Background:
The Heartland Region including the counties of DeSoto, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Highlands, Okeechobee and Polk is home to more than 1,015,841 residents as of 2020, approximately 4.7% of the 2020 population of the State of Florida, and includes recreational spaces, state parks, wildlife preserves, protected natural areas, significant agricultural lands as well as a military installation. The Region consists of seven inland counties, five of which are rural, one of which is large urban and one of which is small urban and all of which contain an economy that is driven by natural resource-based industries including forestry, fishing, and agriculture; key industries such as aviation, manufacturing, logistics; academic institutions and government services; and businesses large and small which anchor the communities of the Heartland. Extreme weather events can impact the lives of residents, damage property, disrupt businesses, increase crop damage, and degrade natural systems. Such impacts result in disruptions to local economies, lost revenues for the private and public sectors, loss of employment opportunities over time, and extreme demand for governmental resources to combat and recover from those events.

The Region is vulnerable to adverse impacts from flooding resulting from increases in frequency and duration of rainfall events, wind damage from severe weather systems, and extreme temperature variations. The Coalition is committed to being resilient to the changing environment. Developing a Regional Resiliency Action Plan is an essential foundation for adaptation and risk reduction strategies intended to ensure public safety and safeguard critical infrastructure, property, environmental assets, and basic quality of life for current residents and future generations