When the SHTF do you think the Big Cypress will get inundated with east/west coast urbanites thinking they can hole up out there?
“When the SHTF do you think the Big Cypress will get inundated with east/west coast urbanites thinking they can hole up out there?”
For their sake, I hope not. Much of the year the bugs will drive them back or drive them mad. The ‘Glades is hot, humid, and generally not an acceptable habitat for people.
The Everglades is the usual textbook example of a nutrient deficient habitat and thus is a low bio-productivity area. Deer are few in number, small, and small mammals are scarce. In some areas, excrementious management by ParcPersons has resulted in near total depletion of the deer herd.
ParcPersons also extirpated the wild hog and pythons are finishing off the survivors. Recent freezes killed off the ocaras and the fish biomass has yet to recover.
Worst of all may be the response of the Indians. Because the Americas didn’t develop distilled beverages, the Indigenous did not develop the tolerance to alcohol which Caucasians taker for granted. Thus alcoholism is a major issue with the Seminole and Miccosukee Indians. Add in the drug issues resultant from vast amounts of casino income, and then ask what will happen when supplies of alcohol and drugs are cut off.
Another factor is that there is s simmering hatred of whites amongst a significant number of Indians. This may mean that the Everglades Indians will not be the same as the Navaho during WW II. Don’t expect a “Code Talker” level of committment to either you or your presence in land which some feel is theirs when it can be retaken.
Beyond the cultural issues, be they past sins against the habitat by those to whom we entrusted the Everglades, or perceived sins against the Indians, the most important issue will be why the urban areas are being moved away from
If a biological attack occurs, may well be seen as carriers. If a nuking has occurred, then the survivors will not be seen as walking biohazards.
In any case, the question boils down to how many can the limited dry land areas support and for how long? How those reaching the area can manage to keep a semblance of order will determine how the entire human population of the area survives.
If travel devolves to the level where vehicles are attacked for their fuel, then all bets are off regarding a rapid return to some semblance of an ordered American society.
If travel is still possible, then a moderate number of people could find refuge for some period of time in the ‘Glades.
Long term survival for even a portion of the present Indian population would be difficult without technical supplies from a present day level of American civilivation.
The Everglades never supported a population of any size until the white civilization arrived. Take that away, and history will repeat itself.