Miami-Dade and Broward counties were out of the cone of concern for major impacts from Elsa, while a tropical storm warning remained in effect for the Florida Keys from Craig Key west to the Dry Tortugas, along with much of Florida s west coast from Flamingo to the Ochlockonee River. Gov. Ron DeSantis gave the update regarding the storm and the decision to demolish the remaining tower from the site of the June 24th tragedy.
A tropical storm watch was in effect for west of the Ochlocknee River to Indian Pass. A storm surge watch was also in effect from west of the Aucilla River to the Ochlockonee River. A storm surge warning was in effect for the west coast of Florida from Bonita Beach to the Aucilla River, including Tampa Bay.
A 20-year-old Homestead, Florida man arrested last week in the Upper Keys for stealing a car was back in jail Saturday for stealing another car in Key West.
Jose Carlos Blanquicett now faces two charges of grand theft of a motor vehicle in addition to larceny, burglary and fleeing and eluding. He also faces some marijuana charges from the first arrest on Thursday, according to a news release from Monroe County Sheriffâs Office spokesman Adam Linhardt.
Blanquicett was released from jail at 5:25 p.m. Friday on non-monetary pretrial release regarding the Thursday arrest, meaning Blanquicett did not have to post bail in the first arrest, but the judge ordered him to follow other conditions pending trial such as not being arrested again.
For nearly 40 years, Monroe County Sheriffâs Office Capt. Lee Ann Holroyd has carved out her path to success in a male-dominated field.
She has served in many roles and faced many challenges in her long history as a deputy. Capt. Holroyd was the first female detective lieutenant and commander of Special Operations Division. Capt. Holroyd is one of the highest-ranking women in the Monroe County Sheriffâs Office and on is part of its command staff.
Capt. Holoyd, who earned a bachelorâs degree in criminal justice administration and a masterâs degree in criminal justice, wears many hats. She is the inspector general and commander of professional standards. She oversees school security and the Key West International Airport and is the head of Internal Affairs.
Tropical Storm Elsa began to pull away from the Lower Keys on Tuesday afternoon and headed up the West Coast of Florida, where it is scheduled to make landfall north of Tampa as a Category 1 hurricane on Wednesday morning.Â
The storm did bring gusts of 70 mph wind gusts in Key West and and 30-mph wind gusts in Marathon, according to the National Weather Service.
As of Tuesday morning, the Lower Keys was experiencing about 2 to 3 inches of rain, with the possibility of 8 inches of rain by the time the storm passes, Rizzo said.
A 23-foot wave was recorded southwest of Western Dry Rocks reef, according to Rizzo.
Sea levels are rising in the Florida Keys and that will continue and most likely accelerate in the coming decades, scientists say. Expensive mitigation measures will have to be implemented to stave off flooding but complete submersion of the island change is not a definite conclusion, though that depends greatly on worldwide cooperation to move away from fossil fuels.
The Monroe County Commission met recently to hear from scientists and engineers on what to expect in terms of where and when rising seas will threaten roads and properties and where the plans to raise vulnerable roadways stand.
Dr. William Sweet, an oceanographer with NOAAâs National Ocean Service Center who worked with the U.S. Department of Defense to develop the latest sea-level rise scenarios, gave a lengthy presentation to the commission, outlining data that showed sea level increases in the Keys are about on par with the national average. He said water levels are rising about 3 millimeters per year, amounti