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Alex Harris

@harrisalexc.bsky.social
2.3K followers 206 following 38 posts

Lead climate reporter at the Miami Herald. Florida woman through and through

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Reposted by Alex Harris
Susan Merriam @semerriam.bsky.social · 12/11/2025
Our latest in the Floods of Trouble series for the @miamiherald.com shows where reports of flooding or drainage issues have been reported since 2014 in Miami-Dade and Broward. ✍️: @harrisalexc.bsky.social and me www.miamiherald.com/news/local/e...
miamiherald.com
‘Street is lake, urgent!’ Herald mapping reveals flooding blind spots
As climate changes soaks South Florida, flood complaints are piling up.
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Alex Harris @harrisalexc.bsky.social · 07/11/2025
I signed. Join me!
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Reposted by Alex Harris
Jeremy DeHart @jeremydehartwx.bsky.social · 27/10/2025
From a crewmember on yesterday's Teal 74 mission into now-Category 5 Hurricane #Melissa. As clear of an eye as you will see in the Atlantic basin.
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Alex Harris @harrisalexc.bsky.social · 25/07/2025
As the scientific tide starts to turn on coral restoration via regrowing fragments of fast-growing corals, a new idea is starting to gain traction -- crossbreeding corals with their stronger neighbors in the Caribbean. My latest on 'assisted gene flow' www.miamiherald.com/news/local/e...
miamiherald.com
Corals keep cooking in climate-heated seas. These crossbreeds may keep hope alive
‘We’re scattering the seeds. We have to wait for the oaks to grow up.’
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Alex Harris @harrisalexc.bsky.social · 15/06/2025
Fascinating story from @annamphillips.bsky.social about the clash between government buyouts vs small towns that can’t afford to let people go. Makes me wonder what that will look like in some rural, riverfront Florida communities. Or maybe even the Keys one day? t.co/yPnKGxgWue
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https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/2025/06/12/vermont-floods-barre-rebuilding/
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Alex Harris @harrisalexc.bsky.social · 10/06/2025
And Sohail Al Jamea made this lovely animation explaining the process we're talking about. Notice how the higher groundwater levels make it even easier for rainfall to cause flooding
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Alex Harris @harrisalexc.bsky.social · 10/06/2025
Adding in the groundwater connection doesn't necessarily show flooding in new areas. @semerriam.bsky.social overlaid flood complaints in Fort Lauderdale with Broward's future scenarios mapping and found they match pretty well
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Alex Harris @harrisalexc.bsky.social · 10/06/2025
Part 3 of my series exploring real estate and climate change in South Florida explores groundwater flooding! t.co/3JAbNTYCsQ
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https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/environment/climate-change/article307805065.html
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Alex Harris @harrisalexc.bsky.social · 10/06/2025
The reason South Florida is so vulnerable to sea level rise lies beneath our feet. When heavy rains fall or seas rise, groundwater levels do too. But most local, state and fed agencies in Florida don't account for this. It could mean we see more flooding, faster, than expected.
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Alex Harris @harrisalexc.bsky.social · 23/05/2025
It could also raise flood insurance costs -- by about 5% -- for 44k Floridians in 12 different communities, including Hialeah, Hollywood and Orange County.
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Alex Harris @harrisalexc.bsky.social · 23/05/2025
Cities and counties across the state say it will stop them from enacting much-needed fixes to problems they discovered after previous hurricanes. But the bill's sponsors say it's only meant to stop 'overregulation' and keep govs 'laser-focused' on recovery t.co/s6H8sTP6JS
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https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/environment/article306904706.html
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Alex Harris @harrisalexc.bsky.social · 23/05/2025
A Florida bill that slashes red tape for hurricane recovery efforts also has some provisions that local govs say will make it more difficult to rebuild stronger -- and higher -- after a hurricane. With @rballogg.bsky.social, who's been watching this already unfold in Manatee
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Alex Harris @harrisalexc.bsky.social · 22/05/2025
I guess we'll find out. We're days away from the start of hurricane season, and NOAA says it will likely be another active one. www.miamiherald.com/news/weather...
miamiherald.com
U.S. hurricane forecast: ‘Everything is in place’ for another above-average season
Officials pledge that, despite understaffing, “every warning will go out.”
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Alex Harris @harrisalexc.bsky.social · 22/05/2025
And Ken Graham, head of @nws.noaa.gov, swore the agency was prepared for the season. "We had some folks go, but we’re going to make sure we have everything on the front lines. Every warning is going to go out," he said.
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Alex Harris @harrisalexc.bsky.social · 22/05/2025
At a presser this morning, NOAA and NWS officials got grilled on widespread understaffing at offices around the nation. Laura Grimm, acting head of @noaa.gov, swore the @nhc-atlantic.extwitter.link is "fully staffed" and "ready to go," but Herald reporting shows they're down at least one met.
