Editing Miami Beach, Florida (section)

===Elevation and tidal flooding===
[[File:MB Rising Above sign.JPG|thumb|left|Sign near a project to raise the elevation of a roadway in South Beach]]
[[File:Miami Beach massive garage flooding 1.jpg|thumb|A high tide flood into a semi [[Transportation in South Florida#Underground parking|below grade carpark]] on the west side of South Beach, October 2016]]
Miami Beach encounters tidal flooding of certain roads during the annual [[king tide]]s,<ref name="nbcflood">{{cite web |url=http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/High-Tide-Causes-Flooding-in-Miami-Beach-329860081.html |first=Jamie |last=Guirola |title=High Tides Cause Flooding in Miami Beach |date=September 29, 2015 |publisher=WTVJ |access-date=December 5, 2015 |archive-date=December 8, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208071735/http://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/High-Tide-Causes-Flooding-in-Miami-Beach-329860081.html |url-status=live }}</ref> though some tidal flooding has been the case for decades,<ref name="heraldbattle"/> as the parts of the western side of [[South Beach]]<ref name="herald1stpumps">{{cite web |url=http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/miami-beach/article2541332.html |title='King tide' will be first test for Miami Beach's new pumps |date=October 6, 2014 |work=Miami Herald |first=Joey |last=Flechas |access-date=December 5, 2015 |archive-date=December 8, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208151609/http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/miami-beach/article2541332.html |url-status=live }}</ref> are at virtually {{cvt|0|ft|m}} above normal high tide,<ref name="MB2013plan">{{cite web |url=http://web.miamibeachfl.gov/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=73383 |title=Addendum to the Land Use and Development Committee Meeting Agenda |publisher=City of Miami Beach |format=PDF |date=January 13, 2013 |first=Kathie G. |last=Brooks |access-date=December 5, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160205191218/http://web.miamibeachfl.gov/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=73383 |archive-date=February 5, 2016 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all}}</ref>  with the entire city averaging only {{cvt|4.4|ft|m}} above mean [[sea level]] (AMSL).<ref name="reuterselevation">{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-florida-sealevel-idUSBREA3L1R120140422#3yzOKYdmsZ8zcxQX.97 |title=Florida Senator holds Miami Beach hearing on rising sea level |work=Reuters |date=April 22, 2014 |first1=David |last1=Adams |first2=Zachary |last2=Fagneson |access-date=December 5, 2015 |archive-date=December 8, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208083432/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-florida-sealevel-idUSBREA3L1R120140422#3yzOKYdmsZ8zcxQX.97 |url-status=live }}</ref> However, a recent study by the [[University of Miami]] showed that [[tidal flooding]] became much more common from the mid-2000s.<ref name="physUM">{{cite web |url=http://phys.org/news/2016-04-sea-level-miami-decade.html |title=New study shows increased flooding, accelerated sea-level rise in Miami over last decade |publisher=[[Phys.org]] |date=April 4, 2016 |access-date=April 4, 2016 |archive-date=April 6, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160406084841/http://phys.org/news/2016-04-sea-level-miami-decade.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The fall 2015 king tides exceeded expectations in longevity and height.<ref name="10flood">{{cite news |url=http://www.local10.com/news/unexpected-high-tide-causes-miami-beach-flooding/35744928 |title=Unexpected high tide causes Miami Beach flooding |agency=Associated Press |date=October 9, 2015 |publisher=WPLG-TV |access-date=December 5, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208070831/http://www.local10.com/news/unexpected-high-tide-causes-miami-beach-flooding/35744928 |archive-date=December 8, 2015 |url-status=dead}}</ref> Traditional sea level rise and storm mitigation measures including sea walls and dykes, such as those in the [[Netherlands]] and [[New Orleans]], may not work in South Florida due to the [[porosity|porous]] nature of the ground and [[limestone]] beneath the surface.<ref name="herald1stpumps"/>

