RECOMMENDATIONS RESILIENT CITY
As St. Petersburg works towards becoming a more resilient place, the city has an opportunity to implement strategies that can simultaneously address the increasing environmental risks and bridge many of the existing social, cultural and economic divides. Being a resilient city is not just about preparing for the physical inevitabilities of sea level rise and the increasing threat of storms. It is preparing citizens, neighborhoods, businesses and government for whatever shocks the future holds by providing communities with the resources to withstand, respond and thrive in the face of pressures. Resiliency is defined by the ability to prepare and plan for, absorb, recover from, and more successfully adapt to adverse events. These adverse events can include shocks, such as hurricanes or floods, as well as chronic stresses, such as unemployment, poverty or lack of food access. The city has already taken a number of steps that serve as an important foundation for improving resiliency. This includes waterfront master planning, fostering partnerships with the county, focusing on emergency
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management and targeting investment through the creation of a community redevelopment area (CRA) in south St. Petersburg. Going forward, it is important to stay focused on supporting, connecting and growing these initiatives to remain proactive. The next section outlines recommendations on steps the City of St. Petersburg can take to enhance its resilience.