South Florida sits on the front lines of climate change. Sea levels are rising, flooding events are becoming more frequent, and high tides now push water into streets and neighborhoods that rarely experienced flooding in the past. Miami’s geography makes these challenges particularly complex. Much of the region sits on porous limestone, allowing water to move through the ground rather than simply being held back by traditional barriers like seawalls. As a result, solutions must work with the region’s natural systems and acknowledge the realities of living in a low-lying coastal environment.
This episode explores how communities, engineers, and developers are adapting to these conditions. Strategies include improved stormwater management, flood mitigation infrastructure, and addressing aging septic systems that can contaminate groundwater as sea levels rise. New development is increasingly designed with resilience in mind, incorporating elevated structures, and improved drainage. In confronting these challenges directly, Miami has the potential to serve as a laboratory for coastal resilience—developing solutions that other cities across the United States may soon need to adopt as well.