Latest news with #HurricaneIrma
Yahoo
06-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Iconic Florida plant proposed to be added to Endangered Species list
Rare ghost orchid via YouTube. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed listing the ghost orchid, considered to be Florida's most famous flower, under the Endangered Species Act. The announcement came on Wednesday, more than three years after three environmental groups – the Center for Biological Diversity, The Institute for Regional Conservation and the National Parks Conservation Association— filed a petition requesting that the ghost orchid be listed under the law as a threatened species. The ghost orchid is endemic to southwestern Florida and western Cuba. It is estimated that its population has declined by more than 90% around the world, and by up to 50% in Florida. There are only an estimated 1,500 ghost orchids remaining in Florida, and less than half are known to be mature enough to reproduce. They are located mostly in the Big Cypress National Preserve, Florida Panther's National Wildlife Refuge, Fakahatchee Strand Preserve Park, Audubon's Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary, and other conservation areas in Collier, Hendry, and possibly Lee counties. Among the factors that have led to the flower decreasing in population are the consequences of poaching as well as recent major storms, such as Hurricane Irma in 2017 and Hurricane Ian in 2022, says Jaclyn Lopez, an attorney with the Jacobs Law Clinic for Democracy and the Environment at Stetson University's College of Law based in Pinellas County, who is representing the conservation groups. Other factors that have led to the ghost orchid becoming more vulnerable include increased development and climate change. The ghost orchid is a leafless plant species that uses its roots to photosynthesize and attach itself to a host tree. 'The habitat changes that happen used to be quite slow over time. As sea levels have changed historically that allowed plants to move,' Lopez said. 'The difference now is that the levels are rising much more quickly, not really giving plants the opportunity to adapt and to migrate on their own, and so the concern is that some of these trees could be lost to sea level rise.' In February 2023, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission posted on social media that it had apprehended individuals attempting to steal a ghost orchid. In their petition to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the conservation groups noted that one of the chief threats to the ghost orchid was 'overcollection,' and therefore they did not list the exact locations of where the populations of the flower exist. However, Lopez says that the Endangered Species Act requires very specific data to be included in the petition process, so the conservation groups were still able to provide that information to the Fish and Wildlife Service confidentially. 'We understood that the principal threat is poaching, so we had to make sure that we weren't going to be the reason poachers could find out their exact location,' she said, adding that the federal agency was later able to communicate directly with officials at Big Cypress and Corkscrew to provide 'location specific information on the species' right down to the individual plant. In a statement, Elise Bennett, the Florida and Caribbean director and attorney at the Center for Biological Diversity, welcomed the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's announcement on the ghost orchid, but said it was far too early to celebrate. '[W]ith the Trump administration's incessant attacks on landmark environmental laws meant to stop species from going extinct, we know our job here isn't done,' she said. 'We'll continue to do what's necessary to ensure the ghost orchid and every other iconic Florida species has a fighting chance to thrive in our beautiful state.' 'People love plants,' adds Lopez. 'They're part of our own ecosystem and habitat. They're part of the aesthetic of living in Florida. And ghost orchids in particular are like the movie star of that ecosystem, so I imagine that this proposal will be gladly supported. I don't expect any political interference or backlash as a result. so we're just hopeful that the administration is able to move forward without further delay in giving the species finally all the protection that it needs.' The Fish and Wildlife Service is taking public comments on the proposed rule until August 4. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
Hurricane season 2025: Central Florida prepares for flooding
When Hurricane Irma barreled through Central Florida in 2017, floodwaters rose several feet in the streets of the working-class neighborhood of Orlo Vista and up to the window sills in Levi Williams' home. 'We could see fish and tadpoles swimming in the water,' she said Thursday. It was weeks before she could finally return to the home where she had lived since 1975. It was the first time her house flooded. Williams was chased out of her home again by flooding in September 2022 when Hurricane Ian swamped Central Florida, dumping nearly 15 inches in some spots. She remembered sheets of water flowing along the streets of Orlo Vista, destroying nearly everything in its path, before spreading into homes. Some residents had to be rescued out of their houses by the National Guard with high-water vehicles. Williams will often tell her stories of those two storms to warn Central Florida residents — even those who have lived in the region for decades — that a hurricane's rains are just as dangerous as its winds. 'We have no control over the weather. That's God's doing,' she said. 'But we can be prepared.' That's the message that national weather forecasters, emergency management directors and public officials also are spreading as this year's Atlantic hurricane season starts today and continues through Nov. 30. