Miami Beach is a low-lying community where many buildings are vulnerable to flooding, from king tides to storms and rising seas. To help property owners, the City of Miami Beach launched the Private Property Adaptation Program, which provides guidance and grant funding for flood mitigation improvements.
The program can award up to $20,000 for the full scope of work, including a $2,500 assessment report and up to $17,500 in reimbursable funds for design and construction. For low- to moderate-income residents, the program may cover the entire cost of a project, up to $17,500, without requiring a funding match.
Danielle Irwin, senior director at coastal and marine engineering firm Cummins Cedarburg, has spent decades studying sea-level challenges. She is also the project manager for the coastal management program in Bal Harbour, where Miami is upgrading its first line of defense along the beach.
“The trend in coastal counties is that, yes, we have more flooding,” Irwin said. “Sea level has risen, and we have stormier weather. That means more precipitation and more water from a sea-level standpoint. And that creates a higher stage for storm surge to sit upon — and go further onto the land.”
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