South Florida (1983: Doomsday)

The Republic of South Florida is an American survivor nation currently located near Big Cypress, the Everglades, and with territorial enclaves near Lake Okeechobee. It is comprised of a federation of territories, towns, and cities mainly along the west coast of the Peninsula. It also jointly operates the former US Military Base Guantanamo Bay in Cuba with the LoN.

Pre-Doomsday
Although the Spanish discovered and exploited Florida beginning in the early sixteenth century, the southwest region was unused after first decimating the indigenous tribes, taking many of them to Cuba to serve as slaves. Those that escaped ended up fleeing north to the panhandle to be absorbed into other tribes. One such group of tribes became the Seminole tribe. The Seminoles were eventually forced to split into two bands, one being forced back to southern Florida in an attempt by the US military to subjugate them. This band of Seminoles never surrendered and were eventually recognized as a sovereign nation.

Over time, the coasts of southern Florida became active ports for commerce from all over the world. However, the coastal cities on the gulf were mostly shielded by barrier islands, making them less accessible to larger cargo ships. Nevertheless, the fine white sands of the gulf coast made the area a key tourist destination. By the late 1900's the coastal towns had begun to grow into cities of respectable size.

However, the current area of the Republic of South Florida is primarily made up of two National Parks: Big Cypress and the Everglades National Parks. The presence of the Seminole Indians within these parks had made them quite popular tourist attractions as well. However, few people other than the Seminoles lived in them.

Post-Doomsday
Cape Coral and Fort Myers, a metropolitan statistical area, dodged a direct hit on Doomsday and soon became a mecca for refugees fleeing Tampa and Miami. Being spared the radioactive fallout from Tampa and the east coast, the area was nevertheless faced with a lack of food for the refugees. As a result, the population suffered from riots and violence for years. In addition, tropical diseases, borne by mosquitoes, killed tens of thousands. By 1990, though, relative peace had come as local city governments banded together to form the "Provisional Republic of South Florida" as a placeholder for the United States with hopes that when the federal or state government arrived in South Florida they would return to the United States. However that day never came.

The population of the new republic, having stabilized at around 150,000 people, was beginning to recover when a disaster with more force than the bombs that took out Tampa and the east coast came roaring through the area. Authorities in the Caribbean would call it Hurricane Andrew, but to the Floridians it was just "the Great Hurricane of 1992." The devastation was catastrophic, destroying much of the crops and many of the structures all over the republic. Hundreds died in the storm, some never accounted for due to isolation and lack of information services at the time. The residents had come to lose hope of any outside help and just began to rebuild on their own, finally it became clear that the federal government would not be coming.

On October 29, 1996, the leadership called on the people of South Florida to decide whether to secede from the United States. When the votes were tallied a narrow majority passed a referendum to become an independent republic. The following summer a Constitutional convention was held in Naples to build the framework for a new government. What became of this convention was a constitution very similar to that of the United States with a few modifications to make it more suitable for the citizens of South Florida.

Though the Cape Coral – Fort Myers Area had stabilized in the aftermath of Doomsday, small communities in and around the Lake Okeechobee region like Belle Glade on the south and the town of Okeechobee on the north side of the lake suffered from frequent gang raids. When the authorities in Naples Upon conducted a fact finding mission into Belle Glade, they found a fascist dictatorship in place. According to the local resistance group many of the city-state's citizens wanted a regime change but simply feared the government too much to even speak out against it.

Eventually, a local militia overthrew the dictatorship in Belle Glade, which was eventually annexed by South Florida.

Expansion
After the WCRB's visit to the Southern United States, the "Everglades Territory", an area that was in South Florida's grasp, but not acquired due to it having no true importance, was eventually ceded to South Florida. Most of the inhabitants, mostly refugees from the East Coast, were all evacuated to Naples.

Modern Times and Floridian Unification War
In late 2008, several scientists, mainly supplied by the ECF and ANZC, had sent expeditions throughout the areas that formerly were home to the major cities of Tampa and Miami. After several weeks of analyzation the results determined that the remnants of the city of Tampa could still give way to major health hazards. After negotiations with the citizens of the surprisingly high population of 6,000 people within the areas of the city, the area was evacuated, and the small village of "New Tampa" comprised of remaining residents remaining independent.

