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Sarasota County has been fortunate to not have
suffered the devastation of a major disaster in recent history,
but there have been some close calls. In 2004, Sarasota County
just missed the tragic impacts of Hurricane Charley, which had
landfall to the south in Punta Gorda destroying parts of the
city and causing fatalities and injuries. There is no reason why
a hurricane or other disaster could not directly hit Sarasota
County. Even without a direct hit from a major hurricane, beach
erosion, which will be exacerbated by sea level rise, is a major
vulnerability for the county that threatens established
neighborhoods and tourism. For these reasons and others
explained below, Sarasota County has taken a proactive approach
to potential disaster recovery preparation by initiating a
project to develop a Post-Disaster Redevelopment Plan (PDRP).
Watch a video about Sarasota County's Post
Development Disaster Plan
What is a Post-Disaster Redevelopment Plan?
A PDRP identifies policies, operational strategies, and roles
and responsibilities for implementation that will guide
decisions that affect long-term recovery and redevelopment of
the community after a disaster. The plan emphasizes seizing
opportunities for hazard mitigation and community improvement
consistent with the goals of the local comprehensive plan and
with full participation of the citizens. Recovery topics
addressed in the plan should include the following:
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Business resumption and economic redevelopment
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Housing repair and reconstruction
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Infrastructure restoration and mitigation
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Short-term recovery actions that affect long-term
redevelopment
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Sustainable land use
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Environmental restoration
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Financial considerations
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Other long-term recovery issues identified by the community
Why Prepare a
Post-Disaster Redevelopment Plan?
Without a
strategic plan in place, the redevelopment of a community after
a disaster could be unorganized and sporadic, with decisions
being made without considering the long-term implications. This
may produce a final result that veers from the direction
envisioned by the community prior to the disaster. A PDRP
provides an organized, planned approach to dealing with
long-term recovery and puts communities in a better position to
more rapidly recover in a sustainable manner. A disaster, while
tragic, can also create opportunities for community improvement-
but only if the community’s leaders have the foresight to
prepare in advance. Fortunately, Sarasota County’s leadership is
committed and motivated to create a PDRP that will prepare the
county for challenges a future disaster may bring.
Sarasota County as
a Pilot Community
Sarasota
County is one of five Florida counties concurrently creating a
PDRP as part of a pilot project for the Florida Department of
Community Affairs and Florida Division of Emergency Management.
These counties’ experiences will shape future guidance from the
State on the content and planning process for PDRPs. Sarasota
County will be featured as a pioneering case study in the
State’s Post-Disaster Redevelopment Planning guidebook that is
currently being developed, and the county will have a jump start
on any planning requirements that come from this program. In
addition, Sarasota County is benefitting from the technical
assistance of a team of experts who are overseeing the pilot
program. Also, the County is able to share concerns and
brainstorm ideas with other pilot counties (Hillsborough, Polk,
Manatee, and Nassau).
Florida Post-Disaster Redevelopment Planning Initiative
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