CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — Several businesses under the JFK Causeway and bridge closed Monday for lunch because of coastal flooding already appearing as a result of Tropical Storm Francine.
Businesses under the "Sunset Island" banner, so Snoopy's Pier, The Pearl, Scoopy's Ice Cream & Sandwich Shop and Marker 37 Marina, are temporarily closed.
"That was a tough call, the flooding was coming up, it was already tough to get into the properties, into Sunset Island into The Pearl, Snoopy's," Sunset Island CEO Steve Gotberg said. "So, we did go ahead and close both for safety."
It's unclear whether other businesses in that area also will close.
While the storm isn't expected to have severe effects on the Corpus Christi area, storm surge and coastal flooding are expected.
Padre Island National Seashore officials are also erring on the side of caution due to high tides.
Chief Ranger at PINS, Jeston Fisher, said on top unsafe swimming conditions, the weather events also pose a threat to drivers and first responders.
"We have vehicles get stuck, which strands them and then it puts all of my Rangers in danger to rescue them," he said.
"Yesterday evening my Rangers were out patrolling and noticed a lot of debris and the tides kind of coming up to where its less than one lane of travel," he said.
He said those were the deciding factors to close down the inbound land to North Beach side of PINS, or a soft close if you will.
"During this hurricane season we have only closed down the beaches one other time and it was during Hurricane Beryl," Fisher said. "We just don't know, we cant anticipate what this storm is going to bring."
For the latest on the storm, keep an eye on kiiitv.com/weather
This is a developing story. 3NEWS will provide updates as they become available.
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