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2004-09-07 -Short Attention Span Theater-

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Posted by Mark Espinola 2004-09-07 11:07|| || Front Page|| [6 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Jerks blocked it. Here is the news:

VICKIE CHACHERE

Associated Press

TAMPA, Fla. - Frances wound up a two-prong assault on Florida that pounded both the central part of the state and the Panhandle, leaving storm-weary residents Tuesday with flooding, frayed nerves and shortages of everyday items such as gas, ice and water. At least 14 deaths were blamed on the storm in Florida and Georgia.

About 3 million people were without electricity in Florida, and officials said Tuesday that power wouldn't be fully restored for a week. In Georgia, more than 500,000 homes and businesses were without electricity Tuesday morning and even the Georgia Emergency Management Agency was running on generators.

The one-time hurricane had weakened to a tropical depression early Tuesday as it moved northward across Georgia at about 10 mph, weather forecasters said.

By midmorning, rain was falling across Georgia and South Carolina, and parts of North Carolina, Alabama, northern Florida, eastern Tennessee and southeastern Kentucky. Up to a foot of rain fell on parts of Georgia, the National Weather Service said.

In Tampa, police closed about a mile of a busy thoroughfare because of flooding. More than 100 residents of a retirement home were evacuated in wheelchairs as water 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."

Pandhandle residents withstood the tropical storm's heavy rain and wind of 65 mph that ruined Labor Day weekend.

Along the Atlantic coast, motorists waited for gasoline in lines stretching for miles, and 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 vehicles 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 115 mph wind and more than 13 inches of rain, ripping off roofs, smashing boats and flooding West Palm Beach streets up to 4 feet deep.

The hurricane did more damage to the Kennedy Space Center than any other storm in history, ripping an estimated 1,000 exterior panels off the 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's effort to resume shuttle launches next spring.

Nine deaths in Florida were blamed on Frances, including Florida State University football coach Bobby Bowden's former son-in-law and a grandson in a collision on a wet highway.

In Georgia, officials said five people died in storm-related traffic accidents, including three killed in one wreck. There were two earlier deaths in the Bahamas, where Frances forced thousands from their homes.

The storm pushed across Florida to enter the Gulf of Mexico 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 $6.8 billion in damage, reduced from $7.4 billion.

Florida Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher estimated Frances' insured damage Tuesday at about $2 billion to $4 billion. The Insurance Information Institute, a trade group, also expected Frances' damage to be less than Charley's. Total damage is typically estimated at double the insured losses.

President Bush was expected to survey damage in Florida on Wednesday, and was asking Congress to approve $2 billion for "urgent needs" stemming from Charley and Frances. Congressional aides said action on his request could come as soon as late Tuesday.

Some schools were planning for classes to resume after serving as shelters during the weekend. The Federal Emergency Management Agency was ready to distribute 1.5 million gallons of water and 1 million meals.

While Frances headed out of Florida, residents kept a wary eye on another powerful storm. Ivan, the fifth hurricane of the season, had sustained wind of near 115 mph and was centered 110 miles south-southeast of Barbados. It was still about 1,670 miles away from Miami.

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. "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.

Posted by Mark Espinola 2004-09-07 11:09:17 AM|| 2004-09-07 11:09:17 AM|| Front Page Top

#2 Not so bad in TLH, it passed somewhat unexpectedly to the east.

Posted by Shipman 2004-09-07 11:19:34 AM|| 2004-09-07 11:19:34 AM|| Front Page Top

#3 Hurricane Ivan projected path here. Looks like another visit to Florida.

Posted by Steve 2004-09-07 11:34:37 AM|| 2004-09-07 11:34:37 AM|| Front Page Top

#4 Steve, if this Ivan slams into Florida as many projections indicate, it will be the 1,2,3 devastating punch to a state in which there is a very serious flooding transpiring in many portions of what is a really huge 'swamp'.

Other then hurricane Andrew roaring through an area south of Miami, many people living in Florida, up until these last two deadly hurricanes, had not experienced the type of alarming tropical weather patterns which were common place in the 1940's, 50's and 60's. We have returned to that cycle of extremely large and plentiful hurricanes.

The Sunshine State is a 'tropical paradise' to many, as is Puerto Rico, the Cayman Islands, the Bahamas, etc, then reality comes swiftly forth and without the A/C functioning, nor gas at the gas station it's not post card perfect, but reverts to it's original stiflingly hot, humid, insect infested swamp, it really is.

A trip to Florida is nice in the middle of a cold, harsh N.Y.-N.E. winter.... and then return go home.

Posted by Mark Espinola 2004-09-07 4:20:59 PM|| 2004-09-07 4:20:59 PM|| Front Page Top

#5 I agree with Mark. Go home.

Posted by Shipman 2004-09-07 6:13:37 PM|| 2004-09-07 6:13:37 PM|| Front Page Top

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