St. Petersburg Mayor Urges Aggressive Infrastructure Changes For Hurricanes

St. Petersburg Mayor Ken Welch gestures during an interview Friday, April 19, 2024, in St. Petersburg, Fla. The future of the Tampa Bay Rays should come into clear focus in the coming weeks as the St.

As hurricanes are projected to get stronger due to climate change, real changes must be made to Florida’s infrastructure, according to St. Petersburg Mayor Kenneth Welch.

Mayor Welch emphasized the importance of listening to science and being prepared to act on it. He highlighted the need for more aggressive investments in infrastructure to adapt to the new reality of climate change.

With Hurricane Milton approaching, the City of St. Petersburg has taken proactive measures to ensure readiness. Mayor Welch commended the city's efforts in debris pickup and distribution of over 146,000 sandbags to residents.

City of St. Petersburg prepares for Hurricane Milton with proactive measures.

Mayor Welch stresses listening to science for climate change adaptation.

Efforts include debris pickup, sandbag distribution, and infrastructure strengthening.

In addition to these immediate actions, the city has also focused on strengthening its infrastructure to withstand the impact of severe storms. Mayor Welch mentioned a $70 million project aimed at raising a wastewater plant's resilience to 11 feet of storm surge.

While this project signifies progress, Mayor Welch acknowledged that recent storms have proven to be even more powerful than anticipated. He stressed the importance of continuous adaptation and investment in infrastructure to protect against the escalating threats posed by climate change.