Pinellas County has completed its Resilient Pinellas Action Plan, the County’s first comprehensive plan to guide its sustainability and resiliency initiatives for years to come. The plan sets multiple goals based on data and public feedback, with steps that will make the County and its residents more prepared to handle a range of challenges, from sea level rise to hurricanes.

The 56 initiatives outlined in the action plan are either in progress or will be considered for inclusion in departmental work plans. Their aim: make emergency response infrastructure more resilient, help reduce energy and water use, promote healthy ecosystems, and keep the economy thriving, among others.

Pinellas County’s Sustainability and Resiliency Program developed the plan with community and partner organizations’ input. The program will launch a leadership committee to assist with the implementation of the plan across departments in collaboration with partners.

A few of the upcoming and in-progress initiatives in the plan include:

• Continuing to improve adaptability of water and wastewater systems to withstand environmental threats and hazards, such as flooding and hurricanes.
• Increasing resilience and capacity of emergency shelters.
• Implementing a new program to reduce invasive species on public lands.
• Switching more County vehicles from traditional gas-powered vehicles to electric vehicles (EVs) where feasible.
• Improving resource efficiency of County facilities by conducting energy audits.