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May 8, 2012
The following article was published in The Florida Current on May 8, 2012:
Cabinet in Keys: Gimme Shelter Plan
By Gray Rohrer
Three weeks before the official start of hurricane season, the Florida Cabinet approved the state’s two-year plan for emergency shelters Tuesday.
The plan noted improvements in shelter capacity have been made since 2000, when there were significant deficits throughout Florida. But now eight of 11 regions in the state have surplus shelter capacity for a Category 5 hurricane.
Southwest Florida, Northeast Florida and the West Central Florida regions, however, still fall short of their emergency shelter needs. The trend is worse with shelter capacity for evacuees with special needs, with seven regions facing a deficit.
“Special needs still has a deficit in certain regions but there have been some definite improvements,” said Danny Kilcollins, planning manager with the Division of Emergency Management.
Statewide, there is a surplus shelter capacity of 125,205 people, according to the two-year plan.
Many Floridians fleeing from a hurricane, though, could have trouble getting to a shelter.
A study presented to the National Hurricane Conference in March revealed that three of the top five worst regions for evacuations are in Florida: No. 1 Southwest Florida, No. 2 Tampa Bay and No. 5 South Florida. The problems stem mostly from Florida’s vulnerable coastline, south-heavy populations and few evacuation routes.
Gov. Rick Scott and the other Cabinet officers met in Marathon in the Keys at Stanley Switlik Elementary School.
They also approved a series of bond resolutions, including the sale of a $50-million bond for construction for sewage collection, treatment and disposal in the Keys to improve water quality. Other bond sales approved by the Cabinet on Tuesday include:
-$190 million in Florida Forever refunding bonds to lower its debt service.
-$26.5 million to renovate dormitories at the University of Florida.
-$49 million for new dorm rooms at Florida A&M University.
-$40 million in refunding bonds for the State University System to lower its debt service costs.
In addition, the Cabinet approved the refinancing of $223.6 million in Public Education Capital Outlay bonds and $53.6 million in Florida International University dorm bonds, reducing the interest rates and saving more than $40 million.
Later on Tuesday, Scott and the Cabinet officers will release a rehabilitated sea turtle in Marathon.
Find this article here: http://www.thefloridacurrent.com/article.cfm?id=27625626