St. Lucie County Regional Resilience Draft Plan and companion Resilience Vulnerability Assessment-Other Hazards Resiliency Strategy Report and Feedback - Sandra Bogan, SLC Resilence Navigator

In 2022, St. Lucie County was awarded a CDBG-Mitigation grant in the amount of $600,000 and entered into an agreement with the Florida Department of Commerce (Commerce) to develop a community-wide St. Lucie County Regional Resilience Plan (RRP). The initiative included conducting in-depth Resilience Vulnerability Assessments (RVA) to identify risks and inform potential mitigation and adaptation strategy recommendations as part of the RRP.

Two Vulnerability Assessments were conducted:

1. RVA–Flood

o Funded through a Florida Department of Environmental Protection Resilient Florida grant.

o Analyzed present and future impacts of flooding and sea level rise on critical assets.

o Presented to and accepted by the Fort Pierce Board in June 2025.

o Included as an attachment to the RRP.

 

2. RVA–Other Hazards (RVA-OH)

o Funded through the CDBG-Mit grant.

o Evaluated vulnerabilities related to inland and storm-surge flooding, high winds, extreme heat, drought, wildfire, and coastal erosion.

o A draft version is included as an attachment to the RRP and is currently open for FP Board feedback.

The RVAs were developed using criteria outlined in State Statute 380.093, F.S. and Federal guidelines. This approach leads to vulnerability assessments that provide the necessary data and corresponding analyses for the County and cities to be eligible and better positioned for future grant funding.

The planning process included extensive community engagement and regular meetings of the St. Lucie Resilience Steering Committee, which played a vital role in shaping the RRP and RVAs. The Steering Committee represented various St. Lucie County, Port St. Lucie, Fort Pierce and St. Lucie Village departments, as well as local and regional agency staff.

The Regional Resilience Plan represents the first step in developing a comprehensive and collaborative approach to adapt to and mitigate the effects of extreme and disruptive natural events and is another tool that can be used in planning for a resilient community now and in the future.

Staff is seeking input into the Draft St. Lucie County Regional Resilience Plan report (RRP) and companion Resilience Vulnerability Assessment-Other Hazards (RVA-OH). A Final SLC RRP report and RVA-OH will be brought back to the Board for formal acceptance at an upcoming Regular Public meeting.

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Linda Cox, City Clerk

Sandra Bogan, St. Lucie County Resilience Navigator
Paul Thomas, Director of Building, Committee Member