Statewide and Local Partners of the National Trust for Historic Preservation. The Preservation Society, along with the City of Charleston, provided additional funding and support.

The full version of the Guidance is available for download (public link): https://bit.ly/46gGUMI

Handout photos available upon request.

About the Preservation Society of Charleston: Founded in 1920, the Preservation Society of Charleston (PSC) is the oldest grassroots preservation organization in the nation. The PSC is more resilient than ever as it enters its second century serving as a strong advocacy leader for preserving Charleston’s distinctive character, quality of life, and diverse neighborhoods. For more information on the Preservation Society of Charleston, please visit www.preservationsociety.org.