New weather center in Keys
The National Weather Service has opened a new office in $5.1 million building in Key West that can withstand a Category 5 hurricane, the Associated Press reports.
The main purpose of the Key West office is to provide weather reports for the shipping channels in the Florida Straits, but during hurricane season, the office is a key source of information for local residents, as well.
The new office has walls that can withstand winds of 165 miles per hour and hurricane-proof windows that will crack but not shatter. The building is 14 feet above sea level, so it can withstand a large storm surge.
After using offices in a bank building, the post office and the Key West Airport, the Weather Service decided the location is critical enough to warrant an office that will not be endangered during hurricane season.