Based on the projected path of Tropical Storm Fay, the U.S. Census Bureau today calculated that more than 10.8 million people could feel the storm’s effects as it moves over the Florida Keys and into southwestern Florida.

     According to the National Hurricane Center, Tropical Storm Fay will strengthen to a hurricane before it reaches the Florida peninsula. Hurricane and tropical storm warnings and watches were in effect for the Florida Keys and along the Florida Gulf Coast, from Card Sound Bridge (Monroe County) to Tarpon Springs (Pinellas County, near Tampa/St. Petersburg). A storm warning means that either tropical storm or hurricane conditions are expected within the warning area within the next 24 hours.

     According to the Census Bureau’s 2006 American Community Survey, the median housing value in Monroe County is $657,900. Nearly 65 percent of the homes were built before 1990. The median household income is about $52,000, and about 12 percent of the population lives in poverty. Additionally, about 11 percent of the 33,013 occupied homes are without access to a vehicle. The median age is 46.2 years with 16 percent of the population 65 years or older.

     According to the Census Bureau’s 2006 County Business Patterns, there are 3,637 businesses in Monroe County with paid employees, employing 30,866 workers, with about $8.5 million in total annual payroll. The sector with the most businesses in Monroe County is retail trade, representing 663 businesses, and employing some 6,583 people with a total annual payroll of $1.5 million.

     As the 2008 hurricane season progresses, the Census Bureau will continue to post information on its Hurricane Data and Emergency Preparedness Web page at <http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/emergencies/index.html>.