Institutional foundations of adaptive planning: exploration of flood planning in the Lower Rio Grande Valley, Texas, USA

Given the risk posed by escalating climate conditions, there is a need to assess how localities integrate adaptive planning into hazard mitigation and this enabled or constrained existing institutions. We explore for flood in Lower Rio Grande Valley of Texas, United States – largely underresourced highly socioeconomically vulnerable area. Using Natural Language Processing analyze county regional plans as well transcripts meetings, we find that absent study Like many U.S., communities area have approached static terms do not fully consider future uncertainties; failed engage diverse participation planning; neglected pursue co-benefits possible with other sectors. Critically, may be product traditional institutions limited local capacities.