TYBEE ISLAND, Ga. () — Despite Tropical Storm Imelda tracking offshore, Tybee Island officials are urging residents to stay vigilant during the remainder of hurricane season.

The island saw strong wind and surf Monday, and officials believe this will continue through the week. Lifeguards are flying double red flags until Wednesday most likely, according to Fire Chief and Emergency Management (EMA) Director Justin McMillian.

Officials scaled back their emergency plans once Imelda took a turn to the East, but Mayor Brian West said the beach is impacted by every storm. Tybee is already trying to fight is beach erosion.

The city has poured millions of dollars into beach renourishment. Mayor West said they are working on improve the island as a whole to prevent flooding.

“We have no protection on the back side of the island. We’re looking at ways to elevate roads around the back side of the island, creating more of a situation where we can protect that side, too,” West said.

Chief McMillian talked about just how fragile the island is should a serious storm come through.

“That’s really one of the main things that I want to get across today is for the folks on the island to know that if we have a serious storm headed our way of any kind of hurricane, even a category one, we encourage you to get off the island and evacuate,” McMillian said.

The bigger the storm, the harder it is to put out barriers and sandbags to protect the island, but that’s why Mayor West said they are always prepared.