Over $2.7 billion investment to protect Miami’s real estate from catastrophic flooding.

As summer begins and heavy rains arrive, Florida residents start preparing for hurricane season.

That is why county officials and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers are finalizing a $2.7 billion plan to protect Miami from storm surges. The proposal is expected to be submitted to Congress for approval and funding later this year.

The plan focuses on three key pillars: building multiple lines of defense, adaptive management, and integrating efforts across agencies. Its impacts would be concentrated in six areas selected for their flood risk and environmental factors, with a clear priority given to underserved communities.

In practical terms, the Army Corps of Engineers is proposing a comprehensive approach to safeguard the community. This includes elevating approximately 2,100 homes and retrofitting around 400 commercial buildings in select areas of North and South Miami Beach, Miami’s Little River neighborhood, properties along the Miami River west of Brickell and Downtown, North Miami, and Cutler Bay. The plan would also mitigate flooding at 27 properties designated as critical infrastructure — including sites located outside the primary focus areas.

The Army Corps recommends allocating $200 million for non-structural solutions in commercial buildings and investments aimed at minimizing flood damage rather than fully preventing flooding. Of this amount, $170 million is earmarked to protect multi-family housing, while $30 million would fund flood mitigation solutions for hospitals. These measures are designed to address flood events up to three feet (nearly one meter) in depth, though the Corps recommends applying this level of protection even in locations where stronger storm surges are likely.