Keeping an eye on Ike
Cristy Lenz
CNN producer
I awoke to another day of clear blue skies and bright sunshine in Key Largo, FL. Today shows no signs of dangerous Ike lurking in the Caribbean, but talk of him is everywhere. At Harriet's, a popular breakfast restaurant known for their homemade biscuits, locals were abuzz.
Most of the servers we spoke to didn't plan on evacuating. One server, a teenage girl, was excited since school was cancelled. She said her family wasn't going to evacuate because their house was made of concrete and is located 10 feet above sea level. Local officials say the storm surge is expected to be 4 feet, so the teen and her family would presumably not be flooded.
After a hearty breakfast and a lot of coffee, we headed south for Islamorada. Islamorada is about 20 miles south of Key Largo. There is a mandatory evacuation order for residents but you wouldn't know it by the traffic flow. There is only one way in and out of the Keys and traffic traveling north is light.
Businesses, however, do show signs of concern. Many have hurricane shutters up although they continue to stay open. Shop keepers are keeping one eye on the till and the other on Ike.
|
|
Post by: Hurricane Ike Filed under: Hurricane Ike |
About this Show:
Anderson Cooper goes beyond the headlines to tell stories from many points of view, so you can make up your own mind about the news. Tune in weeknights at 8 and 10 ET on CNN.
Questions or comments? Send an email
Want to know more? Go behind the scenes with AC361°
Subscribe to the podcast
On Twitter
Search the AC360 blog
A friend of mine's family grew up on the Keys and I had never realized there was a road that connected the Keys to Florida. I thought you had to take a boat out there. When he was driving over it he took a picture of it and sent it to my phone, I was shocked it is just a road, nothing else just a road surrounded by water! Where the ocean meets the land, I have great respect for. The ocean is so powerful and dangerous yet one of the most beautiful things on the Earth. I WISH YOU ALL WELL!
Thanks for your post. I have a question, what happens to the detainnees in Guantanamo when IKE goes over them? Is there flooding? Structural damage? How are our soliders there dealing with the Hurricane???
I hope the people under mandatory evacuation will evacuate. Staying not only risks their own life but that of anyone else who tries to help them if they find themselves in trouble and in need of rescue.
Suzanne
Knoxville TN