Naples, FL, flood risk guide: What locals and new residents need to know
Considering a move to the Naples, Fla., area? Use these interactive maps to check the potential flood risk for any property.
If you’re considering moving to Naples, Fla., you’re certainly not alone. Among recent glowing headlines, Naples topped the list of U.S. News and World Report’s best places to live. It has also been named one of the fastest-growing areas in the U.S.
Naples Deputy City Manager Mari Gallet says it’s not hard to see why. “I love both the natural environment … and the commitment to small town charm,” Gallet says. “There is a true sense of place and commitment to quality of life that I value.”
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Naples has grabbed headlines for other reasons recently, as well. Today Naples is rebounding from an unnamed but powerful storm that dumped record rainfall on the area and prompted the governor to declare a state of emergency for Collier County, where Naples is located. Less than two years ago, Hurricane Ian pummelled Naples, with some areas experiencing a storm surge of more than eight feet.
Is the reward of living in a place so idyllic that it’s called “Paradise Coast” worth the risk of occasional but serious flooding?
“It’s a coastal community. We occasionally flood,” says Natalie Hardman, the city’s natural resource manager. “You deal with it and get comfortable with it or you move.”
Robert Dorta, the city’s flood plain coordinator, grew up in Naples and is used to weather, good and bad. “But every year I hear from people who say, ‘I’m from Arizona. This is my first year here. What do I do?”
The city has a wealth of flood hazard preparedness resources and runs regular workshops to teach residents how to get ready for the next big weather event. But before stocking up on flashlights and researching power generators, if you’re planning a move to the area, a good first step is to assess the flood risks using flood zone maps.
3 types of flood risks in Naples
Flood hazard risks in Naples come in more than one form. “If you live here, you know you’re going to have tropical storms and hurricanes,” says Hardman. “But we have high tides and king tides that will cause flooding even when there’s no rain.”
Naples’s flood risks fall into three main buckets:
Nuisance flooding that occurs due to rainfall and tides
Storm surge flooding that occurs due to hurricanes and tropical storms
Sea level rise that has the potential to exacerbate all other risks
Here’s how to assess each category before you pick a new property.
1. Nuisance flooding
Some amount of flooding is expected in Naples. As the city notes on the floodplain section of its website, water is a very big deal in Naples. In addition to occupying a prime spot on the Gulf of Mexico, the city has two bays and an intricate canal system. Sitting just barely below all of that is the water table because Naples is only about three feet above sea level.
A little bit of rain can create pooling on roads and in yards, but the city is designed to handle a robust water event without a lot of drama. “It’s a low-lying area but we do our best to mitigate that as best we can,” says Dorta.
The flood water stays mostly within ditches and canals, according to Hardman. “Most flooding comes from stormwater systems that can’t keep up,” she says. “Gravity-fed systems can’t keep up when they’re filled to capacity. But even when it looks bad, in 24 hours most of the flooding will be gone.”
What you need to know: Nuisance flooding is a part of life in Naples, but probably not a major cause for concern. Still, it’s wise to consider how an area might fare during run-of-the-mill water events. Road closures do happen. “People should take some time and drive around and look at communities and amenities,” says Dorta. “All the impervious surfaces that are there may mean there’s nowhere for the water to go.”
2. Storm surge flooding
Nearly 50% of hurricane deaths are due to storm surges, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and the National Weather Service (NWS).
Naples’s topography may have been an important defense during Hurricane Ian in 2022. Post-storm damage assessments showed that the terrain may have prevented the storm surge from advancing more than a few blocks inland, according to reporting by The Washington Post. However, the area still sustained catastrophic damage from flooding. Of the 152 people who lost their lives during the storm, 10 were from Collier County. (For an overview of Hurricane Ian’s impact, see this interactive story map from NOAA and NWS.)
It’s important to remember no two storms are alike. Storm surges are a result of complex factors related to meteorological and topographical conditions.
What you need to know: It’s smart to check your potential new property’s location on a flood map. This will give you a sense of potential risk to life and property and also let you estimate your flood insurance requirements and cost. “People should prepare for sticker shock,” says Dorta. “The cost of insurance is going to be expensive. Some people are having a hard time getting it.”
Check out the City of Naples's explanation of flood zone designations and flood map. (Zoom in on the map to see explanations of risk.)
3. Sea level rise
The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the United Nations body for assessing climate change, forecasts a global sea level rise between 1.4 feet and 2.8 feet by the year 2100. It also has an alarming caveat: An increase of up to 6.6 feet “cannot be ruled out.”
What you need to know: Whether you choose to panic, prepare, or pretend there is no risk is up to you, but it’s wiser to prepare and plan accordingly. We also suggest taking a look at NOAA’s interactive Sea Level Rise Viewer. Use the slider on the left side of the screen to visualize different scenarios.
How Naples is preparing
The City of Naples monitors all relevant risk models and takes a necessarily pragmatic approach to dealing with current and future flood risks. Last month it completed a Critical Assets and Facilities Adaptation Plan that outlines and prioritizes the city’s response to climate change risks.
The city is also working to secure funding to start a stormwater outfall project that will improve flood protection, water quality, and the city’s overall resilience to climate change. “This project is one of regional importance and has received financial support from the State of Florida,” Gallet says. “During the rebuild of the stormwater collection system, Gulf Shore Boulevard will be increased in elevation and be resilient to sea level rise to the year 2100.”
One more risk to be aware of in Naples …
Besides floods, Naples has another risk people should be aware of. “People move to Naples and they think that they’re in civilization. But there are still wild animals that you can see around here,” says Hardman. She says people have called her office to report alligators, bears, coyotes, deer, and even panthers on their property.
Oh, and snakes.“There are pythons here!” Hardman says. “People theorize they escaped from a breeding facility during Hurricane Andrew and they’ve been reproducing like crazy. There’s a lot of wild areas to the east of us. They seem to love the Everglades.”
We weren’t able to dig up a map to visualize python risk, but Naples residents would do well to keep an eye on pets and small children.
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