Tell Public Works & ORAM About Your Experiences with Flooding

The Public Works Department and the Sustainability and Resiliency Program (Office of Resilience and Asset Management (ORAM)) are conducting a Sea Level Rise and Storm Surge Vulnerability Assessment and are seeking input from residents who live or work in the areas listed below. If you live or work in Pinellas County, especially in one of the areas listed below, please take the survey and share with your network.

As we assess our communities’ flood risks, we want to hear about residents’ experiences with flooding and the places and services in the community that are most important to them. This assessment will investigate flooding impacts in the following areas:

• Belleair
• Belleair Beach
• Belleair Shore
• Indian Rocks Beach
• Indian Shores
• Madeira Beach
• North Redington Beach
• Pinellas Park
• Redington Beach
• Redington Shores 
• Unincorporated County (including Palm Harbor, East Lake, Highpoint, Lealman, Bardmoor, Tierra Verde, etc.)

In the ongoing vulnerability assessment, we’re evaluating the County’s infrastructure, such as roads and wastewater treatment facilities, to identify areas prone to serious flooding. We’re mapping locations at risk of being underwater during high tides, heavy rain and storm surge, in addition to sea level rise, that occurs now and will likely occur in the future. This will help us understand potential operational and economic impacts from flooding on County roads and facilities. Preparing for the future will ensure our communities are resilient against the challenges of sea level rise, storm surge and tidal flooding.

The assessment will determine the probability of flooding in our community, followed by the potential consequences of flooding. As part of the process, the County is gathering input from the community about which public facilities and community values may need to be prioritized as we decide how best to mitigate the effects of flooding. 

The final product, an adaptation plan, will include the following:

• A comprehensive assessment of the effects of climate change on flooding
• Better and more effective policy proposals
• An estimate of maintenance/repair and capital investment needs
• Timeframe for required action and program decisions
• Methods for prioritizing important projects
• Information resources for effective communication with anyone affected by flooding 

Watch a brief video about the survey.