Tropical Weather Resources
Sep 7, 2008 10:57 pm US/Eastern
Residents Plan To Ride Out Ike In Key West
KEY WEST (CBS4) ―
Call it a hurricane party! Lots of Key West locals are staying behind, with no plans to leave despite a mandatory evacuation order.
CBS4's Ted Scouten is in Key West with those who are planning on riding out the storm.
"For a lot of us locals that just aren't going to evacuate, we know how to be safe and take care of each other," said resident Lady Diana.
Emergency managers certainly hope they can take care of each other. Hospital emergency rooms are closed and will remain so as long as Ike is a threat to the islands.
"It could become a life-threatening hurricane," said Monroe County Mayor Mario DiGennaro. "We hope it doesn't. I hope I'm wrong. I hope I get criticized for calling this evacuation."
Only a few hundred people climbed onto the evacuation buses. Armed with a good luck charm and rosary around her neck, Glenda Lanier was one of them. "I'm going to get on a bus and evacuate. They don't have to tell me twice!"
It's smooth sailing for the precious few hitting the road. There were no bottle necks or traffic jams, since a mass exodus never took place.
The last flights took off Sunday evening from the airport. Ronnie Goldstein wasted no time booking her trip out. "I said, 'you better put me on the last flight out!' and they did."
If the weather gets worse than they expect, those who stayed behind may only have a hope and a prayer to hang on to. For some, that's enough.
"Sister somebody, years and years ago, made a prayer that said never would Key West be hit directly. It hasn't yet and I've been here 34 years," explained resident Purple Sandy.
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