Fla. Keys Unfazed by Fay

Residents dismiss storm that scares off tourists
By Neal Colgrass,  Newser Staff
Posted Aug 18, 2008 6:11 PM CDT
Fla. Keys Unfazed by Fay
Cliff Fischer holds on to his boogie board during tropical storm Fay's winds in Big Pine Key, Fla., Monday, Aug. 18, 2008, as Tropical Storm Fay approaches the Florida Keys.    (AP Photo)

Tropical Storm Fay has scared off tourists but left laid-back Florida Key residents unconcerned, the AP reports. "We're not worried about it. We've seen this movie before," said one Floridian who was stocking up on food and whiskey today. The storm that killed at least eight in Haiti and the Dominican Republic did lash the Keys today, and will likely hit the mainland at hurricane strength tomorrow.

Florida does have protection: 400,000 of its homes have been inspected for storm resistance, and the National Guard is ready with nearly 300 supply trucks. But "this is not the type of storm that's going to rip off a lot of roofs," one official said. Still, he's "seen many people die" in storms that "they dismiss as not being very dangerous."
(More Tropical Storm Fay stories.)

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