State Mitigation Strategy
Florida’s mitigation strategy begins with the Enhanced State Hazard Mitigation Plan (SHMP). Through an extensive planning process and collaboration with a wide variety of stakeholders and the public, the SHMP identifies hazards and risks to the State of Florida and then identifies goals and objectives to address those hazards and risks.
Additionally, Florida has a statewide mitigation stakeholder workgroup called Mitigate FL. The group is statutorily required by F.S. 252.3655 and combines the Florida Silver Jackets Team and the former state hazard mitigation plan advisory team.
For more information about Florida’s mitigation strategy or any of the mitigation planning activities, please reach out to Kristin Lentz.
Kristin Lentz
850-815-4519
Florida Enhanced State Hazard Mitigation Plan
The Florida Enhanced State Hazard Mitigation Plan (SHMP) is approved through August 2028. This plan is intended to reduce death, injuries, and property losses caused by natural hazards in Florida. The SHMP is also a requirement for Florida to be eligible to receive federal hazard mitigation grant funding administered by the Bureau. The SHMP identifies hazards based on the history of disasters within the state and lists goals, objectives, and actions for mitigating risk and reducing future losses. Additionally, the 2023 SHMP maintains Florida’s Enhanced status through meeting additional FEMA planning and grant requirements. The Enhanced status makes Florida eligible to receive an additional 5% in Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP) funding, which has resulted in more than $500 million in additional funding since 2007.
The hazard mitigation planning process requires these plans are updated every five years, per 44 CFR 201.5(c)(1). The Mitigation Planning Unit completed a five-year update of the SHMP in 2023. FEMA approved the 2023 update on August 23, 2023, effective through August 22, 2028. The Plan was approved in accordance with applicable planning regulations and policy requirements, including requirements related to wildfire and dam risk. With the Plan’s approval, the State of Florida is eligible to receive certain FEMA non-emergency assistance and mitigation grants from the following programs:
- Public Assistance Categories C-G (PA C-G)
- Fire Management Assistance Grants (FMAG)
- Hazard Mitigation Grant Program (HMGP)
- Hazard Mitigation Grant Program – Post Fire (HMGP – Post Fire)
- Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC)
- Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA)
The 2023 SHMP was converted to an all-online format with the goal of making it more accessible and user-friendly. This website is the first-of-its-kind, utilizing ArcGIS Hub, to replace the previous 500-page document (1,500 pages including appendices). In addition to the typical requirements, the 2023 SHMP focuses on climate change and future conditions, social vulnerability, and increased collaboration with stakeholders that can influence mitigation and resiliency. Find the SHMP website at the link above.
Mitigate FL is the statewide interagency mitigation workgroup, which was created when three similar groups were combined, two of which are described below. The group meets quarterly to discuss ongoing mitigation projects, new mitigation opportunities, and other mitigation issues. The group also assists with the review and update of the Enhanced State Hazard Mitigation Plan. A schedule of 2024 meetings and past meeting documentation can be found below.
Mitigate FL Meeting Documentation
Natural Hazards Interagency Workgroup
In July 2017, F.S. 252.3655 became effective requiring the Natural Hazards Interagency Workgroup to be established. The purpose of the group is to share information on the current and potential impacts of natural hazards, coordinate ongoing efforts of state agencies, and collaborate on statewide initiatives to address those impacts. The statute requires that each agency within the executive branch, each water management district, and the Florida Public Service Commission must designate a liaison to the workgroup. The statute also requires that an Annual Report be submitted to the Florida Legislature each year. Past reports can be found below.
Florida Silver Jackets
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers supports state-led Silver Jackets Teams to reduce risks from natural hazards, specifically flood risk reduction. Each state team develops projects by bringing together state and federal agencies and leveraging multiple programs. The Florida Silver Jackets Team is an implementation subcommittee of the Mitigate FL Workgroup dedicated to creating a collaborative environment to develop and implement solutions to flood risk management problems throughout the state. The Team provides opportunities to work collectively and bring together Federal, State, and local partners to:
- Identify and prioritize actions to reduce the threat and vulnerability of flooding in Florida
- Facilitate strategic planning and implementation of life-cycle mitigation and recovery actions to reduce the threat and vulnerability of flooding to Florida’s communities
- Increase and improve flood risk outreach and education
- Identify and implement strategies to leverage available resources and information between agencies
Visit the Florida Silver Jackets Team website below for more information and documentation from past projects. For questions about the Florida Silver Jackets Team, please reach out to Brigette Carrillo.
Along with the other education and outreach activities mention, the Bureau of Mitigation publishes a quarterly Mitigation Bulletin Newsletter. Each publication highlights mitigation topics from around the state. Agencies and organizations outside FDEM regularly submit articles, leading to a more collaborative and informative product. See below for past publications. If you would like to receive future Newsletters, please subscribe to receive Bureau communications.
