Climate Hazard & Social Vulnerability Study

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Are you concerned about hailstorms, floods, wildfires, and other extreme weather? The City of Lakewood is creating a Climate Hazard & Social Vulnerability Study to be better prepared for the future.

This study seeks to build from the Jefferson County Hazard Mitigation Plan with a Lakewood-specific climate hazard and vulnerability assessment and analysis, accounting for the anticipated impacts of climate change. It will evaluate the potential impacts of climate change on natural hazards that pose the greatest risks to Lakewood’s residents, infrastructure, and economy, with particular focus on socially vulnerable communities. The project is funded by the FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.

This project is now complete.


May 2025 Final Project Update:

The Climate Hazard and Social Vulnerability Study Final Report is now available! English and Spanish versions of the full report are available in the "Documents" section to the right.

We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to all those who contributed to this study, including the City of Lakewood staff, internal and community working groups, and additional organizations and individuals whose support, expertise, and dedication were invaluable in shaping this work.

Key highlights from the study include:

  • Spatial mapping of where priority climate hazards (including heat, wildfire, and flooding) intersect with social factors (like age, income, language, and disability) reveal neighborhoods that may need targeted support to be resilient to climate events.
  • Hundreds of community members shared their concerns and ideas through a public survey, focus groups, and workshops. Residents emphasized the importance of better emergency planning, energy resilience, cooler public spaces, safer infrastructure, and stronger community outreach.
  • Over 60 potential adaptation actions were identified as options to build resilience in Lakewood. They are organized into six themes: Public Engagement and Outreach; Emergency Preparedness and Planning; Climate-Resilient Infrastructure; Energy Resilience; Natural Spaces and Green Infrastructure; and Governance and Collaboration.

Next steps include ongoing collaboration with internal departments, residents, and community partners. Going forward, this study will help inform future planning efforts and decision-making to ensure Lakewood is a safe, sustainable, and climate-resilient community for generations to come.


March 2025 Project Update:

Thank you to the 228 community members who responded to our community survey! The survey results are available in the "Documents" section to the right.

We have been busy compiling all of the engagement results and drafting the report for this study, which will be shared with the Internal Working Group, Community Working Group, and Focus Group members this month for their feedback. After those meetings, the draft report will be finalized and published later this spring. Check back for the final report!


December 2024 Project Update:

Throughout the fall, the project team met with a Community Working Group of representatives from organizations who work with and advocate for people who are more susceptible to the impacts of climate change (including older adults, those with mobility issues and other disabilities, people who are unhoused, and those facing challenges with food access) and with Focus Groups of members representing business interests and surrounding municipalities. These amazing partners provided local context for the data collected in earlier phases of the project and helped identify potential actions that we can take as a community to help reduce risks for our most vulnerable members.

Now, we're encouraging residents to share their experiences and concerns, which will help guide the study’s findings and ensure we create strategies that are truly representative of the needs of all members of our community. An online survey is now available to gather your thoughts on the risks and challenges you've experienced due to climate hazards. Your responses will guide the development of potential strategies to protect Lakewood, which will be published in the final report in early 2025.

Go to the survey now and check back soon for additional updates on the study findings!


August 2024 Project Update:

We are almost done creating a model of the climate risks expected to affect Lakewood, and are moving into the next phase of the study! This phase will concentrate on social vulnerability, aiming to help city staff better understand how climate impacts affect underserved or marginalized people in the community and how these impacts intersect with other social vulnerabilities, such as income, age, and health. It is important that the study is rooted in the realities of the Lakewood community and accurately reflects the concerns and needs of its members. Next steps will include:

  • Collection of demographic and community data focused on socially vulnerable groups and neighborhoods in order to better understand the current and anticipated climate risks they face.
  • Formation of a Community Working Group with representatives who work with and/or advocate for members of the community most vulnerable to the local impacts of climate change.
  • A community survey for the general public and other stakeholders to offer insights and lived experiences related to climate impacts and vulnerabilities.

Stay tuned for upcoming opportunities to provide your insights!

Are you concerned about hailstorms, floods, wildfires, and other extreme weather? The City of Lakewood is creating a Climate Hazard & Social Vulnerability Study to be better prepared for the future.

This study seeks to build from the Jefferson County Hazard Mitigation Plan with a Lakewood-specific climate hazard and vulnerability assessment and analysis, accounting for the anticipated impacts of climate change. It will evaluate the potential impacts of climate change on natural hazards that pose the greatest risks to Lakewood’s residents, infrastructure, and economy, with particular focus on socially vulnerable communities. The project is funded by the FEMA Hazard Mitigation Grant Program.

This project is now complete.


May 2025 Final Project Update:

The Climate Hazard and Social Vulnerability Study Final Report is now available! English and Spanish versions of the full report are available in the "Documents" section to the right.

We would like to extend our sincere gratitude to all those who contributed to this study, including the City of Lakewood staff, internal and community working groups, and additional organizations and individuals whose support, expertise, and dedication were invaluable in shaping this work.

