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.
The CRP project team is excited to be launching the Irys app for the first time on Nantucket. We know effectively engaging the Nantucket community in the CRP process will require having multiple options for people to get involved, not just because of the many challenges created by the COVID-19 pandemic but also because the community itself is diverse in the ways that people what to learn about and provide input on projects that will affect their quality of life. The Irys app is just one tool that we are using to facilitate a two-way dialogue with the Nantucket community, both on and off island, in order to share information, gather feedback, and ultimately deliver a plan that reflects the shared values and goals of the community. We encourage everyone to download the Irys app today!
Trevor Johnson
Download the app using the app store, and begin providing input after set up! Users can choose how to provide that input, whether through location, category and by responding to survey questions. All you have to do is explore and see what is out there!
