State of Florida Recommends City of Miami Beach Receive Resiliency Plan Funding

(Miami Beach, FL) Dec 8, 2021 -

The City of Miami Beach has been recommended to receive state funds for two critical projects as part of Florida’s Statewide Flooding Resilience Plan. The recommended funds total $28,524,119 and would be used to complete the First Street Flood Mitigation and Sea Level Rise Adaptation project and the Fire Station #1 project. The preliminary recommendations for funding recipients were announced on Wednesday, Dec. 8 by Florida Governor Ron DeSantis.

“While we understand that these recommendations will be subject to review and appropriation by the Legislature, we are beyond thrilled to be in this position,” said City Manager Alina T. Hudak. “The recommendations are a tribute to resilience planning and the hard work of our grants, resilience, and GO Bond team, and all of the departments that participated in the process.”

The Statewide Flooding Resilience Plan, part of Senate Bill 1954 which was approved earlier this year, will aid in Florida’s efforts to protect coastal and inland communities. The three-year plan proposes 76 projects totaling over $270 million across the state. The following Miami Beach projects would be funded upon gubernatorial approval:

First Street Flood Mitigation and Sea Level Rise Adaptation

Total award amount: $20,110,259

The First Street project is the city’s next resilience neighborhood improvement project with the primary objective of mitigating current and future flooding caused by intense rain, high tides and sea level rise. The project involves elevating First Street between Alton Road and Washington Avenue, a new stormwater treatment system and pump station, a new stormwater gravity collection system and outfall, and the replacement water and sewer mains along First Street, Alton Road and Washington Avenue.

Fire Station #1

Total award amount: $8,413,860

The project entails constructing a new Category 5 hurricane resilient facility with a finished floor elevation of 16.25 NGVD, replacing the existing vulnerable and obsolete South Beach substation. Critical equipment and emergency systems will be elevated 10 feet higher than where they sit today. The new station will become the single most flood-protected city-owned facility. Its efficient design and accessible location will reduce response times throughout the city’s most high impact service area.

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