The South Florida Water Management District (SFWMD) is using data collected before, during and after Hurricane Ian to enhance South Florida’s regional water management system and ensure its continued resiliency in the event of a future storm.
Did you know the SFWMD analyzes the impacts of hurricanes and other storm events to guide water management decisions and make enhancements to our regional flood control infrastructure?
The SFWMD collects aerial images, ground surveys, and other hydro-meteorological information to assess the short and long-term impacts of storm events. This important data is used to ensure the water management system continues to effectively perform throughout the SFWMD's 16-county region.
The SFWMD's data collection and assessment efforts include:
- Tracking the duration, depth and extent of flooding events.
- Mapping flooding occurrences using drones, satellites, radar images and other tools.
- Collecting hydro-meteorological data, including rainfall totals, water levels, and other environmental data to assist with operational decisions.
- Using storm data in comprehensive computer models to plan for future weather events.
The SFWMD's comprehensive analysis of storm-related data, together with other resilience initiatives, are used to assess the status of flood control infrastructure, identify and prioritize long-term infrastructure improvement needs, and advance adaption strategies to protect our communities from flooding and safeguard our regional water supplies.
Learn more about our work to ensure the resiliency of our region’s water resources and ecosystems.