Destin flooded the county with ideas. The Okaloosa Mitigation Strategy, a state grant pilot program to reduce the risk from hurricanes and flooding, issued its year-end report.
Destin projects are well represented.
Surprisingly, Destin, Shalimar and Okaloosa County are the only governmental entities reflected in the report, even though all cities were asked to contribute ideas. The proposed initiatives run the gamut from suspending tolls on the Mid-Bay Bridge during evacuations to installing reserve diesel tanks at city hall for generators. Other projects seek to protect critical buildings and highways, prevent health care facilities from locating within the boundaries of a category 3 hurricane surge zone and increased public education campaigns. The report identifies dozens of proposals to minimize damage. The proposals are broadly categorized to either reduce future expenses, mitigate land use, further environmental issues or mitigate administrative problems.