Florida SHMPoints
Providing insightful mitigation news and information from around the State of Florida.
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St. Augustine Seawall Receives National Award
By: Michael Wallick
In our December 2013 SHMPoints Newsletter, we
highlighted the St. Augustine Sea Wall Reconstruction
Project. We are proud to announce that the seawall project has
recently been recognized on a national level. The American
Public Works Association named the sea wall restoration the
Public Works Project of the Year for historic preservation and
restoration projects that cost between $5 million and $25
million.
The sea wall was initially constructed in 1697 out of aged
coquina and a soft limestone composed of sand and broken
shells. The sea wall, located south of the Bridge of Lions,
began to show signs of deterioration by 1821, around the time
Florida became a US territory. Between 1833 and 1844, a
section of the sea wall was rebuilt by graduates from the
United States Military Academy at West Point. Following
significant impacts from Tropical Storm Gabrielle in 2001,
city officials began to consider potential designs to mitigate
the sea wall against future impacts. A 150-foot section of the
wall was breached during Tropical Storm Fay in 2008,
causing damage to the seawall and flooding in the
surrounding area. Tropical Storm Fay heightened the need to
replace the aging seawall. After more than 10 years of
planning, the City of St. Augustine applied for and was
awarded a FEMA grant under the Flood Mitigation Assistance
program, administered by the Florida Division of Emergency
Management, for $4.74 million. This grant covered 75% of
the total project cost, with the remaining 25% being funded
through the City’s Historic Parking Facility. Total project cost
was approximately $6.7 million. Construction of the new
seawall began in 2012 and the project was completed in
February 2014.
In recognition, a plaque from the American Public Works
Association was presented to the City of St. Augustine,
project consultant Taylor Engineering, and project contractor
C&D Construction at an event in Phoenix, Arizona from
August 30th to September 2nd, according to the American
Public Works Association. The association is a nonprofit
group with almost 29,000 members in public works. A review
committee determines the project of the year awards, which
are given each year “to promote excellence in the
management and administration of public works projects,”
according to the group. Awards are given in four cost
divisions, the highest exceeding $75 million. The lowest cost
category is under $5 million.
The sea wall project was “a 12-year process of consensus
building, planning, design and construction resulting in a new
current-day seawall capable of holding back Category 1
hurricanes, while also preserving and protecting one of St.
Augustine’s most valued assets — the historic coquina
Continued on page 2
Left: Signage near the seawall details the historical significance it holds. Middle: Tropical Storm Gabrielle (2001) sent waters
overtopping the seawall. Right: Portions of the seawall were breached during Tropical Storm Fay (2008).
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seawall.” Martha Graham, City of St. Augustine public works
director, noted efforts to restore the seawall had to include
preservation of the existing structure. “You couldn’t just build
a new one without consideration of the old wall,” said
Graham, who submitted the nomination for the award. The
end result was preservation of the old seawall with a new
walkway in front, a higher wall, and revamped drainage
system. “The old seawall was leaking, so the bay front
flooded a lot,” Graham said. “The project basically built a
new wall in front of the old wall.”
The project had its challenges, which Graham said was a
consideration in the award. An issue with the design was
discovered that would have caused flooding problems on the
promenade, but officials went back to the drawing board and
fixed it, she said. Also, the old wall started shifting during
construction, so extra supports were needed.
This award is the second for the seawall project. The
seawall also received an award from the Florida Trust for
Historic Preservation in May 2014.
Left: St. Augustine Seawall prior to renovations. Middle: Construction of the new seawall. Right: Residents enjoy the newly
constructed seawall which includes pedestrian recreation paths.
2015 Florida Mayor’s Resilience Symposium
By: Leslie Henderson-Chapman
During the summer of
2012, I delivered a workshop
on disaster mitigation as part
of the Florida League of
Mayors/League of Cities
Annual Conference. I always
reflect after a speaking
engagement, and while I
perceived that the audience was interested, I wasn’t sure I
generated “edge of the seat” engagement. Understandably,
Mayors are constantly balancing a long list of important
priorities, and presenters like me are competing for their
attention.
