People in the Florida Keys were surprised by Katrina’s sudden turn to the south on Friday. But despite being hit by the storm, island officials expect to welcome tourists Labor Day weekend as per usual. All Keys governments, schools and courts expected to reopen Monday. Key West Mayor Jimmy Weekley says things are back to normal.
“We expect to have the Labor Day crowds that we normally have over that weekend. We’re ready for visitors. We expect a busy weekend next week. We want people to come down. The roads are open. We have the power and we want people to come down and experience Key West like they normally do on any other long weekend that they come down to enjoy.”

The storm surge was 3 to 5 feet above normal, and rain swamped the islands, causing flooding in low-lying areas. A tornado blew apart a hangar at Florida Keys Marathon Airport. Three crews from the Glades Electric Cooperative in Moorehaven helped restore power in the Keys this weekend.