While some effects are already being felt, sea-level rise is expected to have a profound impact on Florida’s coastal cities in the years to come. Statistics indicate that sea levels will continue to rise for centuries, with an anticipated 24 inches or more by 2100. As a firm with 11 offices across the state of Florida, and headquartered in South Florida, the issue of flooding and sea-level rise is one that is particularly personal and one that we are closely monitoring.
We may have little control in slowing down the environmental impact, but there are steps that can be taken now to mitigate risk. The Becker team provides flooding and sea-level rise counsel to a variety of clients with regard to development projects, procurements, insurance claims, land use issues, common ownership housing issues, government mitigation plans and processes, and other related issues.
Becker Shareholder and former Senator Ellyn Bogdanoff kicked off the Florida’s Landmark “Always Ready” Resiliency Law Explained roundtable with introductions of Rep. Christine Hunschofsky, Rep. Demi Busatta Cabrera, and DEP Director of the Office of Resilience and Coastal Protection Alex Reed. The event, hosted by the American Flood Coalition and moderated by AFC Florida Director Alec Bogdanoff, explored the history and goals of the legislation, as well as its expected impact on Florida’s approach to flooding and sea level rise.
Becker congratulates the Florida Legislature on passing – without reservation – Senate Bill 1954, Statewide Flooding and Sea-level Rise Resilience, introduced by Rep. Demi Busatta Cabrera (R-Coral Gables) and Sen. Ray Rodrigues (R-Ft. Myers). The bipartisan bill establishes statewide resiliency programs that assess and address inland and coastal flooding and sea level rise.
Mitigation grants were among DeSantis’ and House leadership’s top priorities. Gov. Ron DeSantis has signed a pair of bills to address the impact of climate change and sea level rise. The measures were among the Governor’s priorities. House Speaker Chris Sprowls similarly marked them as top priorities.
Becker, a multi-practice commercial law firm with attorneys, lobbyists, and other professionals at offices throughout the East Coast, helped secure the passage of legislation that will provide more than $100 million every year to help communities combat the effects of rising sea levels across Florida.
There’s a joke about South Florida – there are two things you can see from space. The first is the Great Wall of China and the second is the divide between Miami-Dade and Broward Counties. Neither is really true, and more and more each day our region and our state are becoming increasingly unified. South Florida is inextricably linked by more than just our shared jokes about I-95 traffic and our Instagram-worthy winter days.
For some time now, many community association managers realized that rising sea levels can put their clients at risk. Sea walls are no panacea. “When Hurricane Irma hit Marco Island,” says David Muller, a shareholder and board-certified specialist in condominium and planned development law with the Naples, Fla., office of Becker & Poliakoff, “there were communities where the sea walls gave way, and buildings were suspended over water.”
Becker’s multidisciplinary Sea Level Rise Advisory Services team includes attorneys and government relations professionals across firm practices including Government Law & Lobbying, Land Use & Zoning, Real Estate, Construction Litigation, P3, and Community Association Law.