Florida Keys re-opens to visitors

Following a visitor evacuation initiated prior to the arrival of Tropical Storm Fay, Florida Keys officials announced that tourists should be able to return to the island chain from Wednesday 20 August.

“We have some cleanup to do and have to finish damage assessments, but I believe visitors can return to the Keys on Wednesday,” said Monroe County Mayor Mario Di Gennaro, who also chairs the region’s tourist development council.

A preliminary assessment of the Keys’ infrastructure indicated Fay’s impact has been minimal with some trees, signs and awnings down, but no significant structural damage. Most utilities report their systems in good working order. Several hundred residents throughout the Keys are without power, but utility spokespersons anticipated most would be restored by Monday night or Tuesday morning.

Monroe County Airports Manager Peter Horton said: “Key West International Airport experienced rain flooding on the tarmac, but expects to resume normal operations on Wednesday morning.”

Most Keys hotels and attractions are expected to begin reopening Tuesday and should be fully operational by Wednesday.

The possibility that Fay could develop into a minimal Category 1 hurricane (winds of at least 74 mph) motivated officials to execute the visitor evacuation that began early Sunday morning.

"We asked visitors to leave the Keys to ensure their safety,” Di Gennaro said. “We hated to inconvenience those visitors that had plans to be here, but their well-being is our top priority.”

According to Matt Strahan, meteorologist-in-charge at the Key West National Weather Service office, the centre of Fay crossed over Key West yesterday [Monday 18 August] at around 3pm with sustained winds up to 40 mph and even higher gusts.

“Weather conditions in the Keys are improving” said Strahan.

More details on the Florida Keys are available at fla-keys.com.