How a modern flood study and a growing network of partners are helping a Gulf Coast city move from recovery to resilience
Punta Gorda, Florida, is no stranger to hurricanes, but three recent storms, including Hurricane Milton, put flood resilience at the top of the local agenda. Councilmember Julian was running for city council when Milton struck in 2024, making tackling flood resilience top of mind. He focused on two goals: grounding the city’s resilience work in current data and strengthening Punta Gorda’s relationships at every level of government.
Investing in a stronger foundation
One of his first priorities was a comprehensive, citywide flood study. The $750,000 price tag was a significant investment, and the city council weighed the decision carefully. Councilmembers explored more cost-conscious alternatives, such as asking retired engineers to recommend options based on the city’s decade-old study.
Councilmember Julian argued that the most important next step was a contemporary, professional study. Leaders from the Florida League of Cities agreed and helped him make the case to his peers. They noted that an up-to-date study is often what positions a community to compete for the state and federal dollars needed to build large-scale projects. With that support, the council moved forward, and the study is now more than halfway complete.
The study is already opening doors for Punta Gorda. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has reached out to express interest in reviewing the study’s findings to determine if and how it can support the city’s next steps.
Progress on the ground
While the study wraps up, Punta Gorda is taking steps to put resilience into practice. To prioritize repairs, the city bought a remote-controlled camera to inspect its storm drains, and crews have already fixed some of the problem areas. The Florida Department of Transportation, which owns part of the downtown drainage system, added to that progress by completing its own repairs. An annual swale maintenance program adds another layer of ongoing protection, and crews have cleared much of the sludge Hurricane Milton left behind.
Looking further ahead, the city has secured funding for its first-ever watershed master plan. The plan can strengthen Punta Gorda’s Community Rating System standing and help lower flood insurance premiums for residents. To carry the plan forward, the city is hiring a permanent FEMA liaison and creating a watershed management position. Alongside these efforts, Punta Gorda is developing a living shoreline project to further prepare for future disasters.
A network that opens doors
Councilmember Julian credits partners with much of the city’s momentum. After connecting with AFC Florida Director Kate Wesner, he was invited to AFC’s Local Elected Leaders Summit. At the Summit, he met peers facing similar issues and discovered tools like AFC’s Flood Funding Finder. Closer to home, the Florida League of Cities’ advocacy helped Punta Gorda secure both its study and its allocated FEMA funding.
Those connections also keep him engaged in national efforts, shaped in part by AFC, to streamline FEMA’s recovery processes. Proposed reforms could deliver recovery funding within 120 days after a disaster, rather than the years communities often wait today. For cities like Punta Gorda, he believes the change would be life-changing.
Punta Gorda’s work is drawing academic attention, too. Following the council’s open conversations about flooding, a University of Chicago doctoral candidate is now comparing how Punta Gorda and fellow Floridian city St. Augustine are building flood resilience.
Lessons for peer communities
- Invest in current data. A contemporary, professional study is often the key to unlocking the funding and federal partnerships needed to act on its findings.
- Build relationships before you need them. Connections at the county, state, and federal levels open doors faster when time and funding are short.
- Build staff capacity. Dedicated roles, like a FEMA liaison, keep projects and partnerships moving between storms.
- Keep learning. Networks like AFC and the Florida League of Cities’ Federal Action Strike Team (FAST) fly-in connect local leaders with resources and decision-makers.
AFC supports communities like Punta Gorda through funding navigation, peer learning, and connections to state and federal partners advancing flood resilience.
“A contemporary professional study gives us the roadmap, and building relationships at the county, state, and federal level helps us push forward our initiatives. Both are essential to building a more resilient Punta Gorda,” said Councilmember Julian.
