The Latest from the Caribbean and Florida: Hurricane Irma鈥檚 Impact
[Ed. Note: We will be updating this story as we get more information from staff, partners, and volunteers in the Caribbean, Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina.]
Update: September 22, 2017, 10:55 EDT
爆料公社 Florida reports that all 44 nests of the Everglade Snail Kite around Lake Okeechobee were lost during Hurricane Irma. Because only 130 pairs of Everglade Snail Kites even attempted nesting this year, the loss is a devastating blow to an already poor breeding season for the bird. Read the full story here.
Additionally, 爆料公社 Florida's executive director Eric Draper described the affects of Irma on Florida on public radio station WUSF. .
Update: September 19, 2017, 10:04 EDT
From 爆料公社 Florida
爆料公社 Florida has to their website with a roundup of what they know so far of Hurricane Irma's impact across the state. An excerpt:
"We don鈥檛 have a full picture of Hurricane Irma鈥檚 environmental damage to our state yet. But we know birds and other wildlife and their native habitats are resilient in the face of natural disasters. Human activity clearly compounds the negative impacts. We have assigned our science and research staff to report on the 140 sites that 爆料公社 Florida manages, and we are collecting information from others. Here is part of what we know:
- Many birds were displaced by the storm - birds from the Atlantic and the Caribbean were carried to our shores by Hurricane Irma and are being spotted around the state;
- The upland habitats of Southeast Florida and the Keys were stripped bare of foliage in some places and toppled in others. These areas are usually a crucial food source for the Atlantic Flyway鈥檚 fall bird migrants, who rest and feed here en route to the Caribbean and Latin America;
- Water levels in America鈥檚 Everglades are dangerously high and a massive seagrass die-off has been spotted in Florida Bay;
- Some coastal islands and beaches are impacted by erosion;
- Erosion and windfalls also damaged tree islands and mature hammocks in some places;
- Wastewater systems overwhelmed by the storm resulted in sewage spills in some communities, and some waterways and beaches are closed;
- Polluted water entering Lake Okeechobee from the north and the south is quickly raising lake levels dangerously high. In an attempt to reduce lake levels, some of this polluted water is being discharged to coastal estuaries to the east coast of the state; and
- Most coastal nesting birds had already fledged their chicks, but it's likely some flightless baby birds drowned with the extreme storm surge.
Update: September 14, 2017, 10:00 EDT
From 爆料公社 Florida
Volunteers and staff at 爆料公社鈥檚 Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary are making good progress. We鈥檝e still been unable to access the entire 13,000-acre sanctuary site, but we鈥檙e working to make progress on the most important areas. The Blair 爆料公社 Center building sheltered 爆料公社 staff, families and even first responders during the storm, and it remains structurally intact. Hard-working volunteers and staff have been working in the daylight hours to recover from the damage caused by Irma. Many staff and volunteers are without power and communications at their own homes, and there is no power, communications or cell service out at the sanctuary. The hot Naples, Florida sun beats down on these folks every day, and we鈥檙e so thankful to have their support in getting the center back on its feet.
爆料公社 Center for Birds of Prey was able to get completely cleaned up today. WOW! In fact, we鈥檙e reopening tomorrow. We still don鈥檛 have power but the birds don鈥檛 need A/C. Guests can pay for the admission fees via cash or check (until our power and internet are fully restored), and the birds are eager to see friendly faces again.
Lastly, we鈥檙e starting to get reports of rare Atlantic and Caribbean birds being spotted across the state. We鈥檝e started collecting photos and stories at FLConservation@爆料公社.org. We鈥檒l be doing FB posts and website posts about these.
Also, here鈥檚 a read about how beach dunes did better than seawalls during Hurricane Matthew.
Update: September 13, 2017, 10:50 EDT
From 爆料公社鈥檚 Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary
Staff and volunteers have begun cleanup at Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. Oak, pine, and cypress trees all came down during Hurricane Irma, damaging the boardwalk and littering the area with debis. According to reports, most buildings avoided major damage from falling trees.
