For the first time in memory, Florida is about to start hurricane season with its emergency operations center already up and running, and already at its highest alert level because of the coronavirus.
And the prospect of managing overlapping natural disasters has state and local officials, emergency managers, first responders, hospital executives, utility officials and restaurant and lodging executives in high anxiety mode.
They have been at the planning table for two months while simultaneously navigating the coronavirus pandemic. “We’re all here at the state Emergency Operations Center (EOC) because of the pandemic,” Emergency Management Director Jared Moskowitz said. “That has provided more opportunities for high level planning than in years past.”