The city goes green
With its Office of Sustainable Initiatives, created in 2007, Miami intends to become a leader in sustainable development. Two years later, it inaugurated what was then the largest solar power plant in the United States. In the same vein, since 2007, urban planning has been following the guidelines of the Sustainable Building Program, which aims to achieve more energy-efficient construction. Transportation is also being completely overhauled, and it is planned that half of the city's buses will be electric by 2030. This should enable the city to meet its commitment to become completely carbon-free by 2050.
Beware of drowning!
Miami, particularly low-lying, is one of the most vulnerable cities to global warming. Rising water levels are the greatest threat to the city. Drinking water is already running out as water from the Atlantic Ocean seeps into the underground supply. While trucks are arriving by the dozens to deposit tons of sand on the beaches to combat their erosion, it seems that the time to sound the alarm has already passed. The American Academy of Sciences has announced that from now on, in all scenarios, Miami would inevitably end up being swallowed up by the waters of the Atlantic.
Florida sees red
For several years, red tides have been multiplying on the coasts of Florida, caused by an overpopulation of a micro-organism naturally present in the Gulf of Mexico: Karenia brevis. However, it releases a neurotoxin that is particularly harmful to living beings. The damage is considerable: carcasses of dolphins, turtles and fish are collected by the shovelful on the beautiful fine sand beaches. In 2021, more than 1,700 tons of marine animals were stranded on the coast. If this proliferation is natural in summer, due to the rise in temperature, the presence of fertilizers intensifies it beyond what living beings can bear. Funds are dedicated to beach cleaning and scientific research and laws regulate the use of fertilizers, which is notably forbidden during the summer.
A city surrounded by national parks
Famous throughout the world, the wetlands of Everglades National Park are an exceptional well of biodiversity. Manatees, crocodiles, alligators and sharks mingle with fascinating terrestrial species such as the endangered Florida panther(Puma concolor coryi).
On its side, the Biscayne National Park, which extends notably on the Key archipelago, shelters a marine fauna so spectacular that it is one of the most popular diving spots in the world! This park, 95% aquatic, notably made up of mangroves, is home to an extraordinary coral reef.
The Dry Tortugas National Park, less known, but more exotic, takes its name from the coral reef it shelters, but is also home to a large population of birds, among which the sooty tern, the brown noddy or the brown pelican.
In addition to the parks and reserves that border it, such as the Big Cypress National Preserve, which has an incredible density of swamp cypress, Miami is also famous for its many parks and gardens. Among them, the Fairchild Tropical Gardens are world famous. This botanical garden, the largest tropical park in the contiguous United States, features some extremely rare plant species, as well as the largest collection of tropical bamboo in the world. More importantly, the garden is home to the only tropical forest in the continental United States.
Have the right reflexes in case of a hurricane alert
Florida, and especially the Keys region, is a very sensitive area to this weather phenomenon. The most sensitive period is from early June to late November.
During the fall of 2016, Hurricane Matthew threatened the Florida coastline and the Miami area in particular, but it ultimately spared the area. However, it passed over Haiti and eastern Cuba where it caused a lot of damage. In 2017, Irma hit Miami and the Keys, but only caused property damage, which has since been repaired.
In the event of a hurricane threat, here are the two levels of alert that exist and what you should do about it:
The first, hurricane watch, means there is a threat of a hurricane within 36 hours. The danger is not really there but could materialize. You should therefore keep yourself informed through the radio or television of the progress of the storm.
The second one, hurricane warning, means that a hurricane can strike within 24 hours. It is therefore necessary to leave any place close to the sea front or unstable dwellings (campsites, mobile homes or boats) for safer shelters in the middle of the land, and to prepare one's habitat as well as a possible evacuation.
As far asthe house is concerned, it is necessary to put away all the objects that could dangerously fly away, to lower the outside antennas, to fill the bathtub with water in case of rupture of the network, to use the telephone as little as possible and, in case of extreme emergency, to call 911. If authorities give the order to leave the area, do so as soon as possible and without discussion, even if your shelter seems safe. However, before doing so, call someone outside the area and tell them who you are and where you are going. Tell the same person when you have reached this point. If you don't know anyone, notify the hotel you are going to and notify them in the same way. If you are in a hotel, you will be assisted by the staff on duty but you may also have to evacuate the area. On the road, you may run into traffic jams as everyone leaves after the evacuation order. Stay calm, this is not the Wild West or a gold rush! Announcements are made well in advance so that the evacuation can be carried out calmly. As soon as possible, fill up your gas tank, get a map, choose your route carefully, stock up on food and take out enough money to cover your needs. Once underway, be aware that hurricanes are very powerful storms that can change direction suddenly. It is therefore necessary to be constantly on guard and to listen to the safety instructions on the radio or television.
How to stay informed? Channel 17 Weather Channel or the Keys Weather Service Radio on FM 162.40. But in general, most stations or radio stations will relay the information.
