WATERLOGGED SERIES
STAY INFORMED - STAY CONNECTED - STAY RESILIENT
Waterlogged:
Conversations Beneath the Surface & Weathering the Storm
Waterlogged is Residents for Resilience’s (R4R) ongoing educational event series designed to help bridge the information gap between residents, scientists, engineers, environmental experts, government leaders, and community stakeholders surrounding South Florida’s most pressing water, flooding, environmental, and resiliency challenges.
Through engaging panel discussions, film screenings, workshops, presentations, webinars, and community conversations, Waterlogged explores both the visible and hidden issues impacting our waterways, neighborhoods, coastlines, infrastructure, public health, and future resilience.
At Residents for Resilience (R4R), we believe:
“It’s hard to care about what you don’t know about.”
That’s why Waterlogged was created — to foster meaningful conversations, increase public awareness, encourage collaboration, and help connect residents with the science, solutions, and resources needed to build a healthier, safer, and more resilient South Florida.
Our Waterlogged series includes several focused themes, including:
Weathering the Storm
Focused on flooding, stormwater management, climate resilience, homeowner preparedness, flood mitigation strategies, resiliency funding opportunities, insurance concerns, and innovative approaches helping communities better prepare for stronger storms, rising waters, king tides, and extreme rainfall events.
Beneath the Surface
Focused on the environmental and ecological health of South Florida’s waterways and marine ecosystems — including water quality, coral reefs, living shorelines, mangroves, marine habitats, pollution, dredging impacts, environmental monitoring, and nature-based solutions designed to restore and protect our coastal environment.
Waterlogged events bring together a diverse range of voices and perspectives — including scientists, engineers, floodplain managers, marine experts, environmental advocates, planners, elected officials, educators, business leaders, and residents — all working toward practical, science-based, community-centered solutions.
We invite you to explore our past and upcoming Waterlogged events below and join us as we continue working together toward long-term resilience, healthier waterways, stronger communities, and a more
sustainable South Florida future.
Interested in Sponsoring An Event?
Interested in Partnering With Us?
Residents for Resilience (R4R) is always looking to collaborate with community organizations, environmental groups, educational institutions, businesses, municipalities, scientists, engineers, and local leaders interested
in participating in future Waterlogged events and resiliency conversations.
Whether you are interested in:
• Co-sponsoring an event
• Serving as a panelist or guest speaker
• Hosting a venue
• Sharing educational resources
• Supporting community outreach efforts
• Highlighting innovative resiliency projects or solutions
—we would love to connect and explore opportunities to work together.
Together, we can continue building stronger, more informed, and more resilient South Florida communities.
📩 Contact us at: res4resilience@gmail.com
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IT’S A WRAP!
...and A Huge Thank You!
☔️ Our final session of the Waterlogged webinar series focused on flood insurance, disaster recovery funding, and home and community resilience strategies. I opened by stressing that knowledge is power — the more you know your options, the better prepared you are, and with preparation comes peace of mind.
🙏A big thank you to our keynote speakers:
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Mark Hagerty, Fort Lauderdale’s Floodplain Manager — explained how the National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) and Community Rating System (CRS) can lower flood insurance costs. Fort Lauderdale is currently a Class 7 rating - offering residents a 15% discount. Mark expressed that the city is working toward Class 5 rating that would provide to only a more resilient city but offer residents a 25% discount ob flood insurance— saving millions each year.
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Rachel Williams, Housing & Community Development Manager — updated us on the $88 million in disaster recovery funds awarded to Fort Lauderdale. These dollars will go toward housing, infrastructure, and flood mitigation — with funding assistance available for low-income areas to help vulnerable residents
strengthen resilience and recovery. - For more information click here!
NEXT IMPORTANT DISCUSSION!
📅 October 7th City Commission Meeting at 6pm
📍Broward Center for the Performing Arts,
Mary N. Porter Riverview Ballroom,
201 SW 5th Avenue, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33312.
🎟️ PUBLIC HEARINGS -PH-1 25-0917
Public Hearing to Approve the City of Fort Lauderdale’s Community
Development Block Grant - Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR)
Action Plan -
(Commission Districts 1, 2, 3 and 4)
LET YOUR VOICE AND CONCERNS BE HEARD!
Rachel also warned that flood insurance may eventually become unaffordable for
homeowners who have not taken mitigation steps such as elevation.
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Roderick Scott, Flood Hazard Mitigation Specialist from Louisiana — highlighted the urgent need for proper flood mitigation. He explained that raising homes on pilings, piers, or columns — rather than fill — protects properties, preserves natural floodplain functions, and prevents floodwaters from being pushed onto neighbors. He also underscored the need for workforce training and free education programs to help property owners make informed decisions. For more
information - Flood Mitigation Solutions!
We closed with a lively Q&A and discussion, where residents shared personal experiences with dangerous flooding in their homes and neighborhoods. As always participants asked thoughtful, solution-focused questions. April Young from District 3 shared firsthand accounts of flooding’s toll on her and other families in her neighborhood.
Panelists reinforced the importance of advocating for available funding resources, and the need for community education, preparation and action in shaping policies.
This lively session, with its strong Q&A, highlighted real strategies and real hope for preparing our communities.
👉 Key takeaway:
This R4R Webinar Series connected residents with top specialists in environmental resiliency,
offering options for navigating flood and insurance decisions
. Missed our events?
Webinar recordings are below!
A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR AMAZING KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
AND ALL OF YOU THAT WERE IN ATTENDANCE AT ALL OF THESE EVENTS!
KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
WATERLOGGED;
Weathering the Storm - Part 1
Tools and Tips to Prepare for Flood Events!
WATERLOGGED;
Weathering the Storm - Part 2
Retrofitting Parks for Resilience!
Heading 3
5 THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT
WATER-LOGGED
"Beyond the Surface"
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WATER-LOGGED
Beyond the Surface
Our audience was so impressed with our guest, speaker 11 year old Cruz Yturraide, who spoke on his scary experience contracting 2 forms of samonella poisoning from enjoying fishing on our canals. Bravo Cruz and thank you!
Keith Van de Riet - Mangrove Reef Living Seawall Panels
Sending a Big Thank You to all who helped to make our first Live Water-Logged Series a big success including all of you who came out to support this amazing event! Our audience was so impressed with our guest, speaker 11 year old Cruz Yturraide, who spoke on his scary experience contracting 2 forms of samonella poisoning from enjoying fishing on our canals. Bravo Cruz and thank you!
I also want to thank Harry Rozelle and LarryYturraide for co-sponsoring this event along with Katherine O’Fallon and Marine Research Hub and
The Fort Lauderdale Museum of Discovery and Science!
And a big round of applause for our guest panel, Dr. Keith Van de Riet, Mangrove Reef Walls, Associate Professor, The University of Kansas School of Architecture & Design, David Punchard, The Oyster Institute, Dr. Esber Andiroglu, Associate Professor of Practice in Dept. of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering Univ. of Miami,
Stacy Brown, Urban Farming Institute and South Florida Association of Environmental Professionals, and Linda Sunderland, Environmental Program Supervisor and Broward County Enviornmental Permitting
