Resolution 228-1993
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MAYOR
LONDON
RESOLUTION NO. 228 - 1993
A RESOLUTION REQUESTING NON-DISSOLUTION OF THE
NA TIONAL WEATHER SERVICE IN KEY WEST, FLORIDA
WHEREAS: April 28, 1989 the Monroe County Board of County Commissioners
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 economic,
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':}'
residents and guests, especially during and after a hurricane 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 wea:lheruinfoQJlatioil
available to Monroe County decision-makersi and, ~ S: Lv ~
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WHEREAS, this was the result of both, damages to Dade County facilities as"W-ell as
the communications failure: and, :=: ::.;:: ~,....
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WHEREAS, public law 102-567 requires that the modernization~f-the ~tio~
Weather Service must not result in the reduction of weather services~9 any p~of ~
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 incapacitated,
weather infomtation would be provided by the Tampa and Melbourne offices; and,
WHEREAS, these statements do not account 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,
WHEREAS, this is true because Monroe County has been affected by two hurricanes
in one year, nine times since 1885, and Lll 1935 Monroe County was affected by three
hurricanes, including the most pow,erful 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 \\Test 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:~t
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 May, 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. tJv~
Deputy Oerk '
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