From the St. Johns River Water Management District
In Summary:
The St. Johns River Water Management District hosted a regional coordination meeting in Apopka, bringing together federal, state, and local partners ahead of hurricane season. Officials shared updates on flood control projects, emergency management conditions, and improvements to weather forecasting. The meeting highlighted the importance of interagency collaboration to reduce flood risks and improve storm response across Central Florida.
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Ahead of the Atlantic hurricane season, key partners in hurricane preparedness and flood management gathered at the Central Florida Coordination meeting hosted by the St. Johns River Water Management District (District).
Related: Hurricane season one month away; forecast modest.
Representatives from the South Florida Water Management District, the United States Army Corps of Engineers (USACE), the National Weather Service (NWS), the Florida Flood Hub, the Florida Department of Transportation and the East Central Florida Regional Planning Council, along with Orange, Seminole and Osceola counties and municipalities including Orlando, Winter Park, Altamonte Springs, Apopka, Kissimmee, Lake Mary, Longwood, St. Cloud, Winter Garden and Winter Springs, met to share updates and strategies to strengthen regional resilience.
Held at the District’s Apopka Service Center, the meeting focused on updates on critical flood control improvement projects, enhancing communication, sharing key information, and fostering interagency collaboration to improve preparedness and response to flooding risks from hurricanes and other severe weather events in Central Florida. The District’s core missions of flood protection, natural systems, water quality, and water supply are all directly impacted by storm events, making coordinated planning with regional partners essential ahead of hurricane season.
“Effective hurricane preparedness begins long before the first storm forms,” said the District’s Chief Resilience Officer, Tom Frick. “Even if forecasts call for a below-average season, it only takes one storm to make an impact. That’s why we come together with regional partners ahead of the season to share resources, strengthen coordination, and ensure we’re prepared.”
The meeting opened with an outlook on the upcoming hurricane season from NWS meteorologist Will Ulrich. While hurricane season runs from June 1 through November 30, Ulrich noted that Florida has historically experienced more hurricane landfalls in October than in any other month. He also highlighted recent improvements to NWS forecast cones, as well as a new experimental cone currently in development.
Chris Kinslow, the District’s emergency coordinating officer, provided an update on emergency management conditions, emphasizing ongoing drought and elevated wildfire risk. He explained that wildfire response is the District’s most frequent emergency activity and noted that above-average wildfire conditions are expected to persist through June.
The District’s Bureau of Water Resource Information also provided an educational presentation on high-rainfall events and the factors that can cause reversals of flow in the St. Johns River. Technical Program Manager Michael Daly and Water Resource Data Manager Wyatt Timmons examined three specific reversal events, with Daly noting that the river drops only about 30 feet in elevation from its headwaters in Indian River County to its outfall in Mayport. Additional updates were provided by the Florida Flood Hub, USACE, South Florida Water Management District, and participating counties.
Local government representatives discussed completed projects, reviewed current flood management efforts, and identified opportunities for stronger emergency coordination. With Central Florida’s complex topography and growing population, collaborative planning remains critical to minimizing flood impacts and ensuring public safety.
Residents are encouraged to support community preparedness by taking proactive steps before and during hurricane season, such as keeping storm drains clear of debris, reporting clogged ditches to local governments, retrofitting buildings for water resistance, and securing flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program.
For more information on the District's role in flood protection, storm preparedness, and response, visit www.sjrwmd.com/storm.
New to Florida or need a refresher on how stormwater systems work? Learn more about stormwater design, management, and its limitations at www.sjrwmd.com/education/stormwater-systems.
Key Points:
- Regional agencies met in Apopka to prepare for the upcoming hurricane season
- Discussions included flood control projects, emergency coordination, and communication strategies
- The National Weather Service provided an outlook and updates to forecasting tools
- Officials noted the ongoing drought and elevated wildfire risk heading into the season
- Residents encouraged to take proactive steps, including clearing drains and securing flood insurance
About the St. Johns River Water Management District
St. Johns River Water Management District staff are committed to ensuring the sustainable use and protection of water resources for the benefit of the District and the people of the state of Florida. The St. Johns River Water Management District is one of five districts in Florida that manage groundwater and surface water supplies. The District encompasses all or part of 18 counties in northeast and east-central Florida. District headquarters are in Palatka, and staff are also available to serve the public at service centers in Apopka, Jacksonville, and Palm Bay.
For more information about the District, please visit www.sjrwmd.com.
