The Florida Council of 100 (FC100) released Resilience Reimagined: Modern Policy and Innovation for a Stronger Florida, which outlines the state's future economic competitiveness and quality of life in the face of potential severe weather. Specifically, the report details challenges and opportunities to "modernize infrastructure, streamline recovery, strengthen building standards, and advance resilience-focused innovation" to protect communities in the state from potential storms.
According to a release, FC100 emphasizes severe weather, such as hurricanes and floods, not only as an environmental issue, but also as a "core economic priority essential to protecting jobs, attracting investment, and sustaining the state’s economic momentum."
“Florida’s future will be defined by how well we prepare for and respond to storms and flooding,” Florida Council of 100 Chair George S. LeMieux said in a release. “Resilience is not just about repairing damage. It is about protecting our economy, safeguarding communities, and ensuring Florida remains one of the most competitive places in the world to live and do business.”
Key findings from FC100 are included below:
- Severe weather is a "recurring economic reality," impacting jobs, housing markets, and long-term growth.
- Failure to invest may lead to higher costs and economic consequences, including business closures, workforce disruption, and rising insurance concerns.
- Investments in streamlined recovery rules, resilient infrastructure, and modern building standards may dramatically cut losses and accelerate recovery after extreme weather events.
“The choices we make now will shape Florida’s quality of life and economic strength for generations,” Florida Council of 100 President & CEO Michael Simas said. “This report offers a clear path forward and an opportunity for Florida to define itself not by its exposure to storms, but by its ability to thrive despite them.”
The report aims to inform policymakers and business leaders on the importance of elevating resilience as a core economic priority in post-disaster efforts, including reducing delays, fortifying infrastructure to limit outages, and modernizing the state's building code to reduce flood, wind, and energy risks.
The report also incentivizes economic resilience for homeowners and communities, as well as innovation and commercialization to boost new companies and jobs.
"Every dollar we invest today in preparedness more than pays for itself in economic benefits,” Florida Council of 100 Resilience Committee Chair Eric Silagy commented. “This report makes clear that resilience is an essential economic competitiveness strategy in a state generating over $4.5 billion of GDP daily. Smart policy and investment choices today will reduce costs, shorten or eliminate recovery times, stabilize housing markets, and keep businesses and talent here in Florida.”
