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Southeast Florida

“For an issue of this scale, cooperation is our best asset,”

–Scholar Claire Hiaasen, Broward County

Snapshot

Given their coastal location, prominent industries and urbanization, Southeast Florida’s counties have faced the most obvious impacts of climate change such as sunny-day flooding and worsening sewage spills, and have worked the longest and spent the most to prepare. Key issues include threats to the built and natural environment including freshwaters, and socioeconomic vulnerabilities. Climate change trends across the region include sea rise, pollution and rising temperatures; Miami has endured record heat in the mid-90s this spring. With so many unique ecosystems from the Everglades to Keys coral reefs to the Indian River Lagoon, environmental instability is a considerable threat.

Residents’ quality of life is a major issue since climate change impacts key industries, can lead to health problems and disproportionately impacts disadvantaged communities. Prominent industries in the region include tourism, real estate and agriculture, all impacted by climate change. High temperatures shorten crop seasons and sea rise and pollution harm marine environments such as coral reef and beaches. Regionally, residents are vulnerable to heat and other weather extremes. Heat-related emergency department visits are on the rise, a significant concern considering the high elderly populations in many southeast counties. Climate change’s disproportionate impact on disadvantaged residents is another concern. Outdoor workers in agriculture and construction are exposed to increasingly high temperatures. Low-income residents face higher electricity bills and may not have air conditioning. In Miami-Dade County, minority communities are being displaced through climate gentrification, as their homes in higher elevations have become desirable due to flooding at the waterfront.

Infrastructure challenges are significant throughout the region, including the need to raise roads in Miami-Dade and Monroe counties—and the problem of how to decide which to raise first, as Scholar Taylor Paynter pointed out in the Keys report. The most positive trends in the region involve the counties’ cooperation and long-time work on climate resilience. Broward, Miami-Dade, Monroe and Palm Beach counties united to form the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact a decade ago. Most counties have climate resilience officers, climate action plans and vulnerability assessments.

Community Data
Percent of counties that had a Local Resilience Officer (based on interviews): 57.1%

Broward: Yes

Collier: No

Martin: No

Miami-Dade: Yes

Monroe: Yes

Palm Beach: Yes

St. Lucie: No

Percent of counties that have conducted a climate vulnerability assessment (based on interviews): 85.7%

Broward: Yes

Collier: Yes

Martin: Yes

Miami-Dade: Yes

Monroe: Yes

Palm Beach: No

St. Lucie: Yes

Percent of counties that have had to apply for FEMA disaster aid within the last ten years (based on interviews): 100%

Broward: Yes

Collier: Yes

Martin: Yes

Miami-Dade: Yes

Monroe: Yes

Palm Beach: Yes

St. Lucie: Yes

Vulnerability Data
Total number of people with a disability, 2016: 759,362

Broward: 206,065

Collier: 39,804

Martin: 22,930

Miami-Dade: 270,841

Monroe: 9,135

Palm Beach: 165,513

St. Lucie: 45,074

Total number of individuals over 65 and living alone, 2016: 301,208

Broward: 78,741

Collier: 21,356

Martin:  12,426

Miami-Dade: 83,233

Monroe: 3,932

Palm Beach: 86,591

St. Lucie: 14,929

Average number of houses in FEMA flood zones, 2011: 203,486

Broward: 623,958

Collier: 84,077

Martin: 14,932

Miami-Dade: 501,047

Monroe: 46,199

Palm Beach: 133,892

St. Lucie: 20,298

Climate Data

* For time series data, see the Data Explorer page

Average number of extreme heat days, 2016: 26.86

Broward: 27

Collier: 30

Martin: 26

Miami-Dade: 27

Monroe: 28

Palm Beach: 25

St. Lucie: 25

Average number of extreme precipitation days, 2016: 30.57

Broward: 38

Collier: 30

Martin: 31

Miami-Dade: 37

Monroe: 8

Palm Beach: 28

St. Lucie: 42

Average number of weeks of moderate drought or worse, 2016: 0

Broward: 0

Collier: 0

Martin: 0

Miami-Dade: 0

Monroe: 0

Palm Beach:

St. Lucie: 0

Health Data

* For time series data, see the Data Explorer page

Average number of emergency department visits for asthma, 2018: 45.00

Broward: 59.36

Collier: 34.97

Martin: 33.42

Miami-Dade: 50.39

Monroe: 28.09

Palm Beach: 46.55

St. Lucie: 62.22

Average number of emergency department visits for COPD, 2017: 64.41

Broward: 82.18

Collier: 48.57

Martin: 65.60

Miami-Dade: 52.70

Monroe: 43.95

Palm Beach: 48.28

St. Lucie: 109.61

Average number of emergency department visits for heat related illness, 2018: 23.22

Broward: 17.63

Collier: 20.33

Martin: 32.05

Miami-Dade: 10.34

Monroe: 25.69

Palm Beach: 20.22

St. Lucie: 36.31