USA: after hurricane Irma, as keys recover, inmates moved to Palm Beach

Before Hurricane Irma devastated the Florida Keys, taking its time destroying islands in the Caribbean, residents and officials there prepared for the massive storm. As the Category 4 got closer, some chose to brace for the worst, and others fled their homes for the Florida mainland.

More than 460 of those evacuees were inmates from the Monroe County Detention Center on Stock Island, the first island north of Key West. Those inmates, as well as dozens of jail staff, rode out the storm at the Palm Beach County Jail.

And until they can go home, they’ll be there.

The lower Keys were opened Tuesday for residents, business owners and volunteers, more than a week after the storm hit. Some places in the chain of islands remain under boil-water warnings, many schools will not reopen until next week and there are still cleanups taking place throughout the area. Deputy Becky Herrin, the spokeswoman for the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office, said the jail itself sustained “very little damage” and officials hope to have all of the inmates back by this weekend.

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