Resiliency Florida

08/21/2026

One Water: Resilience, Preparedness, and the Return on Investment

For Florida’s utilities, resilience is no longer something we can plan for someday. It is a fundamental part of providing reliable water, wastewater, reclaimed water, and stormwater services today—and preparing for the challenges ahead.

That is where a One Water approach becomes so important.

One Water recognizes that drinking water, wastewater, stormwater, reclaimed water, groundwater, surface water, and natural systems are interconnected. Managing them together allows utilities and communities to make smarter investments, stretch limited resources further, and build resilience into the entire water system.

Preparedness matters. Hurricanes, flooding, drought, sea-level rise, aging infrastructure, population growth, and changing water demands can all disrupt essential services. The best time to strengthen infrastructure, diversify water supplies, improve redundancy, protect natural systems, and develop partnerships is before the next emergency occurs—not after it.

There is also a compelling return on investment. Investments in resilience can reduce future disaster losses, protect public infrastructure and private property, limit service interruptions, support economic activity, and avoid the much greater costs associated with recovery and reconstruction.

For utilities, that ROI goes beyond dollars. It includes reliability, operational flexibility, environmental protection, public confidence, and the ability to continue providing essential services when communities need them most.

Florida has an opportunity to move from reacting to water challenges to preparing for them. That requires long-term planning, sustained investment, collaboration across jurisdictional boundaries, and recognition that resilience and One Water management are not separate strategies—they are part of the same solution.

Preparedness is an investment. Resilience is an investment. And a One Water approach helps ensure those investments work together for Florida's future.

08/12/2026

Excited to be at the Florida League of Cities Annual Conference and looking forward to connecting with local leaders from across the state!

Over the next two days, stop by Booth #137 to meet Resiliency Florida and talk with us about building stronger, more resilient communities.

Local governments are on the front lines of Florida’s most important environmental and resiliency challenges—from flooding and water quality to infrastructure and long-term planning. The leadership, collaboration, and decisions happening at the local level are essential to protecting our environment while ensuring Florida’s communities remain great places to live, work, and thrive.

We’re proud to support those efforts and excited to exchange ideas, learn from local leaders, and strengthen partnerships across the state.

📍 Florida League of Cities Annual Conference | Booth #137

Come say hello!

08/03/2026

RF - E-newsletter - https://mailchi.mp/resiliencyflorida.org/rf-monthly-news-q39k3vt4ca-18161093 August's e-Newsletter is now available. Great information and news.

Resiliency Florida is a leading voice in Florida helping communities in their efforts to plan and adapt for the future impacts of extreme weather and sea level rise. 

08/03/2026

Communities that plan for water as a single, connected system are building a stronger future.

The City of Winter Haven's One Water Plan continues to demonstrate what is possible when water supply, stormwater management, flood protection, water quality, natural systems, and community growth are planned together rather than separately.

A great example is the BRADCO Farms project, which reflects the principles of One Water by integrating land stewardship, water resource management, and long-term community resilience. Projects like this illustrate how thoughtful planning can create multiple benefits—reducing flood risks, protecting water resources, supporting environmental restoration, and preparing our communities for sustainable growth.

As Florida continues to experience rapid development alongside increasing rainfall extremes and flooding challenges, both coastal and inland, investments in One Water strategies are no longer optional—they are essential. Every successful project demonstrates that resilience is not simply about responding to today's challenges; it is about designing communities that are prepared for tomorrow.

Winter Haven has established itself as a leader in advancing the One Water approach, and the BRADCO Farms project is another example of how collaboration, innovation, and long-term vision can produce lasting benefits for residents, businesses, and the environment.

Florida's future depends on recognizing that every drop of water is connected—and our planning should be too.

You can learn more about Winter Haven's One Water approach here: https://onewater-mywinterhaven.hub.arcgis.com/

07/31/2026

For years, resilience has been viewed primarily as an environmental or emergency management issue. The latest U.S. Chamber of Commerce 2025 Resilience Report makes it clear that resilience is, above all, an economic strategy.

The report found that every dollar not invested in disaster resilience today can cost communities up to $33 in lost future economic activity over the next decade. It also demonstrates that strategic investments in resilience protect jobs, reduce GDP losses, strengthen local economies, and speed community recovery after disasters.

For Florida, the message couldn't be more relevant.

As our state continues to experience hurricanes, inland flooding, extreme rainfall, and aging infrastructure challenges, resilience investments are no longer optional—they are sound fiscal policy. Whether it's stormwater improvements, flood mitigation, resilient utilities, hardened infrastructure, or integrated One Water planning, these investments deliver measurable returns for taxpayers, businesses, and communities.

The conversation should no longer be about the cost of resilience.

It should be about the cost of not investing.

