Navigating Flood Vulnerabilities and Enhancing Community Resilience in Panama City

Flooding presents a daunting challenge for many communities, and residents of Panama City, Florida, have witnessed firsthand the devastating consequences of rising waters.

The coastal city has faced severe impacts from hurricanes throughout the past several decades, including Hurricane Opal (1995), Hurricane Ivan (2004) and most recently, Hurricane Michael (2018), which caused catastrophic damage to homes, businesses and infrastructure. The aftermath of Hurricane Michael was especially devastating because it obliterated approximately 80% of Bay County’s tree canopy.

As sea levels continue to rise, the challenge of managing flood risks becomes increasingly complex. Recognizing the need for a proactive and adaptive approach, the City of Panama City has embarked on a critical mission aimed at enhancing resilience and navigating these vulnerabilities.

Teaming Together to Protect the Community

In 2023, the City of Panama City secured a significant grant of $300,000 from the Resilient Florida Program. This funding was allocated for the development of a comprehensive vulnerability assessment and adaptation plan, in accordance with Section 380.093 of the Florida statutes. The project’s primary objective was to evaluate the vulnerability of critical assets against current and future flood scenarios, including tidal flooding, storm surge, sea level rise (SLR), rainfall and compound flooding.

To achieve their objectives, the City partnered with Halff’s water resources and resilience teams, including subconsultant support provided through Cummins Cederberg and Carpe Diem Community Solutions. The project involved extensive collaboration with local staff, elected officials and the public, ensuring that the assessment and adaptation strategies were grounded in both technical analysis and community perspectives.

Vulnerability Assessment
The vulnerability assessment commenced with the identification and cataloging of publicly available Geographic Information System (GIS) data relevant to critical and regionally significant assets, topographic conditions and flood scenarios. Utilizing 2017 NOAA SLR projections, the team assessed potential impacts through planning horizons of 2040 and 2070.

A key element of this assessment included evaluating exposure and sensitivity of publicly owned and/or maintained critical assets against each current and future flood scenario.

Exposure and sensitivity maps were developed to provide a visual representation of risk areas, guiding infrastructure and community investment decisions. This process was crucial for pinpointing vulnerabilities and informing future planning efforts.

Adaptation Plan
The adaptation plan was created based on the outcomes of the vulnerability assessment. This involved:

• Inventory of Adaptation Strategies: Established inventory of adaptation strategies to guide future implementation activities.
• Focus Area Analysis: Evaluated focus areas to ground recommendations in local neighborhood contexts. The goal was to ensure that adaptation strategies were not only effective but also practical and aligned with community priorities.

Impactful Outcomes for the Community

The Panama City vulnerability assessment resulted in significant outcomes:

• • • 16,846 critical assets catalogued in GIS
    • 15 flood scenarios evaluated
    • 60 exposure maps produced
    • 60 sensitivity analysis maps produced
    • 2 public outreach meetings facilitated
    • 3 focus areas designated and analyzed
    • 1 comprehensive plan amendment transmitted
    • 12 capital improvement case studies developed

These efforts reflect a commitment to building a more resilient Panama City, capable of weathering the storms of flooding and sea level rise. Not only did this assessment provide the city with a roadmap for future adaptation, it also sets a new standard for other coastal cities.

By leveraging data, engaging stakeholders and developing targeted strategies, Panama City is protecting its present while safeguarding its future.

Looking for expert help? Our talented industry professionals bring years of expertise and knowledge for your projects.

Let Halff help you take the first step by contacting Resilience Market Leader Sean Lahav, MPA (sLahav@halff.com).