Rising Challenges: Building Rural Ohio’s Resilience to Severe Flooding

Program Overview

Climate-driven changes in precipitation and land use are reshaping flood risk across Ohio and throughout the Midwest, challenging long‑standing assumptions about where, when, and how communities face danger¹. Even areas historically considered low‑risk (or casually labeled “climate havens”) are now experiencing more frequent and intense flooding events, revealing vulnerabilities in both infrastructure and social preparedness². This Environmental Professionals Network program brings together state leaders, researchers, engineers, and community practitioners to explore how Ohio can strengthen its collective resilience. At the center of this conversation is a pressing question: How can communities learn from one another before disaster strikes?

You'll hear from speakers about the evolving interplay between top‑down risk management systems and bottom‑up community action as federal funding for emergency response wanes³, which has highlighted a growing need for shared knowledge, peer-to-peer support, and a wider culture of preparedness. Discussions will address both the social and technical dimensions of flood risk, including barriers to equitable adaptation, the importance of local trust networks, andengineering considerations for floodplain management.

This EPN event is presented in coordination with the Water Management Association of Ohio (WMAO) and serves as WMAO’s Spring Conference. Following the breakfast, attendees are invited to stay for an extended in‑person workshop designed by and for WMAO’s water management community. This workshop provides water professionals, students, and local leaders a deeper dive into the communication, planning, and engineering challenges posed by Ohio’s evolving flood landscape. It is worth two CEU/PDH credits and offers participants the opportunity to engage directly with experts, explore new tools and resources, and strengthen the collaborative capacity needed to build community resilience.

References

¹U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, “What Climate Change Means for Ohio” (2016) link here.

²Environmental Health News, “Climate disasters challenge the myth of ‘safe’ havens.” (2025) link here.

³AP News, "State emergency officials say new rules and delays for FEMA grants put disaster response at risk." (2025) link here.

Agenda

7:15 a.m. Doors open at Ohio State 4-H Center; Coffee served for in-person attendees.  

7:40 a.m. Breakfast buffet served for in-person attendees.  

8:00 a.m. Livestreaming service begins for virtual attendees. Harrison Fried, PhD, program director, Environmental Professionals Network (EPN) provides welcome remarks.

8:05 a.m. Eve Kelley, TerrAqua at Ohio State, introduces the event themes and speakers.

8:10 a.m. A series of speakers provide presentations covering the structural engineering and community education strategies to mitigate the risk of severe floods in rural communities throughout Ohio, including:

• Kelsea Best, PhD, Assistant Professor, The Ohio State University (8:10 - 8:25 a.m.)
• Chad Berginnis, Executive Director and CEO, Association of State Floodplain Managers (8:25 - 8:40 a.m.)
• Alicia Silverio, CFM, Program Manager, Ohio National Floodplain Insurance Program, Ohio Department of Natural Resources (8:40 - 8:55 a.m.)
• Linda Nicodemus, Stormwater Manager, Licking County Soil and Water Conservation District (8:55 - 9:10 a.m.)

9:05 a.m. Audience in-person and virtual question and answer session. Moderated by Jeff Sharp, PhD, Professor of Rural Sociology and Rural-Urban Policy, School of Environment and Natural Resources, Ohio State

9:30 a.m. Tim Haab, PhD, Director, Ohio State's School of Environment and Natural Resources, concludes breakfast program, transitioning the program to the Water Management Association of Ohio (WMAO) workshop.

Networking break for in-person attendees and transition to an extended educational workshop for water management professionals and students. This in-person only session is open to all, and will focus on how communities can begin developing their own “roadmap” to resiliency - exploring what it truly means to be a resilient community, moving beyond preparedness for single events—such as flooding—to a broader, more integrated perspective that includes smart growth principles, design requirements, planning criteria and long‑term water demands.

The remainder of this program is worth 2 CEU and PDH hours and is intended for in-person guests only.

9:45 a.m. Welcome remarks by Doug Kane, PhD, Assistant Professor of Biology (Ecology) and Research Scientist (NCWQR), Heidelberg University, and Board Vice President, WMAO.

9:50 a.m. - 11:45 a.m. "What is Your Roadmap to Resiliency?" led by the following speakers from ms consultants, inc:

• Kari Mackenbach, CFM, BCES, ENV SP

• Anil Tangirala, PE CFM

• Chad Boyer, PE CFM

• Mark McCabe, CPESC, CESSWI, CPSWM, ENV-SP

11:45 a.m. Program concludes.

