Collier County sees few impacts from Eta; many go enjoy the beach

Businesses did not take any chances to end the weekend, even though Eta was not forecast to make a direct impact. Some places in Collier County boarded up and closed early, bracing for the worst.

The worst of Eta did not come to Collier County. No major flooding was reported, and many people were out enjoying the beach Monday.

“We were actually supposed to be in the Caribbean, but we cancelled plans there,” visitor John Schaefer said. “We figured Florida would be a safer thing to do.”

A tropical storm wasn’t in the vacation plans for Schaefer and his wife.

”Last night, at about 1 o’clock in the morning, it was howling up there,” Schaefer said.

Winds were strong enough to scatter debris onto roadways on Marco Island, and some businesses on the water closed early Sunday night to take precautions.

“We moved all our tables and chairs and everything against the walls, kind of took everything out from up here that might just fly,” said Jackie Lawless, the manager at Dolphin Tiki Bar & Grill.

Streets were drying off after a wet gloomy morning in Collier County.

”We get worst rain storms or windstorms in Kokomo,” Becky Westlake said.

Westlake and many others were thankful the rain from the storm didn’t flood neighborhoods.

“But friends that are some limited time here, yeah; it’s kind of a bummer, but it’s all good,” Westlake said.

Schaefer and his wife did not get to fulfill their original plans, but they made the most of them.

“Anytime there’s been a break in the rain, we’ve been down here on the beach, walking the beach,” Schaefer said.