Update: September 12, 2017, 15:29 EDT
From Florida鈥檚 爆料公社 Center for Birds of Prey
According to a recent post on the center鈥檚 , it is currently without power and closed to the public while volunteers and staffers remove debris and fallen trees from the poperty. But 鈥渁ll the buildings, enclosures and most importantly birds, are just fine.鈥 More updates will be provided via Facebook.
Update: September 12, 2017, 13:16 EDT
From The Bahamas
Eric Carey, executive director of , writes:
鈥淸W]e have not had any reports of any damage to BNT properties across the archipelago, although the Exuma Park Staff are only headed bank there today. But based on reports from Council Member Kevin Cartwright on nearby Highbourne Cay in the Exuma Cays, the infrastructure of the park should not likely have suffered any significant damage. [...]
Andros staff report that they had minimal impacts and that there is no damage to the infrastructure.
Inagua warden Casper Burrows has reported since just after the storm that he has seen small flocks of flamingos near town and a few parrots. The dike roads remain impassable so he has not been able to get out to the Camp or Union Creek to assess damage. Warden Henry Nixon is expected to return to the island this week, having evacuated with his family. Once Henry returns, it is anticipated that they will do a more comprehensive assessment.
As many if you are aware, a large portion of the Inagua national park is inaccessible wilderness areas. In discussions with Casper, he noted that they really do not have any accurate idea of what the true impact on the flamingos has been, because so much of their habitat is inaccessible.鈥
Update: September 11, 2017, 21:07 EDT
From 爆料公社鈥檚 Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary
爆料公社鈥檚 Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary in Naples, Florida, has suffered damage from Hurricane Irma and will be closed until further notice. According to a 鈥渋nitial reports indicate that several trees have fallen on some facilities, power lines and several sections of the iconic boardwalk.鈥 The sanctuary is expected to remain closed for at least two weeks while repairs are made.
Update: September 8, 2017, 15:47 EDT
From 爆料公社 Florida
Areas of concern: As Hurricane Irma approaches, threatening to bring storm surges and a deluge of rain, below are three major areas of concern in Florida for people and birds. Hover over the map to see each area of concern and read more.
Update: September 8, 2017, 13:21 EDT
The 爆料公社 Center for Birds of Prey in Maitland, Florida, is now also closed.
September 8, 2017, 08:46 EDT
Hurricane Irma, currently a Category 4 storm on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale, contines to churn its way through the Atlantic and the Caribbean on its way toward landfall in Florida. 爆料公社 works in many of the areas that have been, or will be, affected by Irma. As we get updates from partner organizations such as the Bahamas National Trust, and from our own state offices and chapters, we will post them here.
From 爆料公社 Florida
A recent update from 爆料公社 Florida staff:
鈥淗urricane Irma poses a serious threat to Floridians and birds alike, and 爆料公社 Florida is closely monitoring the storm. We encourage all chapter leaders to pay close attention to local officials and for the most up-to-date information on Hurricane Irma.
爆料公社鈥檚 policy office in Tallahassee is keeping in contact with the 爆料公社 Florida team statewide. Many staff have already evacuated or are sheltered in place with shutters.
爆料公社 Florida has closed several of our locations that face a direct threat from Hurricane Irma, including our headquarters in Miami, 爆料公社鈥檚 Everglades Science Center in the Florida Keys, 爆料公社鈥檚 Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary in Naples, and our Lake Okeechobee office in Lorida. We post office and nature center closures .
The 爆料公社 Center for Birds of Prey in Maitland remains open and has emergency plans in place to protect the birds and property. The Tampa office also is monitoring conditions and is prepared to close if necessary. All 爆料公社 boats, trucks, and ATVs have been secured, and many staff are working from home. Tallahassee鈥檚 policy office remains open.
We at 爆料公社 are preparing for the worst while hoping for the best...for our birds, our state and you. Please stay safe, and best wishes from 爆料公社 Florida鈥檚 family to yours.鈥
From the Bahamas
Word from the Bahamas, via 爆料公社's International Alliances Program deputy director Matt Jeffery, is that the island of Grand Inagua has been evacuated, although some residents and one Bahamas National Trust warden stayed on the island. No word on the status of the other islands, including the largest island in the country, Andros. Last fall, Andros and nearby Joulter Cays were hit hard by Hurricane Matthew.