Sept. 9, 2004
By VICKIE CHACHERE, Associated Press Writer
TAMPA, Fla. - Frances completed its two-day assault on Florida, leaving storm-weary residents Tuesday with flooding, frayed nerves and shortages of everyday items such as gas, ice and water. At least 10 deaths were blamed on the storm in Florida and Georgia.
About 3 million people had no power in Florida and more than 40,000 more were without electricity in Georgia because of winds that downed trees and power lines. Schools in 56 Georgia counties were closed Tuesday.
The onetime-hurricane had weakened to a tropical depression early Tuesday and was pouring up to 5 inches of rain on south-central Georgia, with another 2 to 4 inches possible overnight. Several tornadoes were reported in Georgia.
The storm caused flooding in parts of Tampa, forcing police to patrol streets with two amphibious tanks and close about a mile of a busy thoroughfare. More than 100 residents of a retirement home were evacuated in wheelchairs as floodwaters sloshed against their feet.
"I'm not scared," said Heather Downs, who moved into the home two weeks ago after her apartment was badly damaged by Hurricane Charley. "I've been through a lot."
Residents of the Florida Panhandle withstood the tropical storm's heavy rain and winds of 65 mph on Labor Day, ruining the holiday weekend that forced most of the state to deal with the storm and its aftermath.
Along the Atlantic coast, motorists waited for gasoline in lines stretching up to five miles while there was heavy demand for water, ice and basic supplies. About 1,500 people gathered at a Wal-Mart in Palm Beach County while up the coast in Fort Pierce, hundreds of people stood in a line with buckets and ice chests on a sunny, steamy afternoon.
"This has been a long haul," said 64-year-old Judy Duffy, of Fort Pierce, who searched with her husband for ice and water but drove away from a distribution line with an empty cooler. "It's tested my patience. I'm not a nice person today — I haven't had my coffee."
At a Florida Turnpike rest stop in West Palm Beach, a five-mile line of motorists waited for fuel. "It took a little while, but I'm glad to be here," said Greg McCourt, who waited an hour to get gas for a trip to Georgia.
Frances charged into Florida's east coast early Sunday with winds of 115 mph and more than 13 inches of rain, ripping off roofs, smashing boats and flooding West Palm Beach streets up to four feet deep.
The hurricane did more damage to the Kennedy Space Center (news - web sites) than any storm in history, ripping an estimated 1,000 exterior panels from a building where spaceships are assembled. No space shuttles were inside the building, but center director James Kennedy said he feared the damage could set back NASA (news - web sites)'s effort to resume shuttle launches next spring.
Nine deaths in Florida were blamed on Frances, including a grandson and a former son-in-law of Florida State University football coach Bobby Bowden, who died in a collision on a rain-slippery highway.
And in Georgia, officials said an 18-year-old woman died Monday after the car she was riding in hydroplaned and overturned during the storm. There were two earlier deaths in the Bahamas, where Frances forced thousands from their homes.
The storm's broad bands pushed across Florida to enter the gulf north of Tampa, its path crossing some of the area hit by Charley, which killed 27 people in Florida last month and caused an estimated $7.4 billion in insured damage.
Florida Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher estimated Frances' damage at up to "a couple of billion dollars," while Germany's Munich Re, the world's largest reinsurer, said the overall insured damage caused by Frances so far is between $5 billion and $15 billion.
President Bush (news - web sites) expected to survey damage in Florida on Wednesday, and was asking Congress to approve $2 billion for "urgent needs" stemming from Charley and Frances.
Some schools were planning for classes to resume after serving as shelters during the weekend. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (news - web sites) was ready to distribute 1.5 million gallons of water and 1 million meals.
Businesses in Miami Beach tried to return to normal Monday night as convertibles cruised trendy Ocean Drive with their tops down and pedestrians dressed to party crowded the sidewalk.
"It kind of just put a damper on the holiday spirits," said J. Christian Enyart, manager the Clevelander, a popular art deco bar.
While Frances headed out of Florida, residents kept a wary eye on another powerful storm. Ivan, the fifth hurricane of the year, had sustained wind of near 110 mph and was centered 140 miles south-southeast of Barbados in the central Atlantic.
Forecasters were not certain whether it would strike the United States, but after a month of damage from Hurricanes Frances and Charley, many Floridians loathed another impending storm.
"We need it like we need a hole in the head," said 93-year-old Harold Samsel of Hutchinson Island, who was waiting to go back to his apartment for the first time since Frances. "I don't even know if I've got anything to go back to."
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Associated Press writers Allen G. Breed in Fort Pierce, Jill Barton in West Palm Beach, David Royse in St. Marks, and Coralie Carlson in Miami Beach contributed to this report.
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On the Net:
National Hurricane Center (news - web sites): http://www.nhc.noaa.gov
Florida Emergency Management: http://www.floridadisaster.org
http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&e=2&u=/ap/20040907/ap_on_re_us/hurricane_frances