Regional study shows compound flooding could raise water depths by several feet in Flagler County

Andrew Prokopiak of the Northeast Florida Regional Council briefed the Palm Coast City Council on July 22 about a countywide vulnerability assessment and an additional compound-flooding analysis that together map how multiple flood drivers and sea-level rise could affect Flagler County and Palm Coast. Prokopiak said the analyses use federal and state models (NOAA, USGS), sea-level-rise projections and local topography to estimate flood depths for 100-year and 500-year events and for compound scenarios when storm surge, tide and heavy rainfall combine. He said that in some modeled scenarios the compound-flooding depth exceeded the standard vulnerability-assessment depth by up to about five feet in places along the intracoastal and other low-lying zones. Why it matters: The report is intended to prioritize which lift stations, road segments and other critical assets are most at risk so the county and municipalities can seek state implementation grants and plan near- and medium-term adaptation measures such as bioswales, roadway raising and lift-station elevation. Council and staff reaction: City staff and council members noted the report will feed stormwater and watershed master planning, grant applications and land-use decisions. Staff said the county will make the vulnerability assessment and compound-flood maps publicly available through the Resilient First Coast website and that the compound flooding report was expected to be finalized by December. Next steps: The Northeast Florida Regional Council and Flagler County plan to use the vulnerability assessment and the adaptation plan to prioritize projects for state resilience funding. Staff recommended the city incorporate the maps into future land-development and stormwater planning work and use the data to justify grant applications.