Water-Related News

Experts: Flooding puts flat Florida at risk

Climate summit discusses data, plans to prepare for future storms.

PUNTA GORDA – Speaking to a crowd of more than 100 on Wednesday [Feb. 28th], Doug Marcy [a senior Coastal Hazards Specialist with NOAA] stressed Florida may not see massive flooding in the immediate future, but long-term projections still have consequences for coastal communities.

"One foot of flooding can change the entire estuary system," Marcy said, pointing to the low-lying, flat terrain of the state.

Scholars and residents from across the southwest shoreline gathered in Punta Gorda on Wednesday to attend the 2024 Southwest Florida Climate Summit.

The summit hosted a series of talks from experts in climate observation in the Charlotte Harbor Event and Conference Center, covering topics from climate tracking to post-Hurricane Ian resiliency.

This year's summit was hosted by the Coastal and Heartland National Estuary Partnership. It continues Thursday.

Jennifer Hecker, CHNEP's executive director, noted in a previous news release that 2023 was "the hottest year on record globally" and saw Hurricane Idalia sweep through Southwest Florida, similar to Hurricane Ian in 2022.