KEY WEST, FLA. (WSVN) - As Hurricane Ian cycles closer to Florida, the Florida Keys experienced the outer bands of the storm.
On Wednesday morning, the famous Duvall Street in Key West was lightly flooded as other areas saw worse flooding, but the chaos has yet to begin.
Officials surveyed the highest storm surge from Tuesday night, and it peaked at 4.4 feet above the average high water.
Overnight, the National Weather Service issued a storm surge warning for certain areas in the keys, as the peak of the waves will be around noon to 4 p.m., Wednesday.
This resulted in power lines and cell phone towers being down in the area.
No signal will be available for residents as they wake up to deal with the aftermath of Hurricane Ian.
Winds knocked down tree branches that were seen on the road submerged in water.
Officials placed barricades around the uprooted trees on the streets.
Local firefighter Tom Bellingham checked on any damage near his property before he headed to work.
“I got a few friends that are elsewhere, and their houses are out of power and underwater,” said Bellingham. “I’ve been going around and making sure everyone is OK. Now we’re heading to the fire station.”
U.S. Coast Guard officials predict the storm surges to be three feet high during king tides and four feet above high tide.
Cellphone video showed a house partially submerged in water while another showed a parking lot with a car submerged underwater.
Bellingham’s home was one of the few spared from severe flooding during the storm.
“I managed to get in [my home],” said Bellingham. “Believe it or not, I think I still got power. It’s one of the few houses that does, but yeah, everything is all right. The water didn’t get in.”
The city commissioner advised residents of Monroe County to stay in their homes as the storm passes through.
The shelter at Key West Elementary School is still open to the public for those seeking refuge.
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