Community Voices in Action: A Framework for Flood Resilience Workshops in a Coastal Community

Abstract Coastal communities face increasing risks from hurricanes, heavy rainfall, sea‐level rise, and flooding—all of which are intensified by climate change. Many of these communities are striving to plan proactively in advance of the next severe event; involving community members alongside managers, scientists, and other stakeholders in the resiliency planning process is necessary to build sustainable solutions. In Wilmington, North Carolina, we held two community workshops to understand residents' perceptions of flood risks, assess barriers to preparedness, and explore locally relevant strategies for flood resilience and preparedness. These workshops were designed in collaboration with trusted community partners and intentionally structured to be inclusive, responsive to local needs, and trauma‐informed. Through interactive activities and facilitated discussion, participants shared lived experiences, identified gaps in communication, and co‐developed ideas for improving flood safety in their communities. Findings reveal strong concern about future neighborhood flooding, a desire for more transparent and timely information, and interest in ongoing involvement in resilience planning. This paper presents a framework for designing trauma‐informed, inclusive workshops to support flood resilience planning in a coastal community.