Atlanta

Atlanta’s Resilience Journey

Atlanta is a cosmopolitan city that celebrates a diverse cultural tradition, high levels of education, and the third-largest concentration of Fortune 500 companies in the US.

However, the city’s success has led to an overtaxed transportation system, which causes traffic congestion and increases Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT), creating new challenges such as poor air quality and social cohesion. A lack of affordable transportation options also exacerbates growing inequality, impeding the city’s poorest communities from access to food centers and economic opportunities.

Atlanta’s high dependence on highways makes infrastructure a primary concern. A disaster affecting a major highway or bridge could prevent emergency responders from reaching areas affected by electrical outages or assisting citizens trapped in areas of flooding. The city is working to mitigate the potential impact of resilience shocks such as infrastructure failure through the creation of an Emergency Preparedness and Management group consisting of 30 multidisciplinary stakeholders.