 A tropical storm warning was issued at some point during the existence of the cyclone for the west coast of Florida from Key West to Apalachicola . Additionally , a tropical storm warning was put in place for the east coast from Vero Beach northward to Fernandina Beach . Before the arrival of Marco , elementary schools were closed on the three barrier islands in Lee County . Florida governor Bob Martinez ordered the closure of state offices in the Tampa Bay area , and also decided not to open the University of South Florida and nearby community colleges . Public schools were not opened on the day of the storm 's passage in Manatee and Sarasota counties , though most other schools remained open . As the storm tracked northward , the National Weather Service issued a flood watch for much of Georgia . A flood watch was later issued for western portions of the Carolinas and for high elevations in Virginia and West Virginia . 
