New regulation makes Biloxi more resilient to storms, flooding and sea-level rise

Relevance:

Cities located along the Gulf of Mexico are at risk of environment, economic and societal impacts from rising sea levels and storm surges. Proactive long-term planning is essential to minimizing community damage from these climate change impacts.

Response:

Working with the Mississippi-Alabama Sea Grant Consortium, the Mississippi city of Biloxi identified potential risks to its citizens and property from sea-level rise and storms. A climate team, made up of the city's floodplain manager, emergency manager, Community Rating System coordinator, stormwater management coordinator and Sea Grant's coastal storms outreach coordinator, developed a plan to share climate information and risks with the public and city officials to increase awareness of these risks.

Results:

Because of the climate team’s work, the City of Biloxi has 1) amended its Flood Damage Prevention Ordinance to require 1 foot of freeboard above base flood elevation for new construction, which will reduce damage to citizens and their property as a result of projected sea-level rise and increased storm surge; 2) adopted a comprehensive Stormwater Management Ordinance in an effort to minimize flooding from climate change impacts; and 3) included sea-level rise in its updated hazard mitigation plan, which the Federal Emergency Management Agency approved. As a result of these actions, Biloxi is better prepared to adapt to projected climate change impacts.

Recap:

The formation of a climate team, facilitated by MASGC, for the City of Biloxi, resulted in three city actions that have reduced the risk of sea-level rise and storms to its citizens.