KEY WEST, ******* — ******* Keys officials say the island chain hit hard by ********* Irma will reopen to tourists Oct. 1.

Officials made their announcement Monday, more than two weeks after the Category 4 storm made landfall in the ******* Keys. The storm destroyed an estimated 25 per cent of homes on the islands.

******* Keys officials asked visitors to postpone their trips after the storm damaged power and water supplies. ******* Keys spokesman Andy Newman said power and water service is now restored to customers that can receive them and a boil water notice has been lifted.

The Key West and Marathon airports have reopened, but ****** removal continues and some hotels and tourist facilities are still recovering.

Key West did have its first cruise ship return to the island on Sunday.