SYNOPSIS
So Flo Floods is a film about how sea level rise and flooding are affecting, have affected, and will affect South Florida, while also providing an illustration for all similarly vulnerable coastal and low-lying areas in the US and worldwide. It paints pictures not theoretical. It is a documentary done by passionate people on a mission to educate and entertain.
The film begins in Miami Beach, a city famous internationally for being extremely at risk from sea level rise and its resulting floods. The film is intrigued by what is going on there since it is not academic—no one is standing around wondering if sea level rise is going to happen, or why it’s happening, or who’s to blame. It is simply an empirical, economic fact, and so we are fascinated by all that is going on—which the film documents in significant detail with several interviews with prominent individuals around South Florida, including Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber.
Beginning with a pre-titles montage (beach, urban sprawl, pumps in action on South Beach) we move to a view of South Florida from space zooming into Miami Beach City Hall where we experience what it’s like at the vanguard of sea level rise. In the rest of the first act, “Current Floods”, we meet the principal interviewees including Professor Harold Wanless from the University of Miami, perhaps the world’s most renowned scientist on climate change’s effects on South Florida.
But first we visit with the Army Corps of Engineers at Lake Okeechobee and the Hoover Dike—integral to the taming of the Everglades and South Florida’s natural tendency to flood. This leads us to an examination of the dike, exploring its importance and how it got there. Turns out it’s all about flooding in South Florida, the investigation of which shows how all the areas of South Florida are very much interconnected.
“Old Floods” is next with Dr. Paul George, Resident Historian at History Miami Museum, discussing the Miami Hurricane of 1926, where we see old Fords washing around Miami’s flooded streets. On to Belle Glade, home to the second worst natural disaster in U.S. history: the 1928 Lake Okeechobee Hurricane, which killed approximately 3,000 souls, followed by a moving animated sequence of the flood before meeting Robert Mykle, author of Killer ‘Cane.
With the past and present as prologue, the film takes a deep dive into the future of South Florida with a discussion of the future impact of sea level rise. We dip our toe into the politics with interviews with Jacqui Thurlow-Lippisch, former mayor of Sewall’s Point, and Dan Gelber. The film concludes with a review of the tough choices South Floridians need to make - and an observation that the wealthy folks are already moving away.
The film begins in Miami Beach, a city famous internationally for being extremely at risk from sea level rise and its resulting floods. The film is intrigued by what is going on there since it is not academic—no one is standing around wondering if sea level rise is going to happen, or why it’s happening, or who’s to blame. It is simply an empirical, economic fact, and so we are fascinated by all that is going on—which the film documents in significant detail with several interviews with prominent individuals around South Florida, including Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber.
Beginning with a pre-titles montage (beach, urban sprawl, pumps in action on South Beach) we move to a view of South Florida from space zooming into Miami Beach City Hall where we experience what it’s like at the vanguard of sea level rise. In the rest of the first act, “Current Floods”, we meet the principal interviewees including Professor Harold Wanless from the University of Miami, perhaps the world’s most renowned scientist on climate change’s effects on South Florida.
But first we visit with the Army Corps of Engineers at Lake Okeechobee and the Hoover Dike—integral to the taming of the Everglades and South Florida’s natural tendency to flood. This leads us to an examination of the dike, exploring its importance and how it got there. Turns out it’s all about flooding in South Florida, the investigation of which shows how all the areas of South Florida are very much interconnected.
“Old Floods” is next with Dr. Paul George, Resident Historian at History Miami Museum, discussing the Miami Hurricane of 1926, where we see old Fords washing around Miami’s flooded streets. On to Belle Glade, home to the second worst natural disaster in U.S. history: the 1928 Lake Okeechobee Hurricane, which killed approximately 3,000 souls, followed by a moving animated sequence of the flood before meeting Robert Mykle, author of Killer ‘Cane.
With the past and present as prologue, the film takes a deep dive into the future of South Florida with a discussion of the future impact of sea level rise. We dip our toe into the politics with interviews with Jacqui Thurlow-Lippisch, former mayor of Sewall’s Point, and Dan Gelber. The film concludes with a review of the tough choices South Floridians need to make - and an observation that the wealthy folks are already moving away.
DIRECTOR'S STATEMENT
So Flo Floods is a film very close to our hearts as both of the producers grew up in Miami. But in the making of the film we realized that South Florida (So Flo) is much bigger than just Miami—it stretches from Naples on the west coast of Florida to localities as far north as Palm Beach and Stuart. It includes both South Beach’s Art Deco hotels and South Florida’s ubiquitous suburban sprawl. It includes beautiful beaches and the Everglades’ wilderness. The risk to the entire area is absolute and the interest is international.
In researching South Florida’s current situation, we were intrigued about the past since we knew that much of South Florida is drained Everglades. So, we thought: what about past floods?
It turns out that there have been many disastrous floods from when hurricanes hit in 1926, 1928, and 1935, among others. New models show that if Hurricane Andrew were to hit with an additional few feet of sea level rise from 1992 levels, flooding would reach the western suburbs. If it hit downtown today as the Great Miami Hurricane of 1926 did, it would potentially be a $150 billion event.
Our research led us to Belle Glade, where we found a treasure trove of information about the Lake Okeechobee Hurricane of 1928—the second worst catastrophe ever to hit the United States with approximately 3,000 deaths. We include in the film an interview with Robert Mykle, author of Killer ‘Cane, for additional details about what happened “when the lake became an ocean.” We also incorporate a brief animation to go with eye witness accounts—a bit of a warning for those that think it can’t happen in South Florida.
