Building Community Resilience in St. Lucie County

Community resilience is about being ready—ready to handle challenges, recover quickly, and keep moving forward. It means people, governments, businesses, and organizations working together to prepare for disruptions such as hurricanes, heavy rainfall, and wildfires, as well as more chronic challenges like nuisance flooding, coastal erosion, and extreme heat.

Planning for resilience helps reduce risk, protect what matters most, and ensure our community can bounce back stronger after disruptions.

Recognizing the growing risks facing our region—and the close connection between economic vitality, environmental health, and quality of life—St. Lucie County, the City of Port St. Lucie, the City of Fort Pierce, and St. Lucie Village came together to take a collaborative, forward-looking approach to resilience planning. This work focuses on anticipating risk, adapting to changing conditions, and positioning our community to thrive despite increasing challenges.

Guided by a multi-jurisdictional, multi-agency Resilience Steering Committee and informed by community input, the region has moved from conversation to action. Together, we completed two comprehensive Resilience Vulnerability Assessments and developed the St. Lucie County Regional Resilience Plan—laying the groundwork for smart, coordinated decision-making for decades to come.

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Using a data-driven approach, resilience planning helps identify where we are most vulnerable and where investments will have the greatest impact. The result is practical solutions that protect essential services, strengthen the local economy, preserve natural systems, and enhance quality of life throughout St. Lucie County.

This effort also positions the county and municipalities to compete more effectively for state and federal funding, reduce long-term disaster-related costs, and make informed policy and investment decisions that benefit residents and businesses alike.

In short, resilience is proactive, strategic, and fiscally responsible. By acting now, we protect people, support businesses, safeguard taxpayer investments, and build a stronger, safer community—today and for generations to come.

Resident Stewards Help Map Flood Occurrences

St. Lucie County residents can help collect real-time flood photographs and information to assist local and regional stormwater management planners in developing strategies that reduce the risk of flooding in St. Lucie County. It’s simple. Just upload your pictures and information to the South Florida Water Management District’s Flood Observation Survey tool (SFWMD.gov/FloodingApp).

You can find more information on the 2024 Wet Season and the importance of your participation in flood documentation efforts by visiting Resiliency and Flood Protection | South Florida Water Management District (sfwmd.gov). Instructions for submitting this information are available in the Flood Survey and High-Water Mark Training document.

Reporting a Flooding Issue to Your Local Government Stormwater Management Professionals

To report flooding issues that need to be addressed by your local Public Works Department, you can choose from any of the following options:

UNINCORPORATED ST. LUCIE COUNTY

If you live in unincorporated St. Lucie County and are experiencing heavy rain AND rapidly rising water, please do one or all of the following:

• Call 911 and the information will be relayed to County staff;
• Call 772-462-2511 - the Road & Bridge Division hot line. If you are asked to leave a message, please know that the lines are monitored 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and staff will respond to your call or text as soon as possible.
• Email flooding@stlucieco.gov. This email is also closely monitored, and staff will arrive at the location as soon as possible in response.
• For Emergency Alerts and Push Notices, sign up for Alert St. Lucie.

For more information, visit: Report Flooding | St. Lucie County, FL (stlucieco.gov)

CITY OF PORT ST. LUCIE

If you live in the City of Port St. Lucie, you can do one or all of the following:

• Call 1PSL at 772-871-1775, press 2 for the Public Works Dept.
• Download the 1PSL mobile app (available on Apple App Store and Google Play Store)
• Use the 1PSL Website on your computer.

CITY OF FORT PIERCE

If you live in the City of Fort Pierce, please call:

• Free SeeClickFix mobile app and web tool to provide pictures, videos, and specific descriptions of the issue. The Fort Pierce Works mobile app is available for download on Android and iPhone
• Public Works Department at 772-467-3794