Assignment 5

Identifying Local Opportunities

Opportunity 1:
"Tropical Storm Humberto Expected to form and skirt by Florida, forecasters say"

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/weather/hurricane/os-ne-tropical-storm-humberto-florida-weekend-20190912-yt6l5xllzzfsdjyoho4gmvml4e-story.html

Description: According to the article, Humberto, another big storm, is supposed to bring heavy winds and a fair amount of rain to the east coast of Florida.

Problem: The tropical storm is expected to hit the east coast of Florida with 50 mph, possibly causing closed schools and establishments. This scare may be good and or bad for gas stations, students, and other businesses that are located along the coast. 

Who has the Problem?
Schools have the problem because bus will be unable to function because of how strong the winds will be. This causes a problem in the transportation of student to learning institutions. Gas will be in high demand if the storm tries to linger for a few days. This will cause gas stations to be busy. Businesses along the coast might have to shutdown their operation because of potential damage the storm may cause to their business.

Opportunity 2: 
"Cavender's Western Outfitter to sell boots and hats at first Florida store in Orlando"

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/business/os-cfb-cavenders-western-outfitter-20190913-5sv2qy5erjf5zc6rki5s4bgj4m-story.html

Description: Cavendor's Western Outfitter is expanding their locations to Florida for the first time.

Problem: This will be Cavender's first store in Florida and they will not know the depth of the customer base that they will have in the Orlando area. It will definitely be a high risk.

Who has the Problem?
The business has the problem of not knowing the potential customer base in Orlando. The business is taking the risk in thinking that Orlando would be the best place to place a 'western' type of store.

Opportunity 3:
"The Everglades Burmese Python might finally meet its match, if this agency gets its way"

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/environment/article234964692.html

Description: The South Florida Water Management District is proposing to increase the amount of  hunters going after the Burmese Python in the Everglades.

Problem: The Burmese Python is an invasive species that invades the Everglades, and is growing in numbers. The Burmese Python has been a problem for years because of the increasing demand to have them as pets. When they get to almost its full size, they are usually let go into the environment where they destroy our native species. 

Who has the Problem?
Homeowners that live close or in the Everglades of Florida have the biggest problem with these snakes. These snakes may eat livestock, dogs, or cats and can even attack people. West Palm Beach is also affected because the proposal would cost $750,000 to accomplish.

Opportunity 4:
"Christopher Columbus student suspended after music video with school threats goes viral"

 https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/education/article235044977.html

Description: A student from Christopher Columbus made a Tik-Tok that went viral and depicted the student making gun gestures towards Stoneman Douglas High and two rival schools.

Problem: Schools take things like this very seriously. It may have been a 'flex' over the other schools in the student's eyes, but the school sees this as a possible threat to other schools and the students that go there. With the growing number of school shootings, this school was trying to take precautionary measures to ensure the safety of its neighboring schools.

Who has the Problem?
The student has the problem because he now can't get an education till his suspension is over with. The Christopher Columbus school is affected because this builds a reputation for future students who were planning on going to the school. The schools that the student made threats to have the problem that the Columbus student may actually go and shoot up one of their schools. Tik-Tok may get some flack for allowing someone to make these kind of threats on their app.

Opportunity 5: 
"Fort Lauderdale water treatment plant could fail in major storm, cutting water hundreds of thousands of customers"

https://www.sun-sentinel.com/local/broward/fort-lauderdale/fl-ne-new-water-plant-needed-20190913-3on2ilkoirhgbn4lt477jvt35i-story.html

Description: Fort Lauderdale's Fiveash Water Treatment Plant is in very bad shape and would not be able to survive a major hurricane until it gets the needed repairs. Currently the plant supplies more than 200,000 resident with water, but wouldn't be able to accomplish such a task for a few days if it were to get hit by a major hurricane in its current state. This notice occurred because of the most recent hurricane that just missed Florida, Dorian.

Problem: The problem is that the Fiveash Water Treatment Plant is not updated to survive a major hurricane. With its location in a major hurricane state, the plant would need necessary repairs to ensure that it is fortified for years to come. If this plant were to get hit by a major hurricane in its current state, more than 200,000 people would not have water for days.

Who has the Problem?
The resident who rely on the Fiveash Water Treatment Plant have the risk of potentially not having running water after a major hurricane hits Fort Lauderdale. Tax payers who pay for utility fees for running water also have a problem where they may have to pay a little more for either repairs or a whole new water treatment plant to replace the older one. The City of Fort Lauderdale has the problem that they don't possess the needed funds to build a new water treatment plant. Fort Lauderdale would need a private company to build a new plant and the city lease it back.