By: Anna Brooks
As communities across the United States face increasing risks from hurricanes, floods, wildfires, and other natural disasters, many leaders are asking a critical question: How can preparedness become part of everyday life rather than a response after tragedy strikes?
For Stacy A. Bourne, FAIA, founder and principal architect of The Bourne Group, LLC, the answer begins with education, planning, and community engagement. Through her expanding Disaster Smart™ initiative, Bourne is developing practical resources designed to help families, schools, organizations, and communities strengthen disaster readiness before emergencies occur.
Turning Experience Into Action
With more than 35 years of experience and firsthand recovery from 12 hurricanes, Bourne has spent much of her career focused on resilience, disaster recovery, and community preparedness. Her latest efforts reflect a growing recognition that disaster readiness must extend beyond emergency management professionals and become part of everyday conversations at home, in schools, and throughout local communities.
“Preparedness is not something we should think about after a disaster happens,” Bourne says. “I’m committed to helping families, schools, businesses, and communities build simple habits and systems that can save lives, protect property, and support recovery before a crisis ever begins.”
Her perspective is rooted in personal experience. After surviving Hurricane Marilyn in the U.S. Virgin Islands, Bourne witnessed the realities communities face when critical infrastructure is damaged, communication systems fail, and resources become limited. The experience reinforced her belief that preparedness is not about fear, but about creating practical plans and support systems before disaster strikes.
Educating the Next Generation and Building Community Resilience
One of the central components of the Disaster Smart™ initiative is the Disaster Smart™ Coloring and Workbook Series, currently under review by educators and being tested by children during its development phase. Designed for children ages 9 and older, the series uses architecture, floor plans, activities, and guided questions to introduce disaster preparedness concepts in an accessible and engaging way.
Rather than focusing solely on emergency response, the workbooks encourage families to have important conversations about preparedness. Questions about where family members would meet if separated during a disaster, for example, can help transform awareness into action and encourage households to establish plans before an emergency occurs.
The initiative also includes disaster readiness checklists and the evolving Disaster Readiness Resilience Hub Blueprint. The blueprint encourages schools, churches, civic organizations, and public facilities to serve as preparedness and support centers within their communities, helping strengthen local networks before and after disasters.
The concept reflects a broader shift in how many communities approach resilience. As disaster-related costs continue to rise and local organizations increasingly play a role in response and recovery efforts, community-based preparedness models are gaining attention as a practical way to strengthen local capacity.
Bourne believes that resilience often develops most effectively when people work together at the neighborhood level, sharing resources, building relationships, and creating plans before challenges arise.
“We know disasters are becoming more frequent and more costly,” Bourne says. “Communities cannot afford to wait until after an event to make a plan. I believe every neighborhood, church, school, and organization has the potential to become a resilience hub that helps people navigate challenges and recover faster.”
Preparedness Through Design and Planning
The Disaster Smart™ initiative aligns closely with Bourne’s broader professional mission. As founding principal of The Bourne Group, LLC, she has spent decades helping communities, institutions, universities, public agencies, developers, and property owners strengthen resilience through disaster preparedness, recovery planning, and code-driven design solutions.
Founded in 2000, The Bourne Group specializes in disaster recovery, resilient renovations, historic preservation, community-engaged design, and preparedness planning. The firm’s work has supported clients in hurricane-prone regions, including the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Gulf Coast, where resilient design strategies can play a significant role in reducing risk and supporting long-term continuity.
Recognition for a Career Dedicated to Resilience
Bourne’s contributions to the profession have also earned notable recognition. She was elevated to the American Institute of Architects College of Fellows in 2012, an honor held by fewer than 3% of AIA members. Most recently, she received the Angela O’Byrne Award from the Tulane University School of Architecture and the Built Environment, as well as the Award for Distinction from the Washington University Sam Fox School of Design & Visual Arts.
As disaster risks continue to evolve, Bourne’s work highlights a simple but often overlooked principle: preparedness is most effective when it begins long before a crisis occurs. Through education, planning, and community collaboration, the Disaster Smart™ initiative aims to help individuals and organizations take practical steps today that can make a meaningful difference tomorrow.
For more information about Disaster Smart™ and available preparedness resources, visit thebournegroup.com.
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