When flash floods ripped through Ohio and Marion counties in West Virginia this June, it was a sobering reminder of just how vulnerable many Appalachian communities are to extreme weather.

But in the wake of these devastating storms, researchers at West Virginia University (WVU) have unveiled a powerful new toolkit that could change the way communities prepare for and recover from flooding.

The West Virginia Flood Resiliency Framework (WVFRF) is a first-of-its-kind technology platform that centralizes everything from risk analysis to community planning resources — all designed to make flood safety more accessible, efficient, and effective. And for a state with some of the highest inland flood and landslide rates in the nation, the timing couldn't be more critical.

Flooding isn't new to West Virginia — but until now, flood preparation and recovery efforts were often fragmented and difficult to coordinate. Many communities didn't have easy access to data, funding resources, or even a clear understanding of their risk.

So, how does it all work?

That's where the WVFRF comes in. The toolkit includes a Risk Explorer that lets users visualize which roads, homes, and historic sites would be affected by different flood events. It also features a searchable Hazard Library, interactive 3D maps, and a Best Practices Guide that walks leaders through proven strategies for disaster response and grant writing.

Whether you're a city planner, a church group volunteer, or a local emergency manager, the tools are designed to be intuitive and practical, with a special emphasis on empowering the people who are often first on the scene.

WVU associate professor Aaron Maxwell, who led the project, said the framework evolved from years of collaboration with local floodplain managers, geospatial scientists, and community groups. It builds directly on the lessons of the catastrophic 2016 flood — a 1,000-year rainfall event that caused over $1 billion in damage and claimed 23 lives.

"We're in a unique situation to need these types of tools," Maxwell said. "And a lot of people live in the floodplain because that's where the flat land is. It's not easy to just move out."

By identifying infrastructure gaps and areas at highest risk, the toolkit can also help towns qualify for mitigation grants and FEMA support. In essence, it's a blueprint for smarter, faster, more coordinated flood response — and potentially a lifeline for communities still recovering from past disasters.

Could it be a national model in the making?

The WVFRF is currently unique to West Virginia, but Maxwell's team is already in talks with partners in North Carolina and Kentucky to expand the framework. As extreme weather becomes more common across the country, the hope is that tools like this will become standard practice.

Do you think your city has good air quality? Definitely 🥰 Somewhat 😮‍💨 Depends on the time of year 😷 Not at all 🤢 Click your choice to see results and speak your mind.

"I don't think there's any other state that has something like it," Maxwell said. "We're ahead of the curve. But I do think other states are going to be looking at this as an example of what they want to produce for their own states."

And that's exactly the kind of innovation that can turn the tide, transforming how we plan, protect, and persevere in a changing world.

Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.