KEY WEST, FLA. (WSVN) - A storm watch has gone into effect in Monroe County following forecasts on Hurricane Ian, as people in the Florida Keys keep a close eye on the storm that is expected to bring tropical storm conditions to the area.
The storm watch, announced Monday afternoon, extends from Card Sound Bridge to Key West and also includes Dry Tortugas and Florida Bay.
Monroe County Emergency Management said now is the time to finalize preparations for any impacts the storm could have.
Monday night, 7News cameras captured a quiet downtown Key West before the storm. Several businesses along popular Duval Street in Key West were boarded up.
“We’re still taking action here, the locals,” said an area resident who identified himself as Oliver.
“We get here, and the place where we wanted to stay is all boarded up. Oh, no! Come on, man,” said Jake Taffe, who is visiting from Baltimore.
“So we’re staying out at the beach,” said another visitor from Baltimore.
Hours earlier, a first taste of the inclement weather expected to move through the area this week did not prevent sightseers at the Southernmost Point to make a last-minute visit, as some of them dodged crashing waves, Monday afternoon.
“I think this is our last chance for a couple of days to be out and about,” said Texas visitor Kathy Fender.
“We’ve just been kind of playing it by ear,” said Texas visitor Doug Holland. “I think we’re just going to get a tropical depression, a typical storm, It’s another day for the Key West people.”
Monroe County would potentially begin to feel the effects of the storm as early as Tuesday.
But there was already substantial inclement weather moving through the area on Monday. Video sent in by a 7News viewer showed a torrential downpour at a Pepsi warehouse in Key West’s Stock Island area.
Residents and tourists said they’re keeping up to date with the current trajectory of the Category 1 system.
“This is the closest I’ve ever been to one,” said Holland.
“Keep track of it, and we need to have an evacuation plan set just in case,” said California visitor James Beeda.
“Yesterday was my birthday, and we’d planned this [trip] months ahead, you know, so it’s sad,” said Cindy Molina, who is visiting from Colombia.
“We got the water, we have food, we got beer and all the other important stuff,” said Key West resident Mila Pecelli.
Donna Loring, who is visiting from Boston, said her trip has been extended after her flight back home was canceled.
“I’m a happy girl. What’s an extra day?” she said. “[I’m flying back] tentatively Thursday, could be Friday.”
The weather forecast showed the areas that will be on a storm surge watch for the following day, as the hurricane passes to the west.
An alert like this one means there is a possibility of life-threatening inundation from rising water moving inland from the coast.
“It could cut off roadways and make it hard for people to move around,” said Jamie Rhome, acting director for the National Hurricane Center.
Business owners in Key West are also keeping watch as to what effects Ian might have on the island.
“Just got to watch out for floods,” said bartender Ethan Phu.
Officials urge the community to stay with friends or family members who have a secure shelter for the tides expected to flow through due to the hurricane.
The county does not have any plans to open shelters or hand out sandbags.
County officials said government officer and schools will remain closed on Tuesday. A decision has yet to be made for Wednesday.
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