Flooded construction sites were quiet and gas pumps were still wrapped in plastic throughout much of Broward County Friday morning. But many South Florida residents emerged from their cocoons and returned to work after Hurricane Matthew passed them by.
Eli Lopez woke up with one question on his mind.
"Why do we create chaos in the media?" he said. "All the news stations created all this big, humongous Category 8 — not even a freaking flood here in Dania!"
Lopez lives a block from the ocean in Dania Beach.
"Made me put all the sheds up and everything for nothing," he said. "What a waste of time and energy."
Lopez acknowledged he was not disappointed to have missed the worst of the storm. His neighbors at Harbour Towne Marina were even more relieved.
"Looks like we prepared for the worst and had the best results," said Jimmy Wheelis, who works at the marina for HMY Yachts.
"We have a lot of money and inventory sitting here that we have to take care of so we have to make sure everything is fine," Wheelis said.
South Florida residents are still keeping an eye on Matthew, though — the National Hurricane Center forecast track has the storm looping around toward the Bahamas and South Florida again next week. Wheelis said he's ready to prepare for Round 2 on Monday or Tuesday.