In the summer of 2014 I spoke again at the same
conference. The audience was not only engaged, but they were
on their feet. Mayor Ashton Hayward of Pensacola told us
about wind mitigation retrofit programs. Mayor Sam Ferreri,
an architect by profession, detailed flood mitigation
infrastructure projects in his Palm Beach County community
of Greenacres. All those present joined the discussion of sea
level rise impacts and the bipartisan South Florida Climate
Action Pledge.
So what changed from
2012 to 2014? Clearly,
resilience had “arrived”.
Indeed, it had moved to the
top of the long list of mayoral
“to do’s”.
To keep the momentum
going following the 2014 conference, FLASH forged an
official partnership with the Florida League of Mayors to
advance our shared commitment to resilience. During May of
this year, we convened the first Florida Mayors Resilience
Symposium where we connected our groups and delivered a
day-long program of information on disaster and climate
resiliency.
In my presentation, I outlined the essential elements for
strong, safe, and resilient communities. Namely: strong, wellenforced codes and standards; consumers and leaders who
understand, value, and demand stronger, safer buildings;
higher education that includes building codes and mitigation;
incentives (insurance, real estate, and tax); innovators in all
sectors; and research—building, social science, and more.
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Continued from page 2
I shared my conviction formed from more than 17 years
in this movement that Mayors hold a powerful key. They can
make the case for policies that prepare their constituents for
the future. They can open (or close) the doors to adoption of
modern, model building codes, and the resources necessary
for enforcement of same. They can give voice to resilience as
a top priority in their communities because, like politics, all
disasters are local.
Federal and state governments can provide resources to
communities to increase resilience beforehand, and they
certainly provide resources for recovery after the fact. But a
truly resilient community takes ownership and makes a
priority to put all the pieces together ahead of time in a way
that is unique to its culture, history, and values.
That is why mayors are the MVPs on the team for climate
and disaster resilience.
We saw evidence of this during Ft. Myers Mayor Randall
Henderson’s symposium presentation. He shared their
waterside development plan that incorporated flood maps,
evacuation zone maps, and more. Clearly, their planning
incorporated insights from our friends at NOAA.
We also heard a passionate call to action from former
county commissioner/now Florida State Representative
Kristin Jacobs who riveted the gathering with her clarity on
the impacts of sea level rise and linkage between disaster and
climate resilience.
This groundswell of local leadership, along with
impressive initiatives to measure and quantify resilience
driven by federal resources, is creating the excitement and
commitment that we need to advance our shared cause.
However, we still need all sectors to commit and participate.
Joe Tankersley of Unique Visions, a futurist, former Walt
Disney Imagineer, and member of our board of directors, led
the closing dialogue at the symposium and introduced
resilience as a “wicked problem” requiring foresight and
strategic decisions. The term “wicked problem” was
popularized in the 1973 article, Dilemmas in a General
Theory of Planning by Horst Rittel and Melvin Webber, and it
“refers to a complex problem for which there is no simple
method of solution.” [Financial Times http://www.ft.com/
home/us]
FLASH agrees There is no better term when discussing
the issue of resilience, and we need continue to create
innovative,
multidiscipline solutions to
achieve
our
desired
goals. As we expand our
partnership with the
Florida
League
of
Mayors to mayors across
the nation, we will
continue to listen to local
challenges and needs.
We
will
develop
information and tools to
empower local leaders.
And we will craft
innovative solutions to
disaster-safety barriers.
When we do this,
we will continue down
the path to a world that
not
only
survives
disasters, but bounces
back better than before.
Disney partner, Larry Lenihan
(right), joined The Florida
League of Mayors to welcome
FLASH Director/State Farm
Director, Arthur Parks (left), to
Storm Struck for his first visit.