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Alex Harris @harrisalexc.bsky.social · 09/05/2025
Hurricane season is three weeks away (!) and Florida is missing meteorologists. What the current federal cuts (and prospective ones) could mean for storm forecasting: amp.miamiherald.com/news/weather...
amp.miamiherald.com
With hurricane season ahead, Trump cuts leave Florida weather offices understaffed
Florida NWS offices appear to be down at least 16 staffers ahead of hurricane season.
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Alex Harris @harrisalexc.bsky.social · 06/05/2025
There's evidence that could be changing, both from new academic studies and some anecdotal evidence from spots whalloped by storms last year -- like the beautiful but floodprone neighborhood of Shore Acres in St. Petersburg. “Perhaps the tides are shifting," said one researcher
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Alex Harris @harrisalexc.bsky.social · 06/05/2025
But why??? Simply, it's because people will still pony up for waterfront property, despite models showing a steadily encroaching tide, because they see that tide as far away.
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Alex Harris @harrisalexc.bsky.social · 06/05/2025
We had an analyst look at home sales in neighborhoods touched by intense flooding: the 90-day flood in the Keys, hurricanes in Miami or a 'rain bomb' in Fort Lauderdale. (Un)surprisingly, they went up after a flood event. Way up.
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Alex Harris @harrisalexc.bsky.social · 06/05/2025
Read the whole story, the second installment in a @miamiherald.com series on real estate and sea level rise, here: www.miamiherald.com/news/local/e...
miamiherald.com
Climate change is coming for Florida’s real estate. Why don’t prices reflect it?
So far, property values have remained remarkably resilient to flood risks – more resilient than many of the actual homes.
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Alex Harris @harrisalexc.bsky.social · 06/05/2025
I get this question alll the time. If sea level rise is going to flood more Miami houses, why on earth is the market still so red hot? Let's get into it. [With @semerriam.bsky.social]
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Reposted by Alex Harris
Susan Merriam @semerriam.bsky.social · 24/04/2025
FEMA data shows the agency has paid out $16.8 billion in damages since 2000 on more than 220,000 claims — some doled out repeatedly to the same problematic properties. The agency doesn’t share the addresses, even with buyers.
Chart showing FEMA Flood claims yearly in Florida since 2000. Claims rise in the wake of major hurricanes, and additional development in those hurricane-prone spots also drives the number of claims up.
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Alex Harris @harrisalexc.bsky.social · 24/04/2025
Stay tuned for more parts of this series that explores how Florida real estate and sea level rise collide!
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Alex Harris @harrisalexc.bsky.social · 24/04/2025
We also have a handy guide for potential buyers with questions to ask and places to look for more info: www.miamiherald.com/news/local/e...
miamiherald.com
Thousands of Florida homes have flooded before. Tips to avoid buying one
FEMA flood zones are only the place to start.
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Alex Harris @harrisalexc.bsky.social · 24/04/2025
We heard from people who lost their homes in unexpected flooding, people whose realtors encouraged them to lie about flooding on their seller disclosure and people who were stuck in court for years trying to hold their sellers accountable.
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Alex Harris @harrisalexc.bsky.social · 24/04/2025
In part one of my new series, @semerriam.bsky.social and I found a culture of secrecy for flood histories. It's a problem that is only expected to worsen as climate change makes flooding more common in the Sunshine State
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Alex Harris @harrisalexc.bsky.social · 24/04/2025
Buying a home is already a tricky process, but in Florida, trying to find one that hasn't flooded and hopefully won't flood again is harder than it should be. And home buyers pay the price. www.miamiherald.com/news/local/e...
miamiherald.com
How secret flood histories cost Florida home buyers and mask state’s risk
“We’re trying to avoid someone getting left holding the bag on a property that floods.”
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Alex Harris @harrisalexc.bsky.social · 11/04/2025
Localizing a great scoop from @zteirstein.bsky.social + Jake Bittle last week grist.org/politics/fem...
grist.org
FEMA moves to end one of its biggest disaster adaptation programs
In an internal FEMA memorandum obtained by Grist, the Trump administration announced it plans to dismantle the Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities program.
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Alex Harris @harrisalexc.bsky.social · 11/04/2025
South Florida is losing tens of millions of dollars for flood control projects aimed to stem not just future SLR flooding but current day flooding because Trump admin slashed funds www.miamiherald.com/news/local/e...
miamiherald.com
Millions in South Florida flood-control projects on hold after Trump FEMA cuts
On the chopping block: projects in Miami, Key West and Broward.
