Tropical Storm Hanna continued its easterly path away from the Florida coast yesterday but city officials warn residents that they may not be out of the woods just yet.

Tropical Storm Hanna is expected to produce gusty winds and rip currents with the possibility of some rain, according to Jacksonville Beach Fire Chief Gary Frazier. But nothing compared to what could be coming.

At an emergency preparedness meeting this week at Jacksonville Beach City Hall, Frazier said more bad weather conditions are expected as Tropical Storm Josephine and now Hurricane Ike churn out in open water.

"The forecast is much better. [Hanna] is weakening," he said. "That is good news for us but we don't want to let our guard down. There is another bigger one out there. "

Yesterday, the National Hurricane Center measured Hurricane Ike a category four storm but Frazier said it is too early to predict where and when it would make landfall and at what strength.

"Ike is a more serious storm, small and powerful," he said, noting that it is similar in scope to Hurricane Charley that struck Charlotte County in Punta Gorda, Fla. in 2004 with winds at 150 mph. "It is on the same northwest track."

A category four hurricane will produce winds at 131 to 155 mph with storm surges generally 13 to 18 feet above normal.

Frazier said an evacuation plan could be in the works, depending on the course of the storms.  But for now, City Manager George Forbes urged department heads to organize supplies and be prepared  to staff additional crews if needed.

As a precaution, Grounds Maintenance Director Ty Edwards said lifeguard chairs could be pulled from the beachfront and Public Works crews were pumping down stormwater collection ponds just in case.

Atlantic Beach Police Chief Bruce Thomason said he planned to send all of the fleet vehicles home with officers for the weekend if the weather worsened.

"Things are looking great right now but there are a couple more right behind," Forbes said. "Things could turn hectic in a hurry. Just be ready."