Resolution 188-1994
Commissioner Wilhelmina G. Harvey
RESOLUTION NO. 188 -1994
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF
MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA REAFFIRMING THE BOARD'S POSITION
AS PREVIOUSLY SET FORTH IN RESOLUTION NO. 228-1993, AND
REQUESTING THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE TO RECONSIDER
ITS PLANNED PHASING OUT OF THE NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE
OFFICE IN KEY WEST.
WHEREAS, the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners did
on the 26th day of May 1993 pass a resolution requesting the
non-dissolution of the National Weather Service in Key West, and
WHEREAS, a copy of said resolution is attached hereto and
incorporated by reference herein, and
WHEREAS, the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners has
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Weather Service has q>>ntUnuea t~
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contemplate the closure of this office despite the rr~son~ se~'
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forth in Resolution No. 228-1993, now, therefore, ~7;
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BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMI~SIO~ og
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MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA, that said Board does hereby reaffirm its'
been advised that the National
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position as set forth in its previous resolution and requests
that the National Weather Service and Florida's Congressional
representatives reconsider any action and support the initiative
to retain the Key West Weather Service Office.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED BY SAID BOARD, that the Clerk of the
board is hereby directed to forward a certified copy of this
resolution to the National Weather Service, Governor Lawton
Chiles and the Monroe County Congressional delegation.
2
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of
Monroe County, Florida, at a regular meeting of said Board held
on t.he 17 th day of
June
, 1994.
Mayor London
Mayor Pro Tern Cheal
Commissioner Harvey
Commissioner Freeman
Commissioner Reich
yes
yes
yes
.
yes
yes
(Seal)
COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
COUNTY, FLORIDA
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ayor/Chairman
ATTEST: DANNY L. KOLHAGE, Clerk
ByJ:ba..L..d ~. ~ ~~
Deputy C:Yerk
AND
"HI
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MAYOR JACK LONDON
.I
RESOLUI10N NO. 228 - 1993 .
A RESOLUTION REQUESTING NON-DISSOLUTION OF THE
NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN KEY WEST, FLORIDA
WHEREAS: April 28, 1989 the Monroe County Board of County Commissionem
adopted Resolution No. 239-1989, opposing the planned phase-out of the National
Weather Service Office in Key West; and,
WHEREAS, this Resolution enumerated multiple issues regarding the e(onomic,
geographic, and environmental vulnerability of Monroe County to severe weather and
a lack of timely, accurate, information; and, ,
WHEREAS, of primary concern in this matter is the safety of Monroe Coun~T
residents and guests, especially during and after a hunicane emergency; and
WHEREAS, during and after Hurricane Andrew a total failure of all communications
systems left the NWS Key West office as the sole source of wedte.-infoQJ\atioB.
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available to MO:i.'\roe County decision-makers; and, ~ ;: (-r,
WHEREAS, this was the result of both, damages to Dade County f:J;;es aAell ~
the communications failure: and, ~ ~ ~ -'''7
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WHEREAS, public law 102-567 requires that the modemization~f- the ~tio~
Weather Service must not result in the reduction of weather servicesto any p~of the
Nation: and, :
WHEREAS, it has been stated to Monroe County officials that Monroe County will
not be cut off from access to weather information via satellite antennae and Ham
Radio Operators, and in the event the NWS, Miami Office, becomes inc:apacitated,
weather infomlation would be provided by the Tampa and Melbourne offices; and,
WHEREAS, these statements do not a(count for a hurricane that would directly affect
Monroe County, in which case satellite antennae would become inoperative and all
available Ham Radio Operators would be tasked with communicating information
regarding life-saving action; and,
WHEREAS, the Tampa and Melbourne weather offices are too distant to provide
accurate radar information, and repair or replacement of damaged antennae would
have to be affected with by weather service personnel physically present in Monroe
County; and,
WHEREAS, it is necessary to have weather service staff present in Monroe County to
support decision-making processes after a hurricane disaster; and,
WHEREAS this support must include interpretation of data regarding tropical
meteorology; and,
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WHEREAS, this is true because Monroe County has been affected by two hurricanes
in one year, nine times since 1885, and LT\ 1935 Monroe County was affected by three
hurricanes, including the most powerful Atlantic storm in recorded history, and this
storm resulted in the loss of several hundred lives; and,
WHEREAS, it is the opinion of the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners
that the decision to close the Key West Office of the National Weather Service does
constitute a serious degradation of services in Monroe County and this degradation
represents a serious risk to the economy and environment of Monroe County b;.lt
more importantly a serious risk to the lives of Monroe County residents and guests,
and as such creates a violation of public Law 102-567; now,
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA, as follows:
1) The Board hereby reaffirms it's position of the planned phasing out of the Key
West Office of the National Weather Service and hereby appeal to the National
Weather Service and to Florida's congressional representatives to reconsider this
action and to retain the Key West Weather Service Office.
2) The Oerk of the Board is hereby directed to forward a certified copy of this
Resolution to the National Weather Service, Gramanx Building, 8060 13th Street,
Silver Springs, Maryland 20910, and to the Monroe County Legislative
Delegation.
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County,
Florida, at a regular meeting of the Board held on the 26th day of Hay .1993.
Mayor London
Mayor Pro Tem Cheal
Commissioner Harvey
Commissioner Freeman
Commissioner Reich
yes
yes
yes
yes
yes
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
OF MONROE COUNTY, FLORIDA
(SEAL)
DANNY L. KOLHAGE, Clerk
By ~ e. l4.J~
Deputy Oerk '
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