Environmental Considerations for Mitigation
By: David Block
In emergency management, environmental resources can
often be overlooked, particularly with regards to hazard
mitigation. From white sand beaches to crystal blue springs to
hundreds of square miles of upland forest and wetland
ecosystems, Florida is an ecologically diverse state with
numerous environmental treasures.
Preserving Florida’s environmental resources from the
impacts of disaster has many added benefits for the state.
Environmental conservation is important not only for
maintaining healthy functional ecosystems for aesthetic and
recreational purposes, but also for the unique role that the
environment plays in hazard mitigation.
When conducting hazard risk and vulnerability
assessments, there are numerous reasons why it is important to
engage in environmental preservation. Environmental assets
can often serve as the first line of defense against the impacts
of a natural disaster.
Healthy beaches and mangrove
ecosystems help to buffer against hurricanes and coastal
storms. Marshlands and swamps help to capture and recycle
floodwaters. Properly maintained forests can help to prevent
against disastrous wildfires. Through proper environmental
mitigation, people and property can become better protected.
There are many opportunities for Florida counties and
local jurisdictions to engage in environmental preservation.
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The Brevard County Department of Natural Resources, for
example, has identified and designed several beach renourishment projects in conjunction with the U.S. Army
Corps of Engineers to help aid in beach reconstruction should
a coastal storm strike Brevard County. As a result of
Hurricanes Frances and Jeanne in 2004, three foot drifts of
sand blew over dunes and onto coastal roads and properties in
the county. In 2012, Brevard County received $4.6 million in
matching funds from the Florida Department of
Environmental Protection to help with coastal beach renourishment as a result of Hurricane Sandy. These healthy
beaches serve many functions in addition to providing
recreational opportunities for beach goers. They help to
buffer local homes and businesses against the devastating
impacts of storm surge and are a critically important habitat
for nesting sea turtles.
allows for the sustained use of these natural resources for
years to come, providing a continued source of revenue for the
state of Florida.
The Florida Division of Emergency Management
maintains a list of funding opportunities that are available for
county and local jurisdictions to engage in environmental
conservation initiatives. Preserving Florida’s environment
serves many functions for the state and for its citizens, as well
as for its natural ecosystems.
FDEM encourages the
identification and development of different environmental
initiatives to help protect the citizens of Florida and their
environment from the impacts of disaster.
Environmental preservation is also important for
economic purposes. With an economic impact of over $70
billion, the tourism industry plays a vital role in Florida’s
economy. Whether kayaking the Suwannee River, camping
in the Ocala National Forest, sunbathing on the beaches of
Clearwater, or fishing in the Florida Keys, Florida offers
numerous
environmental
recreational
opportunities.
Preserving the environment from the impacts of disaster
Top Right: Walton County completed wildfire mitigation in 2014 by clearing some of the brush near neighborhoods to expand
the buffer zone. Bottom Left: Volusia County completed an oyster reef restoration project at Mosquito Lagoon in 2015.
Bottom Middle: Collier County completed a mangrove restoration project at Rookery Bay National Estuarine Research
Reserve in 2015. Bottom Right: Impacts from Hurricane Jeanne to the Brevard County shoreline in 2004 show the need for
shoreline mitigation.
Congratulations!
Bay, Brevard, Charlotte, Citrus, Duval, Hernando, Highlands,
Hillsborough, Indian River, Manatee, Polk, Putnam, Volusia, and Walton
Counties completed the LMS update process.
Their new plans expire in 2020.
Clay, Gulf, and Walton Counties achieved Approved Pending Adoption
Status.
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Hazard Profile: Saltwater Intrusion
By: Michelle Teller
Saltwater intrusion occurs when freshwater is being
withdrawn from the ground at a rate that cannot be naturally
replaced, allowing
for an influx of saltwater. This
phenomenon has been reported since the early 1900’s in
various coastal communities around the globe. Florida has
almost 2,000 miles of coastline and a karst topography, which
allows for an expansive system of underground freshwater.