Miami-Dade County fared far better of than Tampa did, however. For one, the area was home to a functioning civilization around Homestead and Florida city. The so-called "National Republic of Florida" was a stratocracy in which members of the rogue National Guard stationed in Homestead were "freely" elected by the people, although the same leader was elected 11 years consecutively, and several "opponents" of his were mysteriously killed off. South Florida, the first to come into contact with the nation, offered it a chance to integrate peacefully, although the military leaders were not willing to give up their fiefdom of hoarded food and "pleasure slaves" to appease the peasants of Homestead and Florida City.

An aid convoy put together by East Caribbean and South Floridian residents mysteriously disappeared, and although several bodies with stab wounds have since been found, it is assumed the rest were taken as slaves.

South Florida gave the nation one week to release all captives, but after National Florida declined, South Florida issued a declaration of war.

Within months, National Florida was bloodied at the nose by the East Caribbean and South Floridian soldiers, with the South Floridians suffering casualties in the dozens, and National Florida suffering casualties of 3,000, it was declared a victory by South Florida. The remaining National Guardsmen were banished to their offshore territory of, where they are no longer in direct power but have installed a sort of puppet regime. Mainland National Florida has since been absorbed by South Florida as the Miami Dade Territory, where reconstruction remains an ongoing process.

Economy
The economy of the Republic of South Florida has a very small, but stable, agricultural economy. It's mineral and oil pools are unmatched compared to many other nations. It depends mainly on fishing and small urban farming to feed the masses. Locally, trade is carried out through barter or via the newly-created Floridian Conch, a locally minted currency that has replaced the American Dollar. However, it has the most access to foreign markets than any other North American survivor state, which has allowed Florida's economy to boom.

In the past year, the Republic has started trading massive amounts of fish, citrus, and soy beans to the East Caribbean Federation, receiving international support as well as naval equipment. Hoping to fully rebuild the heavily-damaged Naval Air Station at Key West, the Republic has signed a trade agreement known as the "Free Caribbean Sea Compact," which allows open borders and free trade. In order to facilitate this trade, the ECF worked with South Florida to develop the Florida Conch, a formerly bogus currency created in Key West as a publicity stunt. The Conch was designed as a replacement to coined currencies, being printed in all values of currency from one cent to twenty dollars. It is printed using minerals and other materials provided by the East Caribbean Federation. It's value is tied to the East Caribbean dollar and is backed by the "full faith and credit" of the government of South Florida.

Along with the ECF, South Florida trades with Cuba, mainly agricultural, mineral, and technological goods. The sale of limestone, phosphate, and other minerals make up a good portion of the economy. Another source of income are the small deposits of oil along the coastline.

It also operates one of the last functioning airports in the Florida, Georgia, Alabama and Mississippi area, the Southwest Florida International Airport. The Airway was completed only months before Doomsday, on May 1983. While it was abandoned, flights now go continental, and after the summer tour of the American continent, the first flight to South America, a flight landing in Medellin, Colombia, marked the beginning of whole new oportunites for the Floridian people. The Page Field Aviation Airport is the "backup" airport, mainly used for government or imported goods.

Foreign Relations
South Florida has full diplomatic relations with the ECF, and has applied for membership in the League of Nations. Lingering animosities with several Cuban Floridians keep full relations with Cuba on hold, though trade, by necessity, has been re-established.

In the summer of 2010 Vice President Buchanan intends to tour other nations in the Southern region of the former United States including the Mississippi cities states of Hattiesburg and Natchez, West Texas, Kentucky, Virginia, Piedmont Republic, and Blue Ridge. If time permits he also hopes to visit at least the capital city of the Provisional United States. The tour began on May 27th, as the ECF Naval vessel delivered him to the port city of Bay St. Louis where he was met by the mayors of both Hattiesburg and Natchez. From there, the entourage was flown by a Kentucky Air Force jet to Ft. Knox.

While in Natchez the delegation made contact with the provisional government of the State of Louisiana, which is soon to become a trade partner with South Florida.

Education
Education at to former standards is a very rare thing. After Doomsday, many families helped themselves to the supplies found in abandoned schools and began to teach their children at home. When South Florida became established as a nation, small government sanctioned schools began to open up in neighborhoods, usually in homes or in an abandoned buildings.