Key highlights from the study include:

  • Spatial mapping of where priority climate hazards (including heat, wildfire, and flooding) intersect with social factors (like age, income, language, and disability) reveal neighborhoods that may need targeted support to be resilient to climate events.
  • Hundreds of community members shared their concerns and ideas through a public survey, focus groups, and workshops. Residents emphasized the importance of better emergency planning, energy resilience, cooler public spaces, safer infrastructure, and stronger community outreach.
  • Over 60 potential adaptation actions were identified as options to build resilience in Lakewood. They are organized into six themes: Public Engagement and Outreach; Emergency Preparedness and Planning; Climate-Resilient Infrastructure; Energy Resilience; Natural Spaces and Green Infrastructure; and Governance and Collaboration.

Next steps include ongoing collaboration with internal departments, residents, and community partners. Going forward, this study will help inform future planning efforts and decision-making to ensure Lakewood is a safe, sustainable, and climate-resilient community for generations to come.


March 2025 Project Update:

Thank you to the 228 community members who responded to our community survey! The survey results are available in the "Documents" section to the right.

We have been busy compiling all of the engagement results and drafting the report for this study, which will be shared with the Internal Working Group, Community Working Group, and Focus Group members this month for their feedback. After those meetings, the draft report will be finalized and published later this spring. Check back for the final report!


December 2024 Project Update:

Throughout the fall, the project team met with a Community Working Group of representatives from organizations who work with and advocate for people who are more susceptible to the impacts of climate change (including older adults, those with mobility issues and other disabilities, people who are unhoused, and those facing challenges with food access) and with Focus Groups of members representing business interests and surrounding municipalities. These amazing partners provided local context for the data collected in earlier phases of the project and helped identify potential actions that we can take as a community to help reduce risks for our most vulnerable members.

Now, we're encouraging residents to share their experiences and concerns, which will help guide the study’s findings and ensure we create strategies that are truly representative of the needs of all members of our community. An online survey is now available to gather your thoughts on the risks and challenges you've experienced due to climate hazards. Your responses will guide the development of potential strategies to protect Lakewood, which will be published in the final report in early 2025.

Go to the survey now and check back soon for additional updates on the study findings!


August 2024 Project Update:

We are almost done creating a model of the climate risks expected to affect Lakewood, and are moving into the next phase of the study! This phase will concentrate on social vulnerability, aiming to help city staff better understand how climate impacts affect underserved or marginalized people in the community and how these impacts intersect with other social vulnerabilities, such as income, age, and health. It is important that the study is rooted in the realities of the Lakewood community and accurately reflects the concerns and needs of its members. Next steps will include:

  • Collection of demographic and community data focused on socially vulnerable groups and neighborhoods in order to better understand the current and anticipated climate risks they face.
  • Formation of a Community Working Group with representatives who work with and/or advocate for members of the community most vulnerable to the local impacts of climate change.
  • A community survey for the general public and other stakeholders to offer insights and lived experiences related to climate impacts and vulnerabilities.

Stay tuned for upcoming opportunities to provide your insights!

  • CLOSED: This survey has concluded. The survey results report is available in the "Documents" section to the right.

    Climate Action Questionnaire

    Complete the survey by January 20, 2025, to be entered into the drawing for a $50 grocery gift card. Don't miss this opportunity to share your opinion and make a difference in Lakewood!

    From extreme heat and cold, to flooding and hailstorms, local weather is becoming more unpredictable and extreme. Many of these changes, along with disasters like wildfires, are shaped by the changing climate.  

    The City of Lakewood is conducting a Climate Hazard & Social Vulnerability Study to learn about the risks of these hazards and identify potential actions to prevent harm to our community. We are looking for your input to help us understand your concerns and prioritize actions that will help our community to become more resilient to extreme weather and climate hazards.

    Feedback collected in this questionnaire will help to inform initiatives to improve Lakewood's climate resilience. A report summarizing the questionnaire results will be published on the City of Lakewood’s website in early 2025.  

    This questionnaire has 2 parts:

    • Part 1 includes an overview of existing and potential actions, and will take between 15 and 20 minutes to complete. After completing Part 1, provide your contact information to enter in a drawing for a $50 grocery gift card, then you may either submit your responses and leave or continue to Part 2 of the questionnaire.
    • Part 2 part takes a more detailed look at experiences with existing programs and opinions about how potential action ideas may work in Lakewood. This part will take an additional 15 to 20 minutes to complete. If you choose to respond to Part 2 of the questionnaire, you will be entered into a drawing for an additional $50 grocery gift card, improving your chances of winning.


    Demographic information provided will help us understand the diverse needs of people in the Lakewood community. You can skip any topic or questions. If you decide to offer your contact information for the purposes of the gift card drawing, your questionnaire responses will be analyzed anonymously.

    Please contact Senior Sustainability Planner Caitlin Long at CaiLon@lakewood.org if you have any questions about the questionnaire.

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Page last updated: 03 Jun 2025, 02:10 PM