South Florida travelers have mixed reactions to Europe travel warning

Warning in effect until Sept. 1

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – The State Department issued a travel warning Monday for anyone who is thinking about traveling to Europe this summer.            

No specific threat was cited, but officials pointed to recent attacks in Europe for prompting the warning, including attacks in Paris and London.

The advisory warns: "Terrorists persist in employing a variety of tactics, including firearms, explosives, using vehicles as ramming devices, and sharp-edged weapons that are difficult to detect prior to an attack."

"My husband and I have decided that we're going to just stay in the USA for a while until everything settles down. So I think it's a good idea to listen to our State Department and respect our president," Laura Rosenthal, who was traveling out of Fort Lauderdale-International Airport on Tuesday, said.

As people go through security, traveling out of South Florida, they have mixed reactions about the warning.

"It doesn't bother me. I'd still travel. I travel for my job every day, and even after 9/11, I was one of the first ones on an airplane," Ken Crawford said.

Transportation Security Administration officials displayed an array of items Tuesday that passengers tried to clear through security. 

"We are trying to make sure that we get ahead of the summer rush," Sari Koshetz said. "Right now, it's not as bad a rush because we're between spring break and summer. We want to remind people what they can and cannot have in their bag."  

The advisory is in place throughout the summer -- a very busy travel season for Americans.

While it is not instructing Americans to avoid going to Europe, the warning is reminding them to be vigilant -- something some still find excessive.

"If it's going to happen, it's going to happen," Crawford said. "I don't think there's much we can do about the terrorists."

The warning urges Americans to be vigilant not only at airports, but also in malls, parks, restaurants and other public places.

The warning is in effect until Sept. 1.