By Kate Wesner, American Flood Coalition
Florida has long understood a basic truth: We live on a low-lying peninsula, so flooding is not a future risk; it is a present and growing reality for communities all across our state.
That is why Florida became a national leader through the Resilient Florida program, creating a reliable, transparent funding framework that helps protect communities from flooding.
We must continue to invest in cost-effective solutions to protect people and property from flood damage. The Legislature should:
- Fund the statewide plan for flooding at $200 million
- Fund the Resilient Florida planning grants to $20 million
In 2021, the Florida Legislature passed the “Always Ready” legislation, recognizing that both coastal and inland communities face increasing risks from flooding. These risks threaten public safety, economic stability and critical infrastructure.
The program has been a wise investment of taxpayer dollars: identifying the most urgent risks, prioritizing projects based on impacts, and delivering real protection for people, infrastructure and the economy. In short, Florida has built a smart model that other states are trying to replicate.
The results speak for themselves. Resilient Florida has supported projects that harden water utilities, protect fire and rescue stations, safeguard transportation infrastructure, and upgrade stormwater and wastewater systems. These are practical investments that protect lives, property and the systems Floridians depend on every day.
Demand for the program continues to far outpace funding, with more than 120 eligible projects statewide totaling over $1.5 billion. Investing in solutions now reduces flood risk and costly repairs. Every dollar not invested in disaster resilience today can cost communities up to $33 in lost future economic activity.
Flooding will still happen; the only question is how prepared we are when it does. At a moment when federal disaster funding is increasingly uncertain, Florida’s ability to address flooding at the state level has become even more critical.
In 2024, the U.S. experienced 27 separate billion-dollar disasters, totaling $182.7 billion in damages. That marked the fifth consecutive year with 18 or more such events, underscoring a new normal for communities across the country. Major disasters are only becoming more frequent, and at a time when many Florida communities are still recovering from recent storms, the Legislature should take this opportunity to increase our investment in critical infrastructure.
Financial markets are also paying attention. The S&P credited the AAA bond rating in November 2021 to the Always Ready legislation, saying Florida’s “demonstrated mitigation and adaptation initiatives, are supportive of S&P’s long-term view of the state’s credit quality.” S&P specifically referenced the Legislature’s $629 million investment that year to support Resilient Florida initiatives, proving just how beneficial these programs are to the state’s financial health.
Hurricane season is just around the corner, and the Legislature can continue to demonstrate leadership by protecting our communities from flood damage before the next storm season.
Kate Wesner is the Florida director at the American Flood Coalition. Banner photo: A sign on a Sarasota street closed due to flooding from Hurricane Debby (iStock image).
Sign up for The Invading Sea newsletter by visiting here. To support The Invading Sea, click here to make a donation. If you are interested in submitting an opinion piece to The Invading Sea, email Editor Nathan Crabbe.