In addition to present difficulty with below-grade development, some areas of southern Florida, especially Miami Beach, are beginning to engineer specifically for [[sea level rise]] and other potential effects of [[climate change]]. This includes a five-year, US$500 million project for the installation of 60 to 80 pumps, building of taller [[sea wall]]s, planting of red mangrove trees along the sea walls, and the physical raising of road tarmac levels,<ref name="nationalcurbed">{{cite web |url=http://curbed.com/archives/2015/12/01/miami-beach-rising-sea-levels-new-orleans.php |title=Reconciling Rising Sea Levels and Luxury Development in Miami Beach |publisher=Curbed |date=December 1, 2015 |first=Alexei |last=Barrionuevo |access-date=December 5, 2015 |archive-date=January 2, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160102203130/http://curbed.com/archives/2015/12/01/miami-beach-rising-sea-levels-new-orleans.php |url-status=dead}}</ref> as well as possible zoning and building code changes, which could eventually lead to retrofitting of existing and historic properties. Some streets and sidewalks were raised about {{cvt|2.5|ft|m}} over previous levels;<ref name="heraldbattle">{{cite web |url=http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/miami-beach/article41141856.html |title=Miami Beach's battle to stem rising tides |first1=Joey |last1=Flechas |first2=Jenny |last2=Staletovich |date=October 23, 2015 |work=Miami Herald |access-date=December 9, 2015 |quote=...&nbsp;The design — featuring a street and sidewalk perched on an upper tier, 2 ½ feet above the front doors of roadside businesses, and backed by a hulking nearby pump house — represents what one city engineer called "the street of tomorrow"&nbsp;...' |archive-date=December 22, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222114940/http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/miami-beach/article41141856.html |url-status=live }}</ref> the four initial pumps installed in 2014 are capable of pumping 4,000 US gallons per minute.<ref name="reuters1stpumps">{{cite news |url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-miami-beach-flooding-idUSKCN0HS0U820141003#oXufIK4ZlvieJsJe.97 |work=Reuters |date=October 3, 2014 |title=Miami Beach in race to control flood ahead of annual King Tide |first2=David |last2=Adams |first1=Zachary |last1=Fagneson |access-date=December 9, 2015 |archive-date=December 22, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151222095649/http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-miami-beach-flooding-idUSKCN0HS0U820141003#oXufIK4ZlvieJsJe.97 |url-status=live }}</ref> However, this plan is not without criticism. Some residents worry that the efforts will not be sufficient to successfully adapt to rising sea levels and wish the city had pursued a more aggressive plan. 

On the other hand, some worry that the city is moving too quickly with untested solutions. Others yet have voiced concerns that the plan protects big-money interests in Miami Beach.<ref>{{Cite news |url=http://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/miami-beachs-400-million-sea-level-rise-plan-is-unprecedented-but-not-everyone-is-sold-8398989 |title=Miami Beach's $400 Million Sea-Level Rise Plan Is Unprecedented, but Not Everyone Is Sold |last=Weiss |first=Jessica |date=April 19, 2016 |newspaper=Miami New Times |access-date=February 23, 2017 |archive-date=May 4, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170504062040/http://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/miami-beachs-400-million-sea-level-rise-plan-is-unprecedented-but-not-everyone-is-sold-8398989 |url-status=live }}</ref> Pump failures such as during construction or power outages, including a [[2017 Atlantic hurricane season#Tropical Storm Emily|Tropical Storm Emily]]-related rain flood on August 1, 2017, can cause great unexpected flooding. Combined with the higher roads and sidewalks, this leaves unchanged properties relatively lower and prone to inundation.<ref name="SoBeBasement">{{cite news |url=http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/miami-beach/article115264938.html |title=Flood claim denied for restaurant turned 'basement' after Miami Beach raised street |first=Joey |last=Flechas |work=Miami Herald |date=November 16, 2016 |access-date=August 7, 2017 |archive-date=August 8, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170808035330/http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/miami-beach/article115264938.html |url-status=live }}</ref>