Adelaide Bates has been appointed as the climate resilience manager for the Shi Institute for Sustainable Communities at Furman University. Her role is to assist communities in the Pee Dee and Lowcountry regions of South Carolina in reducing their vulnerability to natural disasters. This appointment is part of the Climate Ready America Southeast Navigator Network, led by the Geos Institute, and is supported by a grant from the Walmart Foundation.
Bates, who resides in Charleston, expressed her enthusiasm for supporting South Carolina communities in their climate resilience efforts and expanding the impact of the Shi Institute throughout the state. As a member of the Navigator Network, the institute will work with 72 under-resourced communities in Georgia, Florida, North Carolina, and South Carolina, including 10 located in Bluffton, Charleston, North Charleston, and Myrtle Beach.
These communities have been designated as Community Disaster Resilience Zones by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), based on their social vulnerability and exposure to natural hazards. The first 483 zones across all states and the District of Columbia were announced by FEMA last year, with additional designations expected this fall.
Working alongside community leaders and residents, Bates will analyze data and engage in conversations to identify and understand the resilience challenges these communities face. She will also assist in securing grant funding and technological support to help them enhance stormwater management, improve building codes for resilience, establish community hubs to combat extreme heat events, and restore natural flooding buffers.
Andrew Predmore, the Executive Director of the Shi Institute, expressed confidence in Bates’ ability to serve as a valuable asset to communities in South Carolina and the broader regional partnership. Bates plans to collaborate with city and county officials to assess the progress of each area’s resilience-building efforts and provide targeted support to further their initiatives.
Prior to joining the Shi Institute, Bates founded and directed the McClellanville Land and Sea Market. She also has experience working with the South Carolina Environmental Law Project and the College of Charleston. Bates holds a bachelor’s degree in urban studies from the College of Charleston.
In her new role, Bates aims to establish herself as a trusted partner in boosting climate resilience in the Pee Dee and Lowcountry regions of South Carolina. With her expertise and the support of the Shi Institute and the Navigator Network, these communities can better prepare for and mitigate the impacts of natural disasters.
Bates is optimistic about the future and the positive changes that can be achieved through collaboration with local leaders and officials. Her appointment brings renewed hope for a more resilient South Carolina.
