Explanation of Indicator
Any structure built seaward of the Coastal Construction Control Line
(the line demarcating the extreme landward extent of a 100 year storm
event) is more likely to be threatened by damage from rising waters
and wave energy during a storm. With stringent building regulations
the threat to newly built structures can be minimized. Older structures,
especially those without any armoring protection, become increasingly
threatened as erosion progresses along many parts of the Florida coastline.
Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Bureau of Beaches and Coastal Systems defines a threatened structure as any habitable or major public structure which would be damaged by a 25 year storm event. Protection of coastal development is becoming increasingly expensive, a burden which to a great extent is carried by the general public. To be able to understand the impact of coastal erosion on development and its associated risks, it is useful to monitor the number of threatened coastal structures.
Data Characteristics
SOURCE
Baseline data for existing armoring structures through 1990 is available
in the report Coastal Armoring In Florida, Final Status Report, December
1990 published by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection,
Bureau of Beaches and Coastal Systems, 3900 Commonwealth Blvd., Tallahassee,
Florida 32399-3000, or at (904) 488-3181.
ACQUISITION
The data are available in hard copy format at no cost.
COLLECTION
Information up to and including 1990 was gathered for a comprehensive
summary report. Data were obtained on a county by county basis from
aerial photography and site visits to verify and/or obtain further
information. At this time, there is no intention to collect further
data.
Data Analysis
The 1990 summary report identified 2,219 coastal structures without
any existing armoring threatened by a 25 year storm event. A further
1,854 structures were identified with existing, but inadequate,
armoring. Thus for a 25 year or greater storm event 4,073 structures
would be at risk from storm damage.
The collection of information for this study was a one-time effort.
Recommendations
The data source provides a baseline inventory of structures constructed
through 1990. It is recommended that comprehensive data be gathered in
five-year intervals by the Bureau of Beaches and Coastal Systems to
identify the degree to which existing structures are at risk of damage.
Since site visits are necessary in order to obtain this information,
data acquisition will be expensive.