By JAMIE SHEEHAN
In September, the halls of the Fort Lauderdale Marriott Harbor Beach were taken over by people from across Florida and the country interested in one topic – resilience.
The 2023 Florida Resilience Conference was slammed with dozens of sessions over three days to discuss topics from beaches to transportation to emergency response. The conference, hosted by the Florida Shore & Beach Preservation Association and Resiliency Florida, featured political leaders, government officials, consultants, and industry experts all sharing best practices about how to ensure a unified approach to Florida remaining resilient in the face of rising seas, weather extremes, intensified flooding, and coastal erosion.
The Florida Specifier was on-hand as a sponsor and exhibitor. The conference was a platform for professionals to learn more about resilience and its importance to Florida’s business landscape and overall future.
The conference brought together more than 550 industry professionals from various fields, such as smart planning, beach management, energy, and infrastructure. Conference attendees and professionals engaged in topical discussions and shared insights on the best practices for building resilient businesses and infrastructure that can withstand the challenges of Florida’s environment.
Sessions had something for everyone. Unique breakout sessions highlighted collaboration efforts by communities on resiliency projects, hurricane preparation and recovery best practices, electric grid efforts, as well as transportation planning suggestions, to name a few.
The conference was divided into several sessions also providing in-depth knowledge on climate change, beach management, disaster preparedness, and sustainable development. The speakers were experts in their respective fields and shared practical solutions that attendees could apply in their agencies, businesses, and local governments. ●