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration predicts another 'above average' hurricane season with between 13 and 19 named storms. Central Florida residents, they warn, should be ready for heavy rains that can destroy homes within hours, even if their area is not in the direct path of a large storm. 'We're not on the coast, so people say: 'Oh gosh, we don't have to worry about hurricanes so much,'' said U.S. Sen. Rick Scott, former governor of Florida, on Thursday during a press briefing in Sanford regarding hurricane preparedness. 'But if you really look at these hurricanes, what's happened is: They've really become big water events,' Scott said, as he gathered with public safety officials. 'We've had unbelievable flooding where people thought we've never had flooding before.' Scott and other emergency officials at the event urged homeowners purchase flood insurance through the National Flood Insurance Program, even if their properties are not in a designated flood zone. Marie Lackey, a program manager for Seminole County's public works department, said Central Florida has experienced what scientists and weather experts refer to as a '100-year flood event' four times since 2017. A 100-year flood event means it's so rare that it has only a 1% chance of occurring within a specific year. 'Our systems are not designed for that amount of rainfall,' she said. 'And that is a concern, not just in our county, but in our surrounding counties.' Jean Brower and her husband, James, learned that first hand. They were forced to live in a hotel for more than two weeks after Hurricane Ian dumped 19 inches of rain in some spots of Osceola County and flooded the couple's mobile home park, Good Samaritan Society's Kissimmee Village. More than a dozen units were later demolished. County crews have since dredged nearby canals with hopes of preventing a similar disaster. 'We're a little more nervous this year,' said Brower, who blames the stress from the hurricane for a stroke she suffered that left her wheelchair-bound in January 2023. 'We know that they're predicting another busy hurricane season,' she said. 'But it's coming up too soon. We'll keep our fingers crossed.' In Osceola, officials plan to soon implement FloodWise, a software technology that can predict where flooding will occur at the street level up to three days in advance of an approaching storm. 'It will alert us where to put pumps and sandbags,' said Linette Matheny, Osceola's executive director of environment and public lands. 'We can tell people in an apartment complex to move their cars or property out of the way.' Trying to estimate how much rain will fall in a particular area during an approaching storm can drive weather forecasters and emergency management officials to frustration. Devastating floods can occur far from a hurricane's eye. A storm's outer bands of rain can cause local deluges, so residents should be prepared even in areas that are outside a storm's forecasted track. When Hurricane Milton cut a path across south Osceola last October, Kissimmee received slightly under 4 inches of rain, according to the National Weather Service. But Sanford, more than 35 miles north from the eye, saw more than 11 inches of rain. Olivier Welscher — who runs Meriwether Farms next to the historic Midway community near Sanford — said he's uneasy about this year's hurricane season after his property off Celery Avenue flooded during Ian in September 2022. 'Ian was just a crazy storm,' Welscher said. 'We have never been flooded that bad. … And that was followed by [Tropical Storm] Nicole' in November 2022. Midway residents have long struggled with flooded roads and inundated yards after strong storms because of an aging stormwater infrastructure. Many Midway homes were built more than half a century ago. The flooding has become worse in recent years, residents say, because of stronger storms and hundreds of new homes built around their community in Sanford. The city's stormwater drains and ditches are often clogged with tree limbs and other vegetative debris, according to residents. 'It has been woefully neglected,' said Emory Green Jr., a longtime Midway resident, said. 'This is a priority that needs to be addressed. … And it makes me 100% nervous.' In Altamonte Springs, residents in the Spring Oaks neighborhood, tucked along a crook of the Little Wekiva River, have had to use canoes and kayaks to leave their homes after hurricanes Irma, Ian and Milton flooded their roads. More than 60 residents were evacuated after Irma. Spring Oaks resident Alan Wyland has already started stockpiling sandbags and other items in preparation for this year's hurricane season. 'We've learned to be ready,' he said this week. In south Orange County, Jimmy Tadlock remembered a wave of stormwater flowing into his home during Ian in the Bonnie Brook neighborhood. 'It ruined everything — furniture, appliances, even the vehicle,' he said. 'The lift stations just couldn't handle it.' Those memories make Tadlock nervous about this year's hurricane season, too. 'It's just been getting worse every year,' he said. 'The weather is bad everywhere, not just here. You're seeing heavy rains, winds, tornadoes; everywhere around the country.' In Orlo Vista, Williams hopes Orange County's recent improvements to the stormwater drainage systems will help spare her neighborhood from flooding this year. In November 2022, two months after Ian, Orange County hired a North Carolina company to a $21.5-million contract to deepen three storm-water ponds and install a new pump station and stormwater conduits. 'The ponds have been dug deeper, and they can now hold a lot more water than in the past,' said Jeff Charles, operations supervisor with Orange's stormwater management division. Charles pointed out no Orlo Vista properties were flooded during last October's Hurricane Milton, even after receiving nearly six inches of rain. 'But they should've taken more active measures earlier,' Williams said, remembering her flood-damaged home from hurricanes Irma and Ian.
