GOLDEN BEACH, Fla. – A new bunker inside the Golden Beach Civic Center could end up being the difference between life and death for some.
“It is a fortified bunker,” said Golden Beach Town Manager Alex Diaz. “Every room is an independently-poured structure.”
It’s a bunker where emergency responders from all over the area will be able to ride out a powerful Category 5 hurricane.
“This structure has its own pilings, a superstructure,” said Diaz.
Diaz said it’s the first of its kind in barrier island communities.
In the past, first responders would evacuate, and even during mandatory evacuation, some residents decide to stay.
Help could have taken days. Now that won’t be the case.
The cost of the bunker was an additional $900,000, covered through forfeiture money and the town’s tax base.
With an active hurricane season expected, Golden Beach officials believe the bunker can be a lifesaver.