Which maintains the director of security of the most vulnerable place in us at night before the hurricanes season

Orlando, Florida (AP) – No place is more vulnerable to hurricanes In the 50 American states that Florida Keys.

The chain of the islands celebrated by the singer Jimmy Buffett In his odes with tropical escape, is surrounded by water, jumping at 120 miles southwest of the Florida continent at Key West with the Gulf and the Atlantic Ocean on each side.

The archipelago is historically known for its original and libertarian inhabitants who revel in Hedonist of the islands, artistic and Outdoor lifestyle. In recent years, it has also become a paradise for the rich.

The supervision of the security of more than 80,000 inhabitants of the Republic of the Conque – the nickname of the islands after the inhabitants declared Shannon Weiner, director of emergency management in the county of Monroe, Florida.

The Atlantic Hurricane season begins on June 1, and the county has new weapons this season, including a brand new emergency operations center and a new seawater desalination water processing. The county is also based on hunting hunts fighter flights from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) to know how to prepare.

But, the potential of a catastrophic storm as Hurricane Irma In 2017, is still in the back of the minds of residents. The category 4 storm led to Earth in the Florida Keys with winds up to 132 MPH (209.2 km / h), destroying around 1,180 houses and seriously damaging 3,000 others.

Weiner recently spoke to the Associated Press of the next hurricane season. This interview has been modified for duration and clarity.

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AP: Why is the county of Monroe the most vulnerable place of the 50 American states for hurricanes?

Weiner: our whole island chain is surrounded by water. We have more water than land mass. Being only located between the two large bodies of water makes us very vulnerable. We see storms early, sometimes in their formation – storms that arise from the Atlantic and then storms that develop in the south, in the Caribbean Sea. We tend to be on their way, and we therefore get a lot of storm practices here in the county of Monroe.

AP: Given your dependence on the National Weather Service and the Noaa for Hurricane predictions, did you concern yourself by recent job cuts and budget cuts in the federal government?

Weiner: The meteorological service is a good partner, and the field offices, from what they told us and what they hear here, everyone is safe. They do not wait or expect cuttings at the field offices (Florida Keys). So, of course, going to the hurricanes season, we are really happy to hear this.

AP: Can we talk about Hurricane Irma? The keys have always been vulnerable, but Irma was a shock for the system, right?

Weiner: The keys had not had a storm of this magnitude or this size since the beginning of the 20th century. People tend to become complacent. It’s human nature, right? They are not as worried. They are not as prepared. We were very lucky with Irma in that we had a lot of days to evacuate. But when we got home and saw the devastation, it was a revelation. Being an island chain, we have had unique challenges that bring logistics to help us recover.

AP: Do the residents generally evacuate when they are asked?

Weiner: Usually they tend to take these tips into account. We constantly remind people to be prepared and how important it is in our county to evacuate because the Florida Keys, the entire island chain, is an area of ​​overvoltage. People here tend to be wise enough when it comes to storms, and throughout the key, the biggest concern is the wave of storm rather than the wind. We say: “Hide the wind and run water.”

AP: We are close to the start of the Atlantic Hurricane season. What keeps you at night?

Weiner: The city of Key West is an incredibly resilient community. There is a lot of history there. But there is also a lot of older architecture. There are a lot of wooden houses, and for them to receive a storm, a direct impact of a major magnitude, which would be devastating. This is what stands at night – a category 4 or 5 storm striking Key West.

AP: Given the vulnerability of the keys, why do you think people choose to stay and live there?

Weiner: Because it’s beautiful here. It is really a paradise on the island. Being surrounded by a national marine sanctuary is incredible. I think everyone who lives here, we all live here for this reason. Because we appreciate the environment and marine life and love water. And so it’s worth it. You make sure you are ready and have a plan if you need to go. And you go to a safe place, and you come back, and you just put it back together.

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Follow Mike Schneider on the Bluesky social platform: @ Mikeysid.bsky.social.