As South Carolina continues to face stronger storms, repeated flooding and fast-changing environmental conditions, Clemson University is stepping up to help communities prepare for an uncertain future.
Clemson’s Master of City and Regional Planning (MCRP) program has teamed up with the South Carolina Office of Resilience (SCOR) on a new project designed to help towns and counties across the state build safer, stronger and more resilient communities.
Through a $33,000 agreement, Clemson planners will develop comprehensive guidance to help local governments fold resilience into their long-term planning. The guidance will serve as a practical roadmap for city and county officials, who must now, under state law, incorporate resilience planning into required comprehensive plans.
For communities, this work is far from abstract. It means understanding which neighborhoods flood first during intense storms, identifying vulnerable homes and infrastructure and planning new development in ways that keep residents safe and protect local economies. The Clemson-led guidance will break down complex hazard data, explain best practices and offer clear strategies for addressing risks that South Carolina communities already face and for risks that may emerge in the future.
Preparing communities
Beginning in early 2026, MCRP and SCOR will bring this information directly to planners, elected officials and public staff through a series of hands-on workshops in Greenville, Columbia and Charleston. Each session will introduce the new guidance, share state and federal resources available to local governments and give participants the chance to discuss resilience challenges specific to their regions.
For MCRP, the project underscores the University’s longstanding commitment to serving South Carolina and preparing the next generation of planning professionals. Students in the MCRP program will have opportunities to support the research, data analysis and community engagement that underpin the project.
“This is the kind of work that shows how planning directly improves people’s lives,” said John Gaber, program director of the City and Regional Planning program. “By helping communities understand their vulnerabilities and plan for the future, we’re helping protect families, businesses and entire local economies.”
As South Carolina continues to adapt to changing environmental conditions, Clemson’s partnership with SCOR represents a meaningful step toward stronger, safer and more resilient communities statewide.
