Hurricane Isaias: Waterfront property owners taking extra precautions for heavy winds

FORT PIERCE — Not a lot of homeowners are putting up shutters in preparation for Hurricane Isaias, but those along Indian River Drive know not to take chances.

"We get a lot more wind here than most places inland," said Mike Brown, as he and son Patrick were lowering Bahama shutters on their house on "The Drive" in southern Fort Pierce.

Even on a regular day, the elder Brown said, the wind can come whipping off the Indian River Lagoon.

Even in hurricanes, the wind doesn't get strong enough to blow lagoon water up to the Browns' home.

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"We're 50 feet above sea level," Brown said. "That would be a storm of biblical proportion.

The Browns were limiting their work to shutters on the front of the house facing the lagoon.

"We're erring on the side of caution," Brown said.

Most of the homeowners putting up shutters seemed to be on Hutchinson Island and along the lagoon.

Tyler Treadway is an environment reporter who specializes in issues facing the Indian River Lagoon. Support his work on TCPalm.com.  Contact him at 772-221-4219 and tyler.treadway@tcpalm.com.