The strongest economies are built on reliable infrastructure, protected communities, and leaders willing to invest before disaster strikes. Resilience isn't just about recovering from the next storm—it's about protecting Florida's long-term economic prosperity.

Read the full U.S. Chamber of Commerce 2025 Resilience Report, Beyond the Payoff: How Investments in Resilience and Disaster Preparedness Protect Communities:
https://www.uschamber.com/security/beyond-the-payoff-how-investments-in-resilience-and-disaster-preparedness-protect-communities

07/30/2026

Thank you to our Diamond Sponsors for the 2026 Florida Resilience Conference!

We are proud to recognize the organizations whose support helps bring together leaders, experts, and professionals advancing resilience across Florida.

🔹 WSP
🔹 Florida Power & Light
🔹 CALLAN MARINE LTD
🔹 Sea & Shoreline

We greatly appreciate your support and the important role you play in making this conference possible!

Register Here: https://floridaresilienceconference.org/registration

07/29/2026

Resilience in Florida is an immense issue. While sea level rise and storm surge remain critical challenges, some of our fastest-growing resilience risks are also occurring inland.

Communities across Florida are experiencing more frequent flooding from intense rainfall, aging stormwater infrastructure, rapid development, and changing weather patterns. Roads become impassable, businesses lose revenue, neighborhoods are disrupted, and critical infrastructure is strained—even miles away from the coast.

Resilience is not simply an environmental investment; it is an economic one. Every dollar invested in resilient infrastructure, flood mitigation, and smart water management can reduce future disaster costs, protect property values, improve public safety, and strengthen long-term economic competitiveness. The return on investment (ROI) extends far beyond avoided damage—it includes business continuity, community confidence, lower recovery costs, and a higher quality of life.

Building a resilient Florida requires integrated planning across water, transportation, land use, emergency management, and economic development. It also requires collaboration among local governments, utilities, businesses, and residents.

The question is no longer whether we should invest in resilience. The question is whether we can afford not to.

07/29/2026

Resilience in Florid is an immense issue. While sea level rise and storm surge remain critical challenges, some of our fastest-growing resilience risks are also occurring inland.

Communities across Florida are experiencing more frequent flooding from intense rainfall, aging stormwater infrastructure, rapid development, and changing weather patterns. Roads become impassable, businesses lose revenue, neighborhoods are disrupted, and critical infrastructure is strained—even miles away from the coast.

Resilience is not simply an environmental investment; it is an economic one. Every dollar invested in resilient infrastructure, flood mitigation, and smart water management can reduce future disaster costs, protect property values, improve public safety, and strengthen long-term economic competitiveness. The return on investment (ROI) extends far beyond avoided damage—it includes business continuity, community confidence, lower recovery costs, and a higher quality of life.

Building a resilient Florida requires integrated planning across water, transportation, land use, emergency management, and economic development. It also requires collaboration among local governments, utilities, businesses, and residents.

The question is no longer whether we should invest in resilience. The question is whether we can afford not to.

07/15/2026

Water does not recognize political boundaries, big or small, or funding silos. Neither should the way we manage it.

The One Water approach recognizes that drinking water, wastewater, stormwater, groundwater, agriculture, natural systems, flood protection, and economic development are all interconnected. When we plan for one, we should be planning for all.

For Florida—and many states facing rapid growth, aging infrastructure, water quality challenges, coastal flooding, and increasing weather extremes—One Water is more than an environmental concept. It is a practical framework for building resilient communities, strengthening our economy, and protecting our natural resources for future generations.

Success requires collaboration among utilities, local governments, state agencies, agriculture, environmental organizations, businesses, and community leaders. No single organization can solve these challenges alone, but together we can create integrated, long-term solutions that deliver greater value for taxpayers and better outcomes for our communities.

I'm encouraged by the growing momentum behind the One Water movement and the organizations working to advance this vision. By breaking down silos and focusing on shared solutions, we can create a more resilient, sustainable, and prosperous future. I am looking forward to attending the Florida One Water Commission meeting in Marco Island next week and learning more.

The future of water management isn't about managing individual systems—it's about managing one water.

07/04/2026

Happy Birthday America!

Today, as America celebrates 250 years of freedom, we honor the ideals that have made our nation exceptional: liberty, opportunity, faith, courage, hard work, innovation, and the enduring belief that every person is created with inherent dignity and has the opportunity to pursue a better future.

For two and a half centuries, generations of Americans have answered the call to build, serve, sacrifice, and strengthen our nation. While our history has included both triumphs and challenges, our greatest strength has always been the determination to keep striving toward the promises of freedom and self-government.
This Independence Day, let's celebrate the men and women who have defended our liberties, the citizens who have built our communities, and the values that continue to unite us in hope for the future.

Happy 250th Birthday, America! May we continue to cherish freedom, protect our Constitution, and leave an even stronger nation for the generations to come.

God bless America.