However, in the the outer areas, near Collier County and the Everglades, illiteracy is quite common in several townships and villages. In those areas, with completely literate people come in at only 20 percent of the population, with another 50 percent semi-literate able to read street signs and sign their names. A full 30 percent, though, are completely illiterate.

Until recently the only university in the country was Naples Elementary University of Florida. In efforts to promote education, it awards scholarships to those from other communities across the southern United States region, most notably Lake Arthur, Blue Ridge, and Piedmont. The public school system has benefited the areas which have many people who are either unemployed or fit into the working-class.

The Universities are as follows:

Florida Keys University - Rebuilt from the undamaged sections of the Florida Keys Community College. - 4,900 students

Naples University - University built within the heart of Naples - 7,140 students

Government
The government of the Republic of South Florida is a federal republic, and bears many similarities to the United States, such as having a House of Representatives and a simplified congress. It does bear similarities to a confederation, however. The Representative from each province is essentially a leader in their community. Unlike in the United States, the Republic is divided into Provinces rather than states. Each province essentially acts as an semi-autonomous reigon within the Republic. As of 2010, there are 5 provinces, 1 federal district, 1 territory, and one protectorate.

Everglades Province
Establishment: June 2, 2007

Capital: Everglades

Population: 3,000

Collier Province
Establishment: October 29, 1996

Capital: Marco Island

Population: 56,000

Charlotte Province
Establishment: October 29, 1996

Capital: Punta Gorda

Population: 94,000

Naples Federal District
Establishment: October 29, 1996

Population: 26,000

Miami Dade Territory
Establishment: March 11, 2010

Population: 64,919

Territorial Capital: Florida City

Culture
The culture of South Florida is one of the most unique of post-Doomsday North America. With the missiles sending refugees into the Everglades, many found that they could better survive by co-existing with the Native Americans. This led to several tribes of refugees and Native Americans being formed, causing a mix of culture and religion. The most notable tribe is Jorocalusa, named after the founders of the Johnson and Rodriguez families, and the native Calusa tribe. This not only led to many refugees adopting Native American religion and languages, but of the modernization of many of the Native Americans as well. This also has had a profound racial impact, with many "Mestizos" emerging as a noticable minority. The Keys, however, have managed to avoid any and all cultural change.

Energy
South Florida occupies the power station in Polk County. Prior to that, the nation was entirely dependent on a makeshift gasoline power plant and one wind turbine in the Keys. Guantanamo Bay is dependent on diesel generators and one wind turbine set up. Still, more than 30 percent of the nation remains unpowered, primarily in the Everglades.

The Turkey Point Nuclear Generator, the only power station in North America to survive the EMP, has continued to serve the Southeastern Florida region for 27 years. So in reality, the Homestead area was the only city in North America to lose nothing other than the state government.

Water is mainly treated at the Polk County Water Treatment Plant from the brackish water that comes out of Lake Okechobee.

Media
South Florida has only recently developed more advanced forms of communication, thanks to help from the LoN and Cuba. In the city of Naples, telephones became operational after nearly two years of communication lines being developed.

Newspaper
South Florida has two newspapers, the Naples Daily News along with the Conch Republic Times. A subscription costs 99,99* (In Floridian Conchs) or $29.99 (In USD).

Television
The station which was formed only 40 days before Doomsday, WGCU TV, became abandoned some months after Doomsday. In 2009, it was re-activated after nearly 100,000 dollars in repairs as the WFMU TV, Which stands for World Broadcasting of Fort Myers Universal Television. WFMU is owned by the South Floridian government, while WZVN is owned by ABC Television, which is now based in South Florida.

The TV Stations are as follows:

WFMU TV (Channel 3) - International Broadcasting and Local News, Weather, Sports, and Emergency News

WZVN TV (Channel 7) - Music, Entertainment, Cartoons and Pre and Post-Doomsday Movies

Radio
With help from the LoN the first radio station became operational in late 2009. A radio station called 97.3 "The Coast" was created for residents to listen to 60's, 70's and 80's music along with news, weather and sports. Another radio station has occasionally been used for the Keys, an unnamed station simply called 107.1 FM. This has been mainly used for emergency purposes, broadcasting breaking news. 97.3

The Stations are as follows:

97.3: The Coast - Music and Talk Shows

107.1 Unnamed Station - Emergency Purposes only