Resilience
Strengthening Florida’s ability to respond to storms & flooding, protect communities, and sustain our economic competitiveness.
While Florida’s Building Code is among the strongest in the nation and a model for other states, when hurricanes, floods, and severe weather strike, Florida’s communities, businesses, and homeowners all face deep economic and social impacts that can linger long after the skies clear.
Challenges
75% of Florida’s residents live in counties along its coasts.
Even with strong resilience measures, a storm that would normally cause $100 billion in damage can still result in $11 billion in lost GDP, 59,000 lost jobs, and nearly 28,000 residents leaving permanently.
Nearly 60% of Florida’s small businesses were in Hurricane Milton’s path, affecting almost 1.5 million employees, and up to 40% of small businesses never reopen after a major disaster.
Florida leads the nation in home insurance costs, driven by storm exposure, and property value losses from severe weather are projected at $10–$30 billion by 2030, and up to $80 billion by 2050.
Opportunities
Florida has meaningful opportunities to strengthen resilience across the state by speeding recovery, modernizing building standards, protecting communities & homes, and expanding innovation that supports long-term economic growth, competitiveness, and quality of life.
Every $1 invested in hurricane preparedness has the potential to preserve more than $7 in economic activity.
Every $1 invested in flood protection has the potential to preserve more than $25 in economic activity.
For Floridians, resilience measures like stronger building materials, flood protections, and insurance incentives can mean the difference between stability and financial strain.
Hardening infrastructure and strengthening energy reliability are a way to further enhance the Florida brand and reinforce that Florida is the best state in the country to do business.
Fostering companies in the resilience innovation space can help Florida build new industries, attract investment capital, and create high-wage jobs while strengthening communities against storms & floods.
