SanCap Resilience
Building a resilient and sustainable future together.
The SanCap Chamber of Commerce is a supporting partner of SanCap Resilience.
Who We Are
SanCap Resilience is a citizen-led initiative to improve the resilience of our island communities. We are a coalition of community organizations and concerned citizens. We believe that by working together, we can create a safer and more sustainable future.
Our Mission
To lead a community-based initiative to build resilience and protect the vibrancy of our sanctuary islands long into the future.
Join us in our mission to build a more resilient future for Sanibel and Captiva Islands.
Goals
- Provide support, information and resources to residents and business owners to promote a resilient recovery from Hurricane Ian.
- Lead a community-based effort to plan for our future resilience. That includes ways to adapt to changing conditions and to mitigate future impacts.
Values, Vision & Purpose
SanCap Resilience is dedicated to planning, educating, and taking action to protect our natural and built environments. We are committed to advancing mitigation and adaptation strategies to reduce risks from climate change and other environmental threats. We believe in the values of the Sanibel Plan and the Captiva Community Plan, including promoting a diverse community, conservation, and living in harmony with one another and with nature to promote a high quality of life for our citizens.
About
On September 28, 2022, Sanibel and Captiva suffered a direct hit from Hurricane Ian. The storm brought near Category 5 strength winds of 150 miles per hour and a storm surge up to 12 feet causing significant damage to the region.
In the wake of the hurricane, citizens and local nonprofits came together to form the SanCap Resilience, a citizens-based initiative to protect and strengthen our unique barrier island communities.
The Challenge of Climate Change
Sanibel and Captiva are special places. Over the years, many people and groups have worked to preserve our sanctuary islands in the face of over-development pressures. In recent years, water quality impacted by nutrient pollution and algal blooms have been an additional threat to the quality of life and economic success of our communities.
Today these pressures continue. In addition, we are facing another, even more significant threat. Climate change presents existential challenges to our barrier island communities. The science of climate change is established and well understood. We are already facing accelerating sea level rise, more days of dangerous heat, stronger storms, more frequent flooding, increased risk of drought and fires, and greater risk of storm surge. These changes demand new thinking about how we need to adapt our built and natural systems to future conditions.
These changes also demand that we evaluate how we power our homes, cars, and economy. In just the last 150 years, pollution from the mining and burning of fossil fuels has elevated heat trapping gasses in the atmosphere to their highest level in over four million years.
“Business as usual” scenarios present devastating futures for Sanibel and Captiva and other coastal communities across the state and country. For example, recently updated data from NOAA project sea levels to rise 4 to 8 feet above current levels by the end of this century if we do not make significant changes quickly. Choices we make now will determine whether our barrier islands are inhabitable for future generations.
Given the severity of the issue of climate change, the task force will seek to highlight the importance of planning to address both mitigation strategies to reduce the future impacts of climate change and adaptation strategies to harden critical infrastructure necessary for our communities to function.
Events & News
Resources
Many of our local habitats like mangrove forest, dunes, and marshes provide important functions to our human communities in response to climate change, like locking up excess carbon from the atmosphere and providing storm protection and water storage while also contributing to positive water quality, ecotourism and recreation opportunities, and significantly more. Many of our community members and visitors also live, work, and recreate on our islands in large part because of our unique and beautiful nature. Resilience also means providing support so our prized natural systems, including our wildlife, can continue to flourish.
Resilient Buildings
Natural Environment & Landscaping
Upcoming Projects
Our organization is committed to building a resilient future for Sanibel & Captiva after the devastation caused by Hurricane Ian. We are currently working on several projects to support the community in its recovery and strengthen its resilience for future challenges. Stay tuned for updates!
Community Outreach
Sanibel & Captiva
We believe that building a resilient future for Sanibel & Captiva requires the participation of all community members. Our organization is dedicated to engaging with the community, listening to its needs, and working together to identify and implement solutions that will help us build back better.
Collaboration
Long-Term Resilience
We recognize that building a resilient future is a long-term effort that requires collaboration and coordination across different sectors and stakeholders. Our organization is committed to fostering partnerships and building capacity to ensure that Sanibel & Captiva are better prepared for future challenges.
Volunteering
Get Involved
If you are interested in volunteering with SanCap Citizens for a Resilient Future and contributing to the rebuilding and long-term resilience of Sanibel & Captiva, please fill out our volunteer form below.
Make an Impact
Together, we can build a more resilient future for Sanibel & Captiva. Join us in our efforts to support the community and explore long-term resilience measures.
Volunteer
Partner Organizations
Our goal is to amplify the work that our partner organizations are already doing to further resilience and collaborate on solutions that are not yet being addressed. Current partner organizations include:
