The Florida Keys, known for its unique lifestyle and tropical setting, face significant risks from hurricanes, particularly from storms like Hurricane Irma. With more water than land, the island chain's geography makes it highly susceptible to severe weather. Emergency management is overseen by Shannon Weiner, who highlights recent enhancements in safety measures, including a new emergency operations center and desalination plants. However, the threat of catastrophic storms looms large for the 80,000 residents of the Conch Republic, especially considering past hurricane experiences.
"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."
"Potential for a catastrophic storm like Hurricane Irma in 2017... destroyed around 1,180 homes and seriously damaging another 3,000."
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