Storm surge flooding of downtown Gulfport, Florida, during Hurricane Helene. Screenshot from The Gabber web cam 2024.
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One group is using a nearly 2 million dollar grant to help reduce the impact of flooding on Tampa Bay.
The Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council is working on a Tampa Bay Coastal Master Plan.
The planning council is using a grant from the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation to reduce flood risks in Citrus, Hernando, Pasco, Pinellas, Hillsborough, Manatee, and Sarasota counties.
Alana Todd, the planning council’s principal environmental planner, said residents recognize that flooding isn’t going away.
“The risks, the impacts we face from flooding will likely only worsen as our climate is changing, and so people are eager to get involved and really learn how they can support the plan,” Todd told WMNF.
Todd has worked with the community and got people involved in the making of the plan.
“You know, flooding doesn’t stop at, you know, our county or city borders. So having a plan like this is really, you know, spurring that kind of collaboration and coordination that we need, because right now, you know, flood projects are pretty disparate and small scale.” Todd said.
Now, Todd said they are in their risk assessment phase, which involves flood mapping and identifying vulnerabilities around the region.
They estimate the four-year plan will be completed by the end of 2028, after which they will put together a comprehensive plan for local governments to use to reduce the risk of flooding.
The Tampa Bay Regional Planning Council is also providing training on how small businesses can react in a Category 5 hurricane scenario.
For more information on the Tampa Bay Coastal Master Plan, click here.
For information on the hurricane program, Project Phoenix, click here.