Abstract
Have you ever been asked to participate in an outreach event about resilience but were at a loss for an activity for the general public? Are the planners and floodplain managers in the municipalities you serve constantly under fire for the actions they put in place? Does the general public in your area need a better understanding of resilience decisions? Never fear! There’s a new game here to help. Being a town planner isn’t easy. Planners try to balance what is best for individuals with what is best for the environment and town overall. Coastal planners have added layers, being tasked with ensuring measures are in place so the town is the most resilient it can be during and after hurricanes. Plan for It! puts the player in the role of the planner of a small coastal community, asking them to make real life resilience decisions in risk/reward scenarios to better prepare their town for the upcoming storm season. Following playing this short game (5 minutes or less), players have a better understanding of the role of resilience measures and the trade-offs in the planning process. Plan for It! is appropriate for players as young as 6th grade but holds the interest of older children and adults as well. Being a stand-alone computer-based game, internet access is not necessary, so it can be utilized in any outreach or education setting. This lightening session will demonstrate game play and detail the concepts behind development.
