Recovery

Hurricane Irma’s destructive floodwaters renewed fears about how to manage the state’s population boom as the risks of climate change intensify. Rising sea levels and spreading flood plains have magnified the vulnerabilities.

Maria is forecast to become a major hurricane today, and by Wednesday the storm is forecast to become a Category 4 hurricane.

The storm — which Combs said could grow to a Category 3 hurricane — is expected to be near Puerto Rico by Wednesday night.

With Jose about 500 miles south of Bermuda, the National Hurricane Center on Friday warned of the potential for “direct impacts next week along portions of the East Coast.

NEMA, IAEM combine efforts to provide situational awareness to public and private partners.

While wind damage was the culprit of much of the damage across the state, Hurricane Irma’s storm surge and accompanying rain caused serious flooding throughout coastal counties at a severity worse than Hurricane Matthew less than a year before.

Some ways to prepare a family communication plan include having a designated plan of contact, and have that name and number written down and in a safe place like a wallet.

'We really need a whole new scheme. Hopefully, this will be a wake-up call.'

First, be ready, have a kit, have a plan and stay in touch with information from authorities.

They’ve come from all over the state, these busloads of soldiers, to bring food and water to the hardy — and perhaps foolhardy — few who stayed on the Keys while Irma unleashed her fury.

It wasn’t the only nursing home in Palm Beach County where residents sweltered in heat because of power outages caused by Hurricane Irma.

Last year Hurricane Matthew generated 95,000 cubic yards of garbage and yard trash.

More than $273 million has been spent in Florida on preparations and recovery efforts by several state agencies.

Use their own emergency plans.

Hurricane Irma has destroyed a quarter of the homes in the Florida Keys and badly damaged many more.