We live in Orlando and our local news is not covering much on the damage in south Florida and the keys, although rumor has it that there is still no power in a lot of areas and key west had signficant damage. We were planning a trip perhaps the weekend before Thanksgiving. Any idea on how things are faring in that area?

I think most of the damage is in Miami-Dade, Broward, and Palm Beach counties. Try the online Sun Sentinel www.sun-sentinel.com or the online Miami Herald www.miamiherald.com

I was just in Key west for a week. There is debris in piles along the roadside, but there is no problem with power. You should have a great trip, but things are price gouging..gas is over $3.00 a gallon, menus most things 18.00 and up, it is a tourist trap. Temps are great 80's in day low 70's at night. Most drinks are 8.00 and up.

Just be sure to keep an eye on your clothes when in The Garden of Eden.

Don't know what you're talking about, Curt.

read this post and you see why you must keep your eyes on your clothes

http://www.fodors.com/forums/threads...1&tid=34704528

Misscarol..no news about Key West because it would discourage the tourists...however, we have a daughter who has lived down there since '77. I believe all power is back on, Duval street is up and running BUT there were over 2,000 homes on Key West alone that were severely damaged and over 12,000 cars totaled due to the storm surge. Areas in Bahama Village were flooded as was the New Town area.

Pat lived in New Town..the area behind Sears Town or that general area and it was suffered severe flood damage. Pat went to Big Pine for Wilma but came home to FOUR FEET of water in her rental house. She has lost about everything. The house has been declared uninhabitable as have many others in the area. Then last week there was another heavy rainstorm and the area flooded again and damaged what ever was left from Wilma. She was able to find a very small apartment in Old Town through a friend. Many are literally homeless there...and they are the people who wait on you in the stores and restaruants...they are all scrambling to find an AFFORDABLE place to live right now. So if service is slow and people are crabby...remember they are probably still cleaning up their own homes. Pat said the churches in Key West have been wonderful by fixing and serving hot meals to the people there who are trying to restore the town.

Mamajo, Thanks for the information but so sorry to hear about the situation your daughter has experienced. Since so many of the homes of the locals are destroyed, could this be why almost all the hotels seem to be filled in what I thought was not yet the high season?

Thank you misscarol. Pat said the Power boat races are still scheduled and I know they are sometime in November. Also Fantasy fest got moved to the week of Dec.7. You could check www.keysnews.com or www.keywest.com to see what events are on. Key West always seems busy...*season* or no season! Tourists just like it anytime.

We were in Key West last weekend. Duval Street looks almost 'normal'. Except that the leaves on most of the trees are brown. If you wander onto the side streets, there is lots of plant debris and some furniture piled along the side of the streets. In New Town, it appears that people pretty much lost everything, and it's all piled at the curb. Virtually every local we talked to had lost their cars, most had lost most of their belongings. We found their attitude to be amazing, most wanted to share stories about their experiences, and seemed happy to have some tourists back so they could make some money.

I think the trouble with finding a place to stay is the power boat races.

Having been there last week from PA I can say as a tourist it was business as usual for the most part. The big stuff like water and electricity are OK, the little stuff like finding a working ATM, or air for the tires on your car means you have to find ones that still work. All in all I found it to be fine and the green is coming back to the plants and trees. The city is doing a great job of cleaning up. Most everyone will be happy to see you.