This film is not about sea level rise per se—it is about flooding. It is an ongoing battle to keep the water back both from the sea and from the Everglades. Those that live in South Florida are engaged in a relentless fight. We always have been—and we always will be.
So Flo Floods is a potentially important film; the few that have seen it say so, especially to those whose lives are so intertwined with the projected flooding. We surveyed those that have seen the film and the response is enthusiastic. It is the film’s hope to entertain and educate so that people can prepare, and, if necessary, leave behind a less polluted landscape.
We hope the worst of the projected outcomes never happen, but geological records have shown that Florida has experienced many different coastlines over the eons, so there is no reason to think we are not in a period of dynamic sea levels now. The most recent science shows this to be true—and overwhelmingly so. Governmental authorities like FEMA agree.
What most all who view the film agree, is that those in South Florida need to see it.
In researching South Florida’s current situation, we were intrigued about the past since we knew that much of South Florida is drained Everglades. So, we thought: what about past floods?
It turns out that there have been many disastrous floods from when hurricanes hit in 1926, 1928, and 1935, among others. New models show that if Hurricane Andrew were to hit with an additional few feet of sea level rise from 1992 levels, flooding would reach the western suburbs. If it hit downtown today as the Great Miami Hurricane of 1926 did, it would potentially be a $150 billion event.
Our research led us to Belle Glade, where we found a treasure trove of information about the Lake Okeechobee Hurricane of 1928—the second worst catastrophe ever to hit the United States with approximately 3,000 deaths. We include in the film an interview with Robert Mykle, author of Killer ‘Cane, for additional details about what happened “when the lake became an ocean.” We also incorporate a brief animation to go with eye witness accounts—a bit of a warning for those that think it can’t happen in South Florida.
This film is not about sea level rise per se—it is about flooding. It is an ongoing battle to keep the water back both from the sea and from the Everglades. Those that live in South Florida are engaged in a relentless fight. We always have been—and we always will be.
So Flo Floods is a potentially important film; the few that have seen it say so, especially to those whose lives are so intertwined with the projected flooding. We surveyed those that have seen the film and the response is enthusiastic. It is the film’s hope to entertain and educate so that people can prepare, and, if necessary, leave behind a less polluted landscape.
We hope the worst of the projected outcomes never happen, but geological records have shown that Florida has experienced many different coastlines over the eons, so there is no reason to think we are not in a period of dynamic sea levels now. The most recent science shows this to be true—and overwhelmingly so. Governmental authorities like FEMA agree.
What most all who view the film agree, is that those in South Florida need to see it.
PRODUCTION NOTES
This film is two-plus years in the making with all footage shot in South Florida and the editing done in Kathmandu, Nepal where TheoEco has established a production company with Amit Nepali, who served as editor, music composer, and associate producer.
Development of the film and initial shoots began in 2016 and has continued through this summer as many scenes were reshot to improve the quality of the B footage.
Several elements were reshot over the past six months.
We held a private screening for those in the movie and personal friends and have been reshooting and reediting since the March screening. This includes new aerial footage as well as updated scenes from Miami Beach and Turkey Point. The result is a better, tighter film at just over an hour and 13 minutes.
Interviewees
Paul S. George, PhD – Resident Historian, History Miami Museum
Harold Wanless, PhD – Professor, University of Miami
Dan Gelber – Mayor, City of Miami Beach
Richard Weisskoff, PhD – Professor of Economics, University of Miami
Suzy Torriente – Chief Resiliency Officer, City of Miami Beach
Jacqui Thurlow-Lippisch – Former Mayor, Sewall’s Point, FL
Jay Fink – Assistant Director of Public Works, City of Miami Beach
John Campbell – Acting Chief – Corporate Communications Office, Army Corp of Engineers, Jacksonville District
Robert Mykle – Author, Killer ‘Cane
Dorothy Block – Archaeologist, Lawrence E. Will Museum, Belle Glade, FL
Dave Baier – Owner, River Wilderness, Everglades City, FL
Development of the film and initial shoots began in 2016 and has continued through this summer as many scenes were reshot to improve the quality of the B footage.
Several elements were reshot over the past six months.
We held a private screening for those in the movie and personal friends and have been reshooting and reediting since the March screening. This includes new aerial footage as well as updated scenes from Miami Beach and Turkey Point. The result is a better, tighter film at just over an hour and 13 minutes.
Interviewees
Paul S. George, PhD – Resident Historian, History Miami Museum
Harold Wanless, PhD – Professor, University of Miami
Dan Gelber – Mayor, City of Miami Beach
Richard Weisskoff, PhD – Professor of Economics, University of Miami
Suzy Torriente – Chief Resiliency Officer, City of Miami Beach
Jacqui Thurlow-Lippisch – Former Mayor, Sewall’s Point, FL
Jay Fink – Assistant Director of Public Works, City of Miami Beach
John Campbell – Acting Chief – Corporate Communications Office, Army Corp of Engineers, Jacksonville District
Robert Mykle – Author, Killer ‘Cane
Dorothy Block – Archaeologist, Lawrence E. Will Museum, Belle Glade, FL
Dave Baier – Owner, River Wilderness, Everglades City, FL