Artist Wyland's Florida Keys Home In Irma's Path

LAGUNA BEACH, CA — While the whole United States watched Hurricane Irma's progress across Puerto Rico, the Dominican Republic and Cuba, Laguna Beach resident and marine artist and ocean activist, Robert Wyland, watched with them. Wyland, as he is more commonly known, is a world renowned ocean activist and artist of "whaling wall" murals depicting life-sized whales and marine animals on buildings and stadiums.

Wyland's Florida Keys residence is in the direct line of fire according to Irma's current path, angling to make landfall across the state of Florida.

"Hurricane Irma is heading directly to my home in the Florida Keys right now," Wyland said on Thursday over Facebook. "My neighbors in Islamorada are putting up my storm shutters."

Islamorada's iconic hotels bearing the Wyland touch are boarded up and abandoned for the most part, as residents wait out Irma's wrath.

On Friday, the Islamorada Brewing Company was empty, all boarded up and waiting on Irma's arrival. A note to the storm captured the general feeling: "Go Away Irma."

At the Tavernier Creek Marina in Tavernier, Florida, all was quiet Thursday. The marina was empty except for Wyland's mural on the wall.

According to reports, more than 25,000 people have evacuated the Florida Keys during the mandatory evacuation ahead of the powerful hurricane expected to make landfall over the weekend.

Wyland is waiting out the storm in Laguna Beach. Ilsamorada, centrally located in the Florida Keys, was under a hurricane advisory, as of 11:30 a.m. Friday.

"I'm watching the news like the rest of you," he said. "Please send your prayers to everyone in Hurricane Irma's path."

Hundreds of fans and friends have commented and shared in support of the artist, also lending their support and prayers from Florida to the Laguna Beach shores.

"As I sit here in Florida waiting for Irma to blow through, I wish I was in Laguna Beach, watching the news with you," Georgeanna McKinney responded in comments. "Pray for us!"

Read also:

• An Exclusive Look at Wyland's Laguna Beach Home
• Wyland Art Lessons in the Wild Contest Winners Chosen

Photo, Michael Loccisano /Getty Images Entertainment / Getty Images