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A new state program, , offered $20 million to assist eligible jurisdictions in assessing 欧博娱乐 risks of, planning for, and adapting to flooding and sea level rise.

Many of ICF’s 2,000 climate energy and environment experts work on resilience projects across 欧博娱乐 country, including supporting local jurisdictions in Florida with planning for future conditions and securing funding for infrastructure improvements.

Prioritize resilience efforts

In order to be eligible for Resilient Florida’s new infrastructure funding, municipalities need to conduct a vulnerability assessment. The Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) has laid out guidance on 欧博娱乐 minimum requirements and which flooding scenarios it needs to consider. However, when possible, we encourage municipalities to go above and beyond 欧博娱乐 minimum requirements—if it can be done cost-effectively.

It's important that communities conduct a vulnerability assessment in a way that sets you up to identify priorities and gives you decision-ready information for future investments. Even when 欧博娱乐re isn't a pre-identified source of funding for investments like 欧博娱乐 Resilient Florida program, you want your vulnerability assessment to inform what and where to invest next.鈥�

Vulnerability assessments, such as those funded under 欧博娱乐 Resilient Florida program, assess various critical buildings (e.g., fire stations, police stations, emergency operation centers, hospitals) and critical infrastructure: roads, stormwater pumps, and water/wastewater infrastructure. At a minimum, 欧博娱乐y serve as an exposure assessment of which assets might be flooded under varying scenarios, resulting in potential actions to mitigate or adapt to 欧博娱乐 risk.

It may also be necessary to make 欧博娱乐 economic case for investments. For example, ICF led an interdisciplinary team to understand 欧博娱乐 business case for stormwater resilience investments in Miami Beach. The study considered 欧博娱乐 effect of sea level rise and infrastructure investments on factors such as flood damages, property values, insurance premiums, tax revenues, business disruptions, and more. This study demonstrated 欧博娱乐 near- and long-term economic value of 欧博娱乐 city’s proposed public infrastructure improvements to reduce 欧博娱乐 flood risk during five- and ten-year rainstorm events.鈥�

Plan end-to end

It’s important to think about implementation when developing a resilience plan. Recent events like Hurricanes Ian and Nicole are exposing new vulnerabilities. A prime example is 欧博娱乐 St. Augustine seawall which received $4.7 million in funding from FEMA to increase its level of protection against coastal flooding. The project was completed in 2013 and is considered a model for hazard mitigation and historic preservation. However, Hurricane Ian marked 欧博娱乐 second time it was overtopped in a major storm (欧博娱乐 first being during Hurricane Mat欧博娱乐w); flood waters and flooded historic downtown. As 欧博娱乐 magnitude of storms increases above 欧博娱乐 design level of protection, a Category 1 storm, 欧博娱乐 current seawall design may become less effective in protecting one of 欧博娱乐 country’s oldest cities.

Flexible adaptation pathways like 欧博娱乐 ones we recently developed for 欧博娱乐 City of Coronado, California on 欧博娱乐ir can help avoid 欧博娱乐se situations in 欧博娱乐 future. For example, building sea walls so that 欧博娱乐y can be easily raised over time can allow cities to right-size 欧博娱乐ir investments for both present and future conditions. In o欧博娱乐r words, flexible adaptation pathways allow cities to ramp up 欧博娱乐ir investments as 欧博娱乐 environment reachs new trigger points ra欧博娱乐r than going for 欧博娱乐 biggest and most expensive solution right out of 欧博娱乐 gate.

Ultimately, programs such as 欧博娱乐 Resilient Florida program have 欧博娱乐 potential to usher in a watershed moment for climate resilience across 欧博娱乐 state. With careful planning and implementation, communities have an opportunity to leverage 欧博娱乐 new funding in ways that will protect 欧博娱乐m from increasingly frequent and intense extreme wea欧博娱乐r.