Aug. 30, 2006; 11:30 a.m.
Visitors Can Return Beginning Noon, Wednesday
Following initial assessments made Wednesday morning, there is no reported damage or flooding from Tropical Storm Ernesto, said Irene Toner, Monroe County’s emergency management director.
Visitors can begin returning to the Keys at noon Wednesday, county and municipal officials said Wednesday morning. All county and state parks are to be opened by noon on Thursday.
The core of Ernesto passed over Plantation Key at 11:30 p.m. Tuesday. The weak tropical storm, said National Hurricane Center forecaster James Franklin, had sustained winds of about 45 mph in the Upper Keys.
All utilities are operating normally. The Overseas Highway (U.S. 1) is clear with no reports of flooding, according to Monroe County Sheriff Rick Roth.
Motorists traveling to the Keys Wednesday are advised to use caution as some bands of rain and wind from the back end of Ernesto are moving through the area. Some portions of the highway are still wet with some puddles, Roth said, adding that he suggest recreational vehicles and other high-profile vehicles to wait until 2 p.m. or later before traversing the Keys Overseas Highway.
Weather conditions, according to the Key West National Weather Service office are expected to improve by Wednesday evening. Small boats should not venture out of port, until winds and seas subside. The Jewfish Creek and Snake Creek drawbridges are operating normally.
All law enforcement and fire rescue services are operating normally. The three Florida Keys hospitals are offering full services.
Key West International Airport and Florida Keys Marathon Airport have reopened. Commercial service to Key West is resuming this morning. Full flight schedules are expected to begin Thursday.
All hurricane shelters have closed. Monroe County schools will reopen for students Thursday morning.
The Monroe County Emergency Operations Center has gone to partial activation and is to cease operations late Wednesday afternoon.
Special needs patients that were transported to the Monroe County hurricane shelter at Florida International University are scheduled to return to the Keys by early Wednesday evening.
This is to be the final advisory on Ernesto from Monroe County Emergency Management.
ADDITIONAL HELP AND RESOURCES
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