Hurricane Irma Aftermath: What Services Are Available In The Florida Keys

KEY WEST, FL — While the Upper Keys have been reopened for residents to return, the middle and lower Keys are still barred to re-entry. Officials say that it is unsafe for people to return from Marathon to Key West.

Some business and services across the Keys, however, a reopening and returning to normal, at least in some capacity, as recovery efforts continue.

“We know people are anxious to return but we can’t put an artificial timeline on when it will be safe to return,” said Monroe County Health Department Director Bob Eadie on Thursday. “Now it is not safe for people to come to the Middle Keys. We don’t want to create a health crisis.” (For more hurricane updates and news from your local community, sign up for real-time news alerts and morning newsletters; find your local Florida Patch here. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

Watch: The Florida Keys Are Reeling From Hurricane Irma Devastation

The Port of Key West, in particular, remains dangerous for any approaching ships, and only boats from the Coast Guard and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission are currently allowed in the waters.

Monroe County announced two FEMA station locations on Friday where people can go for assistance: One at the corner of Angela St. and Simonton St. in Key West, and the other at 102 Ocean Way in Key Largo.

On Friday, some grocery storms reopened for the first time on the Lower Keys. Publix at Sears Town Plaza reopened from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Winn-Dixie on Big Pine Key opened during the day and offered free Wi-Fi for visitors.

Garbage collection began in Key West on Thursday. In the Upper Keys in the unincorporated part Monroe County, garbage collection began on Friday. By Saturday, garbage collectors will begin picking up trash again on the middle and lower Keys.

Curfew remains in effect across the islands. On the Upper Keys to Mile Marker 73, curfew begins at 10 p.m. and continues until sunrise. On the rest of the islands, curfew goes from sunset to sunrise.

Florida Keys Aqueduct Authority is accepting calls for reports on leaks at this time at 305-296-2454; however, it will not accept reports of water outages.

The county sent out this information for anyone who knows of a pet in distress:

Across all of the islands, officials have issued a mandatory boil water advisory.

For more information and continuing updates on the restoration of public services, visit Keys Recovery.

Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images