Through all the ups and downs of Hurricane Irma – the power outages, the flooding, the desperate quest for essential supplies – there was one place Floridians knew they could count on in a time of need. Florida’s hospitals were there for the people of our state, performing as flawlessly as anyone could hope to under the most trying circumstances imaginable.
For the next threat, both our state and nation are constantly sleeping with one eye open. The threat landscape consists of digital, cultural, and of course good old Mother Nature. At the top of the list: hurricanes, terrorism, human trafficking, and even the current opioid epidemic in Florida.
Gov. Rick Scott has declared a statewide state of emergency as Hurricane Irma appears more likely to affect Florida. Scott issued an executive order on Monday afternoon.
A climatic quirk seems to be slightly shielding the U.S. coast during busy hurricane seasons, often weakening major storms just as they approach America’s beaches, a new study finds. That could help explain why it’s been more than 11 years since a major hurricane with winds of more than 110 mph has hit the United States mainland. Last year’s Hurricane Matthew was a perfect example of this uniquely American “protective barrier” of stronger crosswinds and cooler coastal waters, according to…
This isn’t the first time it stormed on the Florida–LSU football game. When the teams get together Saturday for a makeup game, it should rekindle some memories for former Gators’ head coach Steve Spurrier. After all, Spurrier has been through it before. It was 1964, and Spurrier was a sophomore when Hurricane Hilda went through Baton Rouge. That year, there was no change of venue; the teams simply played the game on Dec. 5. LSU was ranked No. 7 in…
Florida’s streak of dodging hurricanes is over, but the state-created fund that helps private insurers pay out claims after a storm remains in strong financial shape. Anne Bert, the chief operating officer of the Florida Hurricane Catastrophe Fund, said preliminary estimates predict that the fund will pay out less than $200 million for Hurricane Matthew. Bert said it appears there will likely be only minimal payouts associated with Hurricane Hermine. The fund’s advisory council on Tuesday approved new financial estimates…
A spot of good news for some Hurricane Matthew evacuees: A law passed last year allows them to carry concealed weapons or firearms without a permit to do so. The law allows concealed weapons “while in the act of complying” with a mandatory evacuation order issued during a state of emergency declared by the governor or by local authorities. It defines “complying” as the “immediate and urgent movement … away from the evacuation zone” within 48 hours of the evacuation order. It…
