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Key West, Florida
Key West is a beautiful coastal island located at the southern tip of the Florida Keys. Known for its vibrant culture, historical architecture, and stunning beaches, Key West is a cultural icon for island culture around the world. However, as sea levels continue to rise due to climate change, Key West is increasingly at risk of experiencing dangerous and destructive storm surge flooding.
What is Storm Surge?
Storm surge flooding occurs when a hurricane or other powerful storm pushes water onto the shore, causing sea levels to rise rapidly and flooding low-lying areas. In Key West, which is located on a small island surrounded by water on all sides, storm surge flooding poses a significant threat to both residents and property.
In recent years, Key West has experienced several close calls with major hurricanes, including Hurricane Irma in 2017. While the city was largely spared from the worst of the storm, the potential for devastating storm surge flooding was a stark reminder of the risks faced by those who live and work in the area.
The dangers of storm surge flooding are compounded by the fact that many of the buildings in Key West are historic and were built long before modern building codes were in place. These buildings may be particularly vulnerable to the destructive power of storm surge flooding.
To address these risks, architects and planners in Key West are exploring a range of strategies to adapt to rising sea levels and reduce the potential for storm surge flooding. These strategies include building seawalls and other protective barriers, elevating buildings to reduce their exposure to floodwaters, and developing evacuation plans to help residents escape in the event of a major storm.
Despite these efforts, the danger of storm surge flooding in Key West remains a significant concern. As sea levels continue to rise, the risks of flooding and other weather-related disasters will only increase. It is up to all of us to work together to create resilient and sustainable communities that can withstand the challenges of a changing climate.
Strategies for Flood Mitigation
To save Key West, architects and planners need to exploring different strategies to prepare for rising sea levels and reduce the impact of storm surge flooding. These strategies can be classified into four categories of response: protection, evacuation, adoption, and adaptation.
Evacuation
Evacuation is the act of removing people from the flooded area. In Key West, evacuation plans are developed to help residents escape in the event of a major storm. This strategy is particularly important in areas where flooding can occur quickly and without warning.
Protection
Protection involves building physical barriers such as seawalls and levees to block water from entering the site. This strategy is best suited to existing architecture and can be effective in reducing the impact of flooding.
Adaptation
Adaptation is the act of adjusting existing building typologies to fluctuating water levels. This strategy involves elevating buildings, repositioning infrastructure, and redesigning landscapes to mitigate the impact of flooding.
Adoption
Adoption involves accepting flooding as a permanent condition and creating a typology to match it. This strategy is best implemented in the long run to prepare for continuous sea level rise.
By exploring these experimental strategies, architects and planners in Key West can develop effective responses to rising sea levels and storm surge flooding, creating sustainable and resilient urban environments for the future.
Saving Key West
If you would like to explore deeper into new architectural strategies combatting sea level rise, check out Saving Key West: Architecture in the Flood Zone. It examines existing architectural strategies, and shows their ideal implementation as a strategy to help save Key West from disaster.
