| The thousand-odd islands that make up the Florida Keys are one of a kind. The islands have a special, addictive quality.
But over the past few years, the residents of these islands have been forced to confront a phenomenon that will affect millions of Americans before the end of the century: Nature is changing, and today’s hurricanes tend to be stronger, wetter, and less predictable than before.
Hurricane Irma, which slammed the Keys in September 2017, may not have destroyed the Keys in one stroke — but the storm ran down the clock on life on the islands. Hundreds of people have felt forced to leave, particularly as affordable housing options are affected by unpredictable weather.
The Keys’ present calamity offers a glimpse of Americans’ national future. |