ORLANDO, Fla. – The U.S. Coast Guard Incident Command post for Key West is stationed out of a hotel in Orlando now because of the extensive damage caused by Hurricane Irma.
News 6 visited the makeshift center where Coast Guard members had to work on cellphones and laptops in a cramped room. They say they are fully operational and were still carrying out rescues and protecting the port, despite the abrupt changes.
"We also are victims of this hurricane or this storm, but our main priority right now is the safety of everybody, the safety of the port, the safety of the people of Key West, and also the safety of our families,” Operations Chief Jose Rosario said.
Not only were crews evacuated, they also had to bring their families. Some of their homes were destroyed. They're all staying at different hotels across Orlando but Rosario said they are leaning on each other.
"We're just one big family going through this, and we're going to do everything we can to make it through," Rosario said.
Damage is still being assessed in Key West, and members of the Coast Guard do not know when they or their families will be able to return.