Chad Seufert won't let a few gusts of wind and a couple inches of rain ruin his Veterans Day.
Seufert, a second-year UF graduate student, is driving to Orlando for a Minus the Bear concert Wednesday, and he's determined not to let Tropical Storm Ida make him miss the show.
Tropical Storm Ida was forecast to strike Florida's Gulf Coast Tuesday morning. After being recently downgraded from a Category 2 hurricane to a tropical storm, Ida is no longer expected to cause any major problems but could still wash out some Veterans Day events.
Dave Donnelly, emergency management chief for Alachua County, doesn't expect the storm to make a major impact on the county.
"Fortunately, the storm really weakened overnight," he said, adding that he only expects an inch or two of rain to hit the county.
But people still need to be careful because of the possibility of tornadoes, he said.
"People should avoid boating on lakes and rivers and be extra careful driving," he said.
Donnelly said the height of the storm's impact on Gainesville should hit tonight and Wednesday morning, which could force the county to cancel a Veterans Day ceremony at Kanapaha Park scheduled for 10:30 a.m. on Wednesday.
A decision will be announced today.
The Alachua County Department of Public Safety has also opened up its 311 hotline to help residents stay informed about the storm.
People can call the number to hear the latest news and learn about any emergency procedures, said Carol Davis, the department's spokeswoman.
"We've had some storms in the past that have prompted everything we're doing now," Davis said. "We still want to be prepared."
