Key West residents work to clean up after Isaac

KEY WEST, Fla. (WSVN) -- At the Southernmost Point in Key West, Monday, the sun is out. All that is really left of Tropical Storm Isaac is some seaweed in some of the roads and high seas near the Southernmost Point.

Though the waves seem a lot higher than they were yesterday, Key West has the power on, the roads are open, and the Keys are really getting back to normal rather quickly.

Isaac may be gone, but the storm has left some of Key West hung over. Part of the world-famous Duval Street was left swamped in an ocean of water and a bed of seaweed that tourists and locals alike had to come see for themselves.

"I came out this morning, and the high tide and the weather was actually worse this morning than it was yesterday," said Key West resident Catherine Kanagy.

Kirk Zimmerman put up a sign and barricades Monday morning warning drivers not to make a wake. "It's a big mess but we survived," said business owner Zimmerman. "The water didn't come up as high as I was afraid of, so I think we're going to be good."

And most of Key West is good. The city made it through Sunday afternoon's pounding by the tropical storm with no injuries and only minor damage, like boats that overturned in the strong surf and high winds.

Workers at restaurants like McConnell's Irish Pub and Grill are now removing boards and shutters that protected the restaurant against the storm, which turned out to be more of a nuisance than a threat. "I've been here 18 years and it's the same thing each year," said a restaurant worker. "Every time we have a storm it's clean up, board up, take deck down, the whole routine."

Schools in the Keys are closed today and tomorrow, and they re-open on Wednesday because some of them were converted into shelters. Also, Key West Airport is open today but will resume normal operation hours tomorrow.

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