Assessing flood resilience through the plan quality evaluation: The City of Miami, Florida, USA

Chandra Hada; Samuel D. Brody

doi:10.64866/j.ijdscr.2026.10029

Authors

Chandra Hada Department of Marine and Coastal Environmental Science, Texas A&M University at Galveston, USA Author https://orcid.org/0009-0004-2829-4677
Samuel D. Brody Department of Marine and Coastal Environmental Science, Texas A&M University at Galveston, USA; Institute for a Disaster Resilient Texas, Texas A&M University at Galveston, USA Author

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.64866/j.ijdscr.2026.10029

Keywords:

Flood resilience, Local mitigation strategy, Comprehensive plan, Policy integration, Plan quality evaluation

Abstract

Miami, Florida, faces increasing flood risks from climate change, sea-level rise, and urban development, necessitating effective planning frameworks to enhance community resilience. This study evaluates the extent to which flood resilience principles are integrated into two key planning instruments in Miami: the Local Mitigation Strategy (LMS) and the Comprehensive Plan (CP). Using a plan-quality evaluation framework, the study assesses the extent to which these plans incorporate fact-based, goals and objectives, policies and strategies, inter-organizational coordination, and implementation mechanisms. The findings reveal that both plans contribute to flood resilience planning but emphasize different dimensions of resilience. The LMS demonstrates stronger integration of risk assessment, coordination, and implementation components, while the CP provides a stronger strategic vision and policy framework for guiding future development. Overall, the LMS achieved a higher plan-quality score, suggesting a greater emphasis on the operational aspects of resilience planning. The results highlight the complementary roles of hazard mitigation planning and comprehensive planning in addressing flood risks. The study suggests that greater integration between these planning frameworks could strengthen resilience outcomes by linking long-term policy objectives with actionable implementation mechanisms. These findings contribute to the broader understanding of flood resilience planning and provide practical insights for planners and policymakers seeking to strengthen resilience to climate change, sea-level rise, and future flood hazards.

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Author Biographies

Chandra Hada, Department of Marine and Coastal Environmental Science, Texas A&M University at Galveston, USA

Chandra Hada is a Ph.D. Candidate in the Department of Marine and Coastal Environmental Science, Texas A&M University at Galveston, USA
Samuel D. Brody, Department of Marine and Coastal Environmental Science, Texas A&M University at Galveston, USA; Institute for a Disaster Resilient Texas, Texas A&M University at Galveston, USA

Samuel D. Brody is a Professor in the Department of Marine and Coastal Environmental Science, Texas A&M University at Galveston, and Director of the Institute for a Disaster-Resilient Texas.

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