Breakfast Speakers

Alicia Silverio, CFM, Ohio National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) Coordinator, Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR)

Alicia Silverio has led statewide floodplain management efforts for the Ohio Department of Natural Resources for over two decades, supporting communities in strengthening resilience through effective planning, technical assistance, and National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) implementation. She has overseen NFIP administration for the State of Ohio, working closely with local governments to improve compliance, enhance professional capacity, and advance sound floodplain standards that protect residents and natural systems. Alicia is a Certified Floodplain Manager and has served as Program Manager and State NFIP Coordinator, as well as Past Chairman of the Ohio Floodplain Management Association, contributing to flood policy, training, and statewide coordination. She is recognized for her ability to translate complex hydrologic, regulatory, and risk‑based information into practical strategies that improve community safety and watershed health. She holds a BS in Natural Resources (Environmental Science) from The Ohio State University.

Chad Berginnis, CFM, Executive Director and CEO, Association of State Floodplain Managers (ASFPM)

Chad Berginnis has served as Executive Director and CEO of ASFPM since 2012, bringing more than three decades of experience in floodplain management, hazard mitigation, and land‑use planning across state, local, and private‑sector roles. He previously worked in the Ohio Floodplain Management Program, where he also served as Ohio’s State Hazard Mitigation Officer, and administered planning and economic development programs in Perry County before becoming the national hazard mitigation practice leader with Michael Baker Jr. Inc. Chad has chaired multiple national committees and contributed to major research efforts, including National Academies panels, government reviews, and Congressional testimony. He holds a BS in Natural Resources from Ohio State University and continues to guide national dialogue on reducing flood risk and advancing more resilient community planning.

Kelsea Best, PhD, Assistant Professor, Urban Climate Resilience and Adaptation Disparities, Department of Civil, Environmental, and Geodetic Engineering, The Ohio State University

Kelsea Best is an interdisciplinary scholar whose work advances understanding of how climate change interacts with human societies and infrastructure, with a particular focus on equitable climate adaptation and urban climate resilience. She has contributed to research on climate‑related migration and mobility, renters’ vulnerability to natural disasters, the infrastructure needs of climate‑migrant‑receiving communities, and the drivers of climate gentrification in coastal cities, drawing on advanced computational approaches such as machine learning and agent‑based modeling. Her work integrates social and environmental sciences and emphasizes the importance of narrative, community participation, and justice in developing climate adaptation strategies that serve vulnerable populations. She collaborates widely across disciplines and geographies to examine coupled human-natural systems and to inform policy and planning decisions in the context of escalating climate risks. She holds a PhD in Environmental Science from Vanderbilt University.

Linda Nicodemus, Stormwater Manager, Licking County Soil and Water Conservation District

Linda Nicodemus has served Licking County for over two decades, leading stormwater management efforts that support responsible development, protect local waterways, and ensure regulatory compliance across rapidly growing communities. As the Stormwater Manager for the Licking Soil & Water Conservation District, she works closely with planning and development offices, zoning boards, utilities, and emergency services to ensure construction, excavation, and drainage practices meet state and local standards designed to safeguard both people and the environment. She has become a key voice in addressing the challenges of fast‑paced growth in western Licking County, helping property owners and developers understand their responsibilities to meet stormwater regulations. Her career in public service has centered on community development, environmental protection, and navigating the intersections of flooding, infrastructure, safety, and economic growth.

Event Moderator: Jeff Sharp, PhD, Professor of Rural Sociology and Rural-Urban Policy, School of Environment and Natural Resources (SENR), Ohio State

Jeff Sharp conducts teaching, research and is an OSU Extension state specialist.  His interests include sustainability, rural social change and community development. He is currently researching effective strategies for teaching sustainability competencies and has begun to explore the issue of aging in rural Ohio.  He is a longtime faculty member in the School of Environment and Natural Resources (SENR) at OSU, is an affiliate the Sustainability Institute and previously served as Director of SENR. He holds a PhD in Sociology from Iowa State University.

Student Spotlight

Eve Kelley, Ohio State student; Involvement Chair, TerrAqua

Eve Kelley is a second-year student majoring in Sustainable Plant Systems with a Horticulture specialization and a Marine Science certification track. She is the Involvement Chair of the Ohio State student organization, TerrAqua, where she leads efforts to promote the club to new students and helps design club events. Throughout her undergraduate career, Eve has held internship positions with AmeriCorps and Rural Action, serving local food systems and developing community outreach. Last winter, she studied abroad in the Dominican Republic through Ohio State's First Year Student Experience Program, and she will spend the 2026 summer semester studying Agronomy, Ecology, and Marine Biology independently at la Universidad San Francisco de Quito in Cumbaya, Ecuador.

Additional Information 

We strive to host events that are inclusive and accessible to everyone. If you have a disability and require accommodations to fully participate in this activity, please reach out to Hallie Stelzle, EPN Program Assistant (stelzle.2@osu.edu). Requests made five business days in advance will generally allow us to provide seamless access. However, we will make every effort to meet requests made after this time frame. You will be contacted by someone from our staff to discuss your specific needs.