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Alex Harris @harrisalexc.bsky.social · 27/02/2025
The government taking your property is.... not popular in Florida. Back in 2020, the Army Corps suggested mandatory buyouts of flooded homes in the Keys, but Monroe County fought it. Instead, the feds are doing voluntary home elevations (Original plan here) www.miamiherald.com/news/local/e...
miamiherald.com
Surviving hurricanes, sea rise in Keys may mean $3 billion in home buyouts, elevations
A bird’s eye look at the Florida Keys is all it takes to understand that little stands between the chain of islands and the sea.
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Alex Harris @harrisalexc.bsky.social · 27/02/2025
Eminent domain in Florida climate adaptation 👀👀 St. Augustine could be the first to try it, after the city approved a plan to potentially override resident pushback to build a protective seawall and halt flooding jaxtoday.org/2025/02/26/f...
jaxtoday.org
St. Augustine moves to reduce Lake Maria Sanchez flooding | Jacksonville Today
A plan adopted this week will allow the city to build a seawall to limit flooding from the lake.
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Alex Harris @harrisalexc.bsky.social · 27/02/2025
The government taking your property is.... not popular in Florida. Back in 2020, the Army Corps suggested mandatory buyouts of flooded homes in the Keys, but Monroe County fought it. Instead, the feds are doing voluntary home elevations (Original plan here) www.miamiherald.com/news/local/e...
miamiherald.com
In Florida Keys, $5.5 billion hurricane protection plan would buy 300 homes, raise thousands
Protecting the Florida Keys from the future’s stronger storms and rising seas involves retreating from the most dangerous spots. That process will be by choice, for now.
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Alex Harris @harrisalexc.bsky.social · 31/01/2025
I’ve covered a lot of road raising meetings in the last few years. I’ve noticed it’s one of the few spaces where genuine questions about cost/efficacy are mixed with outright climate denial from residents
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Alex Harris @harrisalexc.bsky.social · 31/01/2025
This week, Key Biscayne got a new estimate — $56 million for road raising and drainage for just two miles of road. That’s pretty on par for what other communities are paying
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Alex Harris @harrisalexc.bsky.social · 31/01/2025
One of the toniest communities in Miami-Dade is raising roads to stay dry in the face of sea level rise. As we’ve learned from Miami Beach and the Keys, it’s super expensive! And some residents don’t love it www.miamiherald.com/news/local/c...
miamiherald.com
As sea-rise floods increase, Key Biscayne to raise roads. Big price tag ruffles residents
Without fixes, some roads could be underwater every day by 2070.
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Alex Harris @harrisalexc.bsky.social · 22/01/2025
People are always amazed when I tell them that despite some (substantial) culture war stuff on the topic, the DeSantis admin has spent $1.55 billion helping Florida cities adapt to what they explicitly admit is climate-related issues
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Alex Harris @harrisalexc.bsky.social · 08/01/2025
Everybody loves an Everglades restoration project -- until it's next door. A NIMBY-esque lawsuit from an unlikely source, a local Buddhist retreat in western Broward. www.miamiherald.com/news/local/e...
miamiherald.com
Buddhist center sues over Everglades project, arguing work would disrupt tranquility
The group says the construction noise would infringe on their religious freedom.
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Reposted by Alex Harris
Denise Hruby @denisehruby.bsky.social · 14/12/2024
"Game changer" study shows that some of Miami's condos and hotels are sinking. “It’s probably a much larger problem than we know."
miamiherald.com
Dozens of luxury condos, hotels in Miami sinking at ‘unexpected’ rates, new study reveals
First-ever observation of continuous subsidence shows as much as 70 percent of high-rises affected in some areas of Miami
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Alex Harris @harrisalexc.bsky.social · 13/12/2024
And research from FIU suggests that even the "good" replanting plans (100+ more trees and $$$$ to replant more elsewhere) aren't enough
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Alex Harris @harrisalexc.bsky.social · 13/12/2024
Miami is struggling to maintain its tree canopy. Homeowners & developers are chopping them down nearly as fast as the city can replace them. A proposed rule change could make that even easier. www.miamiherald.com/news/local/e...
miamiherald.com
Miami already short on shade trees. Plan would make it easier to remove them, activists say
‘We have [an ordinance] that’s ineffective at improving our urban tree canopy, and there’s little to suggest this would improve it, and much to suggest that it worsens it.’
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Alex Harris @harrisalexc.bsky.social · 03/12/2024
Thanks so much for the kind note!! Happy to be here :)
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Alex Harris @harrisalexc.bsky.social · 03/12/2024
Razing and elevating homes after a storm is a pain — it’s expensive and slow for distraught residents. But it keeps us safe from future storms. Skipping it isn’t optional, as Fort Myers Beach learned www.miamiherald.com/news/weather...
miamiherald.com
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