24-05-2025
- Climate
What keeps the safety director of the most vulnerable spot in US up at night before hurricane season
ORLANDO, Fla. -- No place is more vulnerable to hurricanes in the 50 U.S. states than the Florida Keys. The chain of islands celebrated by singer Jimmy Buffett in his odes to tropical escapism is surrounded by water, jutting out 120 miles southwesterly from Florida's mainland to Key West with the Gulf and Atlantic Ocean on either side. The archipelago historically has been known for its quirky and libertarian inhabitants who revel in the islands' hedonistic, artistic and outdoorsy lifestyle. In recent years, it also has become a haven for the wealthy. Overseeing safety for the more than 80,000 inhabitants of the Conch Republic — the nickname for the islands after denizens declared a tongue-in-cheek secession from the United States in the early 1980s — is Shannon Weiner, director of emergency management for Monroe County, Florida. The Atlantic hurricane season starts June 1, and the county has some new weapons this season, including a brand-new emergency operations center and a new seawater desalination water treatment plant. The county also relies on surveillance flights from hurricane-hunting aircraft from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for information about how to prepare. But, the potential for a catastrophic storm like Hurricane Irma in 2017 is always at the back of residents' minds. The Category 4 storm made landfall in the Florida Keys with winds up to 132 mph (209.2 kph), destroying around 1,180 homes and seriously damaging another 3,000. Weiner recently talked to the Associated Press about the upcoming hurricane season. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. ___ Weiner: Our entire island chain is surrounded by water. We have more water than we do land mass. Being uniquely situated between the two large bodies of water makes us very vulnerable. We see storms early, sometimes in their formation — storms that come across the Atlantic and then storms that develop in the south, in the Caribbean Sea. We tend to be in their path, and so we get a lot of storm practice here in Monroe County. Weiner: The weather service is a good partner, and the field offices, from what they were telling us and what they're hearing here, everyone is secure. They are not expecting or anticipating any cuts to the (Florida Keys) field offices. So, of course, going into hurricane season, we're really happy to hear that. Weiner: The Keys had not had a storm of that magnitude or size since the early 20th century. People tend to get complacent. It's human nature, right? They're not as worried. They're not as prepared. We were very fortunate with Irma in that we had plenty of days' notice to evacuate. But when we came home and saw the devastation, it was an eye-opener. Being an island chain, we had unique challenges bringing logistics in to help us recover. Weiner: Usually, they tend to heed that advice. We are constantly reminding people to be prepared and how important it is in our county to evacuate because the Florida Keys, the entirety of the island chain, is a storm surge zone. People here tend to be pretty savvy when it comes to storms, and throughout the entire Keys, the bigger concern is storm surge rather than wind. We say, 'Hide from the wind and run from the water.' Weiner: The city of Key West is an incredibly resilient community. There's a lot of history there. But there is also a lot of older architecture there. There's a lot of wooden homes, and for them to receive a storm, a direct impact of a major magnitude, that would be devastating for them. That is what keeps me up at night – a Category 4 or 5 storm hitting Key West. Weiner: Because it's beautiful here. It really is an island paradise. Being surrounded by a national marine sanctuary is amazing. I think everyone that lives here, we all live here for that reason. Because we appreciate the environment and the marine life and love the water. And so it's worth it. You make sure that you're prepared, and you have a plan if you need to go. And you go somewhere safe, and you come back, and you just put it back together.
