Irys is a tech company that works with partners to improve community engagement and the efficiency of public service. The app allows users to flag items, ask questions, respond to surveys, and more to bridge the gap of communication and centralize it on one platform for the community. This cuts down the risk of miscommunication or concerns going unheard between the community and decision-makers.
Irys in Nantucket
The Coastal Resilience Plan aims to reduce the impacts of coastal flooding, erosion, and sea level rise. Climate Change presents an urgent and pressing crisis for Nantucket. Developing a Coastal Resilience Plan is a critical step in the Town and County of Nantucket’s process of preparing for and adapting to the effects of climate change, which include increasingly intense and frequent coastal flooding, erosion, and future sea level rise. The plan will analyze risks to the island’s homes and businesses, public infrastructure, economy, civic spaces, and historic and natural resources, and propose location-specific interventions for reducing long-term risks and increasing resilience, as well as provide a recommended implementation roadmap. The process will build on prior and ongoing studies led by the Town, including the Hazard Mitigation Plan (2019).

In collaboration with Irys, the Nantucket Coastal Resilience Plan Project Team is excited to launch the Irys App – a tool to help facilitate two-way engagement as the CRP development moves forward. Nantucket is the very first place the app will be available! Please be aware that, as with any new technology, the app is being continually refined and updated. As the CRP and Irys teams identify any issues, they will be addressed through future updates.
Using the app, the Nantucket community can provide feedback, see events, projects, and surveys for the Plan. The centralized conversation occurring through the Irys app is important for community participation during COVID-19 and for those who may not be available for meetings or comfortable giving feedback in public spaces. The app allows that communication to flow freely and invites welcome input from everyone.