The CASES database allows users to search the database using a variety of search criteria. Basic search criteria include country, sub-region (e.g., state or province), and impact areas. Country and sub-region selections will expand over time as more case study reports are added to the CASES database.

Advanced search criteria are provided to further refine the search.  These include population range, political jurisdiction type (e.g., state, county/local, or tribal/First Nation governments) and adaptation activities (e.g., developing an adaptation plan, public education and outreach).

Database searches can be as broad or as narrow as you choose to make them. For example:

• If you are interested in viewing all CASES reports, leave the basic search criteria settings on “any” (the default setting) and simply select "Search Reports" under the basic search fields.
• If you are interested in viewing only U.S. state-level adaptation planning, select "United States" for country in the basic search fields and "State" in the political jurisdiction field in the advanced search criteria.
• If you are interested in viewing adaptation planning efforts addressing sea level rise in small coastal communities regardless of location, leave Country and State/Province settings on “any” (the default setting), select "coasts" under Impact Areas, and select the desired population range in the advanced search fields. To narrow this search to specific geographic locations, choose the desired country and State/Province.

Searching by keywords will also help refine your database search.

Each CASES report includes a summary of adaptation planning activities within a community and contact information for requesting additional information. The goal of CASES is to provide an overview of a community's planning activities rather than an exhaustive accounting. Users are encouraged to email report contacts with additional questions.