Hamilton Spectator
24-05-2025
- Climate
- Hamilton Spectator
What keeps the safety director of the most vulnerable spot in US up at night before hurricane season
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — No place is more vulnerable to hurricanes in the 50 U.S. states than the Florida Keys. The chain of islands celebrated by singer Jimmy Buffett in his odes to tropical escapism is surrounded by water, jutting out 120 miles southwesterly from Florida's mainland to Key West with the Gulf and Atlantic Ocean on either side. The archipelago historically has been known for its quirky and libertarian inhabitants who revel in the islands' hedonistic, artistic and outdoorsy lifestyle. In recent years, it also has become a haven for the wealthy. Overseeing safety for the more than 80,000 inhabitants of the Conch Republic — the nickname for the islands after denizens declared a tongue-in-cheek secession from the United States in the early 1980s — is Shannon Weiner, director of emergency management for Monroe County, Florida. The Atlantic hurricane season starts June 1, and the county has some new weapons this season, including a brand-new emergency operations center and a new seawater desalination water treatment plant. The county also relies on surveillance flights from hurricane-hunting aircraft from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for information about how to prepare. But, the potential for a catastrophic storm like Hurricane Irma in 2017 is always at the back of residents' minds. The Category 4 storm made landfall in the Florida Keys with winds up to 132 mph (209.2 kph), destroying around 1,180 homes and seriously damaging another 3,000. Weiner recently talked to the Associated Press about the upcoming hurricane season. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. ___ AP: Why is Monroe County perhaps the most vulnerable place in the 50 U.S. states for hurricanes? Weiner: Our entire island chain is surrounded by water. We have more water than we do land mass. Being uniquely situated between the two large bodies of water makes us very vulnerable. We see storms early, sometimes in their formation — storms that come across the Atlantic and then storms that develop in the south, in the Caribbean Sea. We tend to be in their path, and so we get a lot of storm practice here in Monroe County. AP: Given your dependence on the National Weather Service and NOAA for hurricane predictions, how concerned are you about recent job cuts and budget cuts to the federal government? Weiner: The weather service is a good partner, and the field offices, from what they were telling us and what they're hearing here, everyone is secure. They are not expecting or anticipating any cuts to the (Florida Keys) field offices. So, of course, going into hurricane season, we're really happy to hear that. AP: Can we talk about Hurricane Irma? The Keys have always been vulnerable, but Irma was a shock to the system, right? Weiner: The Keys had not had a storm of that magnitude or size since the early 20th century. People tend to get complacent. It's human nature, right? They're not as worried. They're not as prepared. We were very fortunate with Irma in that we had plenty of days' notice to evacuate. But when we came home and saw the devastation, it was an eye-opener. Being an island chain, we had unique challenges bringing logistics in to help us recover. AP: Do residents typically evacuate when they are asked to? Weiner: Usually, they tend to heed that advice. We are constantly reminding people to be prepared and how important it is in our county to evacuate because the Florida Keys, the entirety of the island chain, is a storm surge zone. People here tend to be pretty savvy when it comes to storms, and throughout the entire Keys, the bigger concern is storm surge rather than wind. We say, 'Hide from the wind and run from the water.' AP: We are close to the start of the Atlantic hurricane season. What is keeping you up at night? Weiner: The city of Key West is an incredibly resilient community. There's a lot of history there. But there is also a lot of older architecture there. There's a lot of wooden homes, and for them to receive a storm, a direct impact of a major magnitude, that would be devastating for them. That is what keeps me up at night – a Category 4 or 5 storm hitting Key West. AP: Given the Keys' vulnerability, why do you think people choose to stay and live there? Weiner: Because it's beautiful here. It really is an island paradise. Being surrounded by a national marine sanctuary is amazing. I think everyone that lives here, we all live here for that reason. Because we appreciate the environment and the marine life and love the water. And so it's worth it. You make sure that you're prepared, and you have a plan if you need to go. And you go somewhere safe, and you come back, and you just put it back together. ___ Follow Mike Schneider on the social platform Bluesky: @ .
