With their neighbors to the south out of Hurricane Dorian’s cone of concern, Palm Beach residents remained on alert but cautiously optimistic, as a Tropical Storm Watch was issued for parts of the county and up Florida’s East coast.
7News cameras captured palm trees rocked by light winds in Delray Beach, Saturday night, as some residents remained uncertain about their next move.
“We don’t really know what to do. We didn’t really want to go north, we didn’t really want to go south, because we didn’t know where it was coming,” said a resident.
Dorian’s unpredictable path has kept most South Floridians on edge for the past week.
Residents Mildred Brown and Mac Wesley kept their hurricane shutters up.
“You don’t want to be unprepared. You want to be prepared,” she said.
“We don’t really know where it’s going to be, but I hope that it goes the other way,” said Wesley.
Down in Boca Raton, residents are closely monitoring the system as well.
“We take every storm very seriously,” said Diane.
“I’m not worried at all,” said a man.
So far, at least for South Florida, the level of danger seems to be decreasing.
But on Saturday, many area businesses kept their plywood sheets up and their doors open.
Officials said Dorian can still pack a powerful punch, with high chances of tropical storm-force winds and rain, a recipe for a major coastal concern.
“You’ve got the king tides coming in here, and the beach here is going to get smaller and smaller, as the wind comes and the water comes in here,” said Adrian Rodriguez with the Blufin Beach Club in Miami Beach.
Diane said her home is ready for whatever this hurricane may bring to South Florida.
“Everything’s all boarded up, and things are up off the floor if it floods,” she said.
Some gas stations in Delray Beach remained low on fuel.
People were seen going about their business. Saturday night, revelers flocked to bars and restaurants and restaurants along Atlantic Avenue.
Some said they never thought things could return to normal so quickly.
“Not at all, although we’re not through the worst of it just yet,” said a man. “I think there’s still a chance of still getting some tropical storm winds.”
A longtime resident said she was confident this would be the outcome from the start.
“I don’t know, Maybe it’s because I’ve lived here my whole life, but I was pretty sure it would end up like this,” she said.
But some residents said they’re nevertheless staying flexible.
“It keeps you on your toes, and you don’t feel complacent, as far as how prepared you are,” said a resident.
Florida Atlantic University and Palm Beach County schools are all still scheduled to remain closed on Tuesday.
Palm Beach County’s Emergency Operations Center continues to monitor the storm’s progress.
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