Through funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the Florida Coastal Office of the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (DEP), Florida Department of Economic Opportunity (DEO) engaged the South Florida Regional Planning Council (SFRPC) to assist in the research for Adaptation Action Area implementation strategies.  The SFRPC worked with the City of Fort Lauderdale and Broward County on a pilot to:

• Study and develop a state strategy for Adaptation Action Areas;
• Test adaptation policy options incorporated into the City’s Comprehensive Plan and develop a final report based on the findings; and
• Develop this Adaptation Action Area guidebook to assist other coastal communities in Florida.

For many Florida communities, the planning process begins with the development and maintenance of a local government’s comprehensive plan, which lays the blueprint for developing a more resilient community. This guidebook serves as a resource to provide guidance on the benefits of incorporating adaptation strategies into local plans and programs and to provide Florida’s coastal communities with a series of approaches on how to develop and implement Adaptation Action Areas practices. Adaptation Action Areas are intended to direct infrastructure away from vulnerable areas, to prioritize funding and to improve resilience to coastal flooding. The information presented within this guidebook has been structured to support initiatives around Florida to utilize the Adaptation Action Areas strategies and meet these and other local goals for community resilience.