Greater Miami and the Beaches

Greater Miami and the Beaches’ Resilience Journey

Greater Miami and the Beaches (GM&B) encompasses the thriving metropolitan areas of Miami-Dade County, the City of Miami, and the City of Miami Beach.

GM&B’s coastal location combined with a high groundwater table and complex canal water management system makes it inherently vulnerable to rising sea levels and coastal erosion. Projected maximum sea level rises would inundate large sections of Miami-Dade County, severely impacting water supply and management systems. Tidal flooding events are already becoming more common, disrupting transportation and damaging property.

GM&B is also one of the most hurricane-prone regions on earth. As a result of rising sea levels and a growing population, this resilience challenge has only grown: today, nearly two million people live within projected storm surge areas, many of them without the resources to recover from the loss of property and income that a hurricane can cause.

GM&B is still recovering from the effects of the 2007 mortgage crisis and national economic downturn, which has had disproportionate impact on the region. This shock has reinforced the need for diversified and inclusive economic growth.