KEY LARGO, FLA. (WSVN) - Monroe County residents and businesses are preparing for the impact of Tropical Depression Fred.
Beachfront property owners in Key Largo spent Friday morning making preparations for Fred’s expected arrival.
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“Anytime we have a tropical storm or hurricane, we have to secure the property,” said Andrew Yuvak, maintenance supervisor at Gilbert’s Resort.
7News cameras captured workers at the resort as they flipped tables over, stacked chairs and tied up umbrellas in anticipation of the storm.
“The way the weather conditions are, as the day gets worse, the weather gets worse, we will adjust our area and make sure everything is safe,” said Yuvak.
Not far away from Gilbert’s Resort, Monroe County resident Diana Hobson was also on high alert. She has lived in Monroe County for 20 years and said she cannot count the number of storms she’s been through, but she said she prepares for them every time.
“You need to be prepared for storms,” she said. “You stock up now little by little, so that by the time a serious storm comes through, you’re pretty much prepared for it.”
Clara Garcia spent most of her Friday stocking up ahead of Fred’s arrival. This year will be her second hurricane season in Key Largo.
“We’re on it. We want to know what’s going on,” she said. “I always just prepare the house. Put things inside, plants, things like that but not much. You never know. You never know how it’s going hit and how bad it’s going to miss, so it’s better to be safe than sorry.”
County officials stressed how preparing for a storm is important, despite Fred shifting west in the Friday 5 p.m. advisory.
“We are looking at potential impacts of 3 to 5 inches of rain here in the Keys due to this event,” Monroe County Director of Emergency Management Shannon Weiner said. “Be prepared, as we are for any storm during the tropical season, to be sheltering in place throughout the duration of the event with enough food, water for both themselves and the individuals in their family.”
Barbara Oliveira and her family will be traveling north to Melbourne, Saturday morning. They used to live in the Florida Keys, and they said they know a thing or two about storms.
“I would say hunker down your things outside, obviously, because those things will blow away, even with a little gust of wind,” she said.
Officials there have asked residents to secure their homes, boats and to clear their yards. A Tropical Storm Warning has been issued for the Florida Keys.
Other areas across South Florida are getting ready as well.
Crews could be seen in Overtown clearing out several drains on Thursday to make sure the rainwater will flow.
Over in Miami Beach, crews put out 11 extra pumps in areas that tend to flood.
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