The specific climate and environmental stressors affecting Tulsa include tornadoes, flooding, and intense winter storms along with air and water pollution. Further complicating these environmental challenges are social and economic problems including failing and aging infrastructure, pronounced poverty, and a lack of educational infrastructure. Tulsa has greatly reduced flood vulnerabilities by removing over 12,000 homes and businesses from the floodplain; detailed Master Drainage Plans for each of its 56 creeks and drainage basins paired with investment of over $500 million in structural and non-structural flood protection has helped them achieve this.
The City of Tulsa will create impact volunteering initiatives to further tackle these problems through the Resilience AmeriCorps program. Resilience AmeriCorps VISTA members' activities may include convening a comprehensive group of community stakeholders to update and consolidate the various plans which currently exist within the City, and possibly develop and implement an overarching and sustainable resilience strategy for the citizens of Tulsa.