Hurricane Info

Hospitals In Keys Close, Families Look For Aid

KEY LARGO (CBS4) ― Any Keys residents who stayed behind after the mandatory evacuation order will find emergency services aren't available in Monroe County. That means some families have to do some quick moving before Mother Nature provides a special delivery.

In Key Largo, people have either already taken off, or plan on leaving Monday morning. CBS4's Shomari Stone talked to one family who evacuated from Key West because the hospital is closing Monday morning.

Mark Leach is filling up and heading out. "Our house is four or five feet above sea level. Yeah, I'm pretty concerned." Still, the Key West resident says his home is the least of his worries. His wife Jennifer is nine months pregnant.

"The only concern I have is getting my wife out of town," Mark admitted, "Get her to a hospital that is open."

Fisherman's Hospital in Marathon is expected to close Monday. Mariner's in Plantation Key is already closed.

Jennifer is concerned, herself. "I'm due on the 16th of September. That's pretty close."

Mark doesn't think Ike will cause a lot of damage, at least nothing on the scale of Hurricane Wilma. But he's not willing to take the risk with his family.

"I'm going to head out of town and be back soon. I don't think it's going to be nothing much," he said.

Emergency officials expect Tropical Storm-force winds late Monday or early Tuesday morning. They're still recommending any residents still in Monroe County to evacuate the Keys.

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