Report Updates Tampa’s Climate Vulnerabilities News Mayor Office, News Sustainability & Resilience, News Transportation and Stormwater Services Extreme rainfall events — more[...]

Extreme rainfall events - more so than gradual sea level rise - is the primary environmental vulnerability to Tampa homeowners, according to a new Vulnerability Assessment of the City of Tampa. Published every five years, the new state-funded assessment identifies areas of risk related to gradual sea level rise, extreme rainfall, and storm surge.

Inland flooding caused by extreme rainfall events is one of the main risks identified in this year's assessment. While coastal neighborhoods continue to be the most vulnerable, Tampa's flat terrain and development in inland basins puts homes and businesses in other areas of the city at risk of flooding as well. Researchers who worked on the assessment emphasize the need for improved stormwater infrastructure, such as pumps, and large scale piping, to help prevent, or mitigate flooding. Improving other municipal infrastructure systems is also mentioned in the report, with researchers warning these city assets, which service hundreds of thousands of residents, must also be adapted to cope with future flooding.

Since 2019, Tampa's $2.9 billion PIPES Program (Progressive Infrastructure Planning to Ensure Sustainability) has been working to not just upgrade the city's aging infrastructure, but also ensure it is more resilient to the imminent effects of climate change.

"We have a long way to go, but the remarkable progress we have made to make our systems more resilient gives us a little ease as we read the latest findings of Tampa's climate-related vulnerabilities," said Mayor Jane Castor. "However, the clock is ticking, and we do not have a moment to lose to continue to improve our infrastructure and make thoughtful policy decisions. Though costly, and in some cases, disruptive, we must focus on the long-term benefits of these infrastructure projects."

The Vulnerability Assessment warns wastewater pump stations are the city assets most susceptible to flooding and make up more than half of the report's risk prioritization list. Many pumping stations are located at low elevations, and in areas where they are vulnerable to storm surge, rainfall, or both. Currently, about 20 wastewater pumping stations are either undergoing, or just completed, expansive upgrades to improve and sustain redundancy - even during extreme weather events. The scope of work includes elevating the electrical components of the pump stations, to prevent outages if the property becomes flooded.

During hurricanes Helene and Milton, seven wastewater pumping stations, the majority with 1950's and 1960's design standards, flooded: Hoover Pumping Station, Laurel Pumping Station, Gomez Pumping Station, Morrison Pumping Station, Krause Pumping Station, and 18th Street Pumping Station. As part of the $94 million investment to upgrade 28 pumping stations, the electrical units are being raised in case of flooding. Standby generators are also being installed at stations with shorter detention times, bringing the total number of standby generators to 74. With 228 pumping stations, as sites are rehabilitated or redesigned, the Wastewater Department engineering staff works with contractors to determine if a standby generator can be added.

"Rehabilitating these aging pump stations is critical to keep our neighborhoods and environment safe and clean," said Eric Weiss, director of the Wastewater Department. "We count on these systems every day - at all hours of the day - and as we face more extreme weather events, these improvements become even more critical."

The report also discusses other municipal infrastructure, such as buildings, seawalls, bridges, and cultural and historical assets. Many roadways - which are essential for access to hospitals, schools, and other important amenities - and other city facilities were also identified as vulnerable to flooding. Although Tampa's natural topography and coastline makes it difficult to eliminate flood risk, researchers recommend continued investment in the improvement of Tampa's infrastructure to handle the climate hazards the region will continue to face.

View the full Vulnerability Assessment.