This fresh groundwater can be accessed through wells that are
drilled down into aquifers for agricultural, residential, and
industrial uses. With the amount of water being pulled from
aquifers and proximity of surrounding coastlines, this makes
Florida particularly vulnerable to saltwater intrusion, which
can happen both laterally and vertically.
Lateral intrusion is the most common occurrence and
results when fresh groundwater is removed from the aquifer at
a rate faster than can be replaced, and the heavier saltwater
then moves laterally to fill this void. Rising sea levels push the
seawater inland, leading to increased effects of saltwater
intrusion. Saltwater intrusion can only occur in areas that are
within a certain distance from the ocean, varying with the
depth of the land surface.
Vertical intrusion occurs when deep freshwater is
extracted at an unsustainable rate, causing an upward
movement of the deeper saline zones. Freshwater is less dense
than salt water and it floats to the top while the heavier
saltwater settles at the bottom. There is no distinct boundary
between salt and fresh water, leaving a brackish mixing zone
somewhere in-between. In normal circumstances fresh water
flows towards the sea and prevents salt water from entering
freshwater coastal aquifers. Vertical intrusion causes the
saltwater to mix and can contaminate a well with saltwater
indefinitely, rendering it unusable.
Intrusion is slowly becoming a more pressing issue in
Florida and has the ability to harm people, the environment,
and infrastructure. Contamination of the aquifer systems
reduces water availability for human consumption and
agricultural use. One of the most well-known areas for
saltwater intrusion is South Florida. In areas such as
Hallandale Beach, six out of eight wells have been closed due
to this occurrence. The city has been forced to obtain water
from well fields in western Broward County, and is vulnerable
to losing the two functioning wells if an increase in
consumption arises.
Although over-pumping is the major cause for saltwater
intrusion in coastal areas, other factors can contribute. The
aquifer is naturally recharged through rainfall onto permeable
surfaces such as grass, rivers, streams, and sinkholes. With
increases in development, the flow of rainfall is led directly
into storm drains instead of surfaces that recharge the aquifer.
This is true of parking lots and other impervious surfaces that
block the natural recharge of the water table. Other issues such
as sea level rise, road salts, sewage effluents, and mineral
deposits can affect the salinity in our water supply. Rising sea
levels push the seawater inland, leading to increased effects of
saltwater intrusion.
Cities such as Pompano Beach, Dania Beach, Lantana,
and Lake Worth have experienced intrusion with cities further
inland becoming increasingly threatened. Plans have been set
to mitigate against the amount saltwater entering the South
Florida water supply and new plans may soon be on the rise in
areas without historic issues.
P A G E
Need More Information?
Jamie Leigh Price
[email protected]
Michael Wallick
[email protected]
David Block
[email protected]
Alex Falcone
[email protected]
Leslie Chapman-Henderson
[email protected]
The Bureau of Mitigation
Mitigation is an integral part of the Florida Division of
Emergency Management (FDEM). Mitigation actions
reduce or eliminate the loss of life and property by
lessening the impact of disasters. Due to Florida’s
weather, geography, and miles of coastline the state is
highly vulnerable to disasters. Disasters can be very
costly to both the citizens and government.
Under the direction of Division Director Bryan W. Koon
and State Hazard Mitigation Officer, Miles E. Anderson,
the Bureau of Mitigation administers several federal
mitigation grant programs including the Hazard
Mitigation Grant Program, the Pre-Disaster Mitigation
Program, and the Flood Mitigation Assistance Program.
The Bureau also administers a state funded mitigation
program called the Residential Construction Mitigation
Program.
If you would like to know more about mitigation in
Florida please visit: www.floridadisaster.org/mitigation.
Current Update Cycle
Approved
24
Approved
Pending Adoption
5
Expired
3
Complete
12
6