Toronto Star
24-05-2025
- Climate
- Toronto Star
What keeps the safety director of the most vulnerable spot in US up at night before hurricane season
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — No place is more vulnerable to hurricanes in the 50 U.S. states than the Florida Keys. The chain of islands celebrated by singer Jimmy Buffett in his odes to tropical escapism is surrounded by water, jutting out 120 miles southwesterly from Florida's mainland to Key West with the Gulf and Atlantic Ocean on either side. The archipelago historically has been known for its quirky and libertarian inhabitants who revel in the islands' hedonistic, artistic and outdoorsy lifestyle. In recent years, it also has become a haven for the wealthy. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Overseeing safety for the more than 80,000 inhabitants of the Conch Republic — the nickname for the islands after denizens declared a tongue-in-cheek secession from the United States in the early 1980s — is Shannon Weiner, director of emergency management for Monroe County, Florida. The Atlantic hurricane season starts June 1, and the county has some new weapons this season, including a brand-new emergency operations center and a new seawater desalination water treatment plant. The county also relies on surveillance flights from hurricane-hunting aircraft from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) for information about how to prepare. But, the potential for a catastrophic storm like Hurricane Irma in 2017 is always at the back of residents' minds. The Category 4 storm made landfall in the Florida Keys with winds up to 132 mph (209.2 kph), destroying around 1,180 homes and seriously damaging another 3,000. Weiner recently talked to the Associated Press about the upcoming hurricane season. This interview has been edited for length and clarity. ___ AP: Why is Monroe County perhaps the most vulnerable place in the 50 U.S. states for hurricanes? Weiner: Our entire island chain is surrounded by water. We have more water than we do land mass. Being uniquely situated between the two large bodies of water makes us very vulnerable. We see storms early, sometimes in their formation — storms that come across the Atlantic and then storms that develop in the south, in the Caribbean Sea. We tend to be in their path, and so we get a lot of storm practice here in Monroe County. ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW AP: Given your dependence on the National Weather Service and NOAA for hurricane predictions, how concerned are you about recent job cuts and budget cuts to the federal government? Weiner: The weather service is a good partner, and the field offices, from what they were telling us and what they're hearing here, everyone is secure. They are not expecting or anticipating any cuts to the (Florida Keys) field offices. So, of course, going into hurricane season, we're really happy to hear that. AP: Can we talk about Hurricane Irma? The Keys have always been vulnerable, but Irma was a shock to the system, right? Weiner: The Keys had not had a storm of that magnitude or size since the early 20th century. People tend to get complacent. It's human nature, right? They're not as worried. They're not as prepared. We were very fortunate with Irma in that we had plenty of days' notice to evacuate. But when we came home and saw the devastation, it was an eye-opener. Being an island chain, we had unique challenges bringing logistics in to help us recover. AP: Do residents typically evacuate when they are asked to? Weiner: Usually, they tend to heed that advice. We are constantly reminding people to be prepared and how important it is in our county to evacuate because the Florida Keys, the entirety of the island chain, is a storm surge zone. People here tend to be pretty savvy when it comes to storms, and throughout the entire Keys, the bigger concern is storm surge rather than wind. We say, 'Hide from the wind and run from the water.' AP: We are close to the start of the Atlantic hurricane season. What is keeping you up at night? ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW Weiner: The city of Key West is an incredibly resilient community. There's a lot of history there. But there is also a lot of older architecture there. There's a lot of wooden homes, and for them to receive a storm, a direct impact of a major magnitude, that would be devastating for them. That is what keeps me up at night – a Category 4 or 5 storm hitting Key West. AP: Given the Keys' vulnerability, why do you think people choose to stay and live there? Weiner: Because it's beautiful here. It really is an island paradise. Being surrounded by a national marine sanctuary is amazing. I think everyone that lives here, we all live here for that reason. Because we appreciate the environment and the marine life and love the water. And so it's worth it. You make sure that you're prepared, and you have a plan if you need to go. And you go somewhere safe, and you come back, and you just put it back together. ___ Follow Mike Schneider on the social platform Bluesky: @
