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“We’ve now had two 1,000-year floods in Sarasota in just two years, with a historic drought in between. Climate warming will continue to bring weather like this.” – The Climate Adaptation Center (CAC)
Historic Floods, Urgent Lessons: Sarasota’s New Climate Reality
The recent video from The Climate Adaptation Center documents an extraordinary rainfall event: nearly a 1-in-1,000-year flood hit Sarasota, Florida, dumping historic amounts of water in just one hour. This marks the second such “1,000-year” flood in the region in only two years, separated by a record drought. The lesson is clear—Florida’s climate extremes are accelerating, and no community is immune.
The science is straightforward. As the atmosphere warms, it holds more moisture, leading to heavier downpours and more frequent, severe flooding. These events are no longer rare outliers—they are the new normal. The CAC’s mission is to connect the latest climate science with local action, helping Sarasota and other communities understand and adapt to these escalating risks.
Floods like these devastate infrastructure, homes, and businesses, but they also highlight the importance of adaptation. The CAC works directly with local leaders, scientists, and residents to develop strategies that lower risk—from improved stormwater management and resilient building codes to community education and emergency preparedness.
Supporting the CAC means empowering evidence-based solutions and building resilience against the next flood. By translating climate data into actionable plans, the CAC turns knowledge into protection for everyone in the community.
Today’s floods are a wake-up call. The time to adapt is now. Join the CAC, support their mission, and help Sarasota and other vulnerable communities prepare for a future where extreme weather is no longer a rare event, but a reality we must face together.