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Sep 9, 2008 7:23 pm US/Eastern
Ike Gives Key West Its Fury And Menace
KEY WEST (CBS4) ―
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Key West endures tropical storm winds from Ike
CBS
When the bands of rain and wind blew into Key West, they sent waves crashing over the seawall, putting the end of Duval Street under water. The storm surge left people wading in surf up to their calves.
CBS4's Ted Scouten is making his way through the surf and sand.
"I just didn't think it would come this far up the street. I didn't think the storm was strong enough to produce this much of a surge," resident Peter Wagnor admitted.
"If it had been a category three, four, you got to go" said resident Richard Hymes, "Key West can not stand a head-on category three coming off Cuba. We'd be done, inundated and finished."
A curtain of water covered the Southernmost Point, showing just how strong even a glancing blow can be. The roadway that goes to the airport is turning into more of a river. At some points, it appears the ocean is crashing over the seawall, right onto the road. It doesn't take much to flood the roads in the Keys, and when the ocean leaps out of its bound, it leaves a lot of sand and debris behind, making it tough to get by.
People were ordered to stay inside Tuesday, out of harm's way. But not many are heeding the warning. Instead, they're pouring onto the beach where the crashing waves are making the biggest splash in Key West.
"First of all, we're getting cabin fever sitting inside all day long. And second of all, we're curious and third, I don't think it's much of a risk and it's kind of fun," listed Mark Jones.
The end of the White Street Pier juts way into the ocean, and is packed with people just waiting for the huge waves to crash on top of them. It resembles a wave pool at a water park.
John Woods laughed at the feeling. "It's like white water rafting without a river! You don't have to paddle as much."
This is exactly what emergency officials were hoping would not happen. They don't want people outside; they're concerned one of those big waves could take someone back out to sea.
(© MMX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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