The Official Hurricane Frances thread...

[NemoRocks78]

Airport Closed Through Weekend
Hurricane Warning Issued For Central Florida

POSTED: 2:08 pm EDT September 1, 2004
UPDATED: 7:23 pm EDT September 3, 2004

Orlando International Airport is closed, and a spokeswoman said they probably will not resume operations until at least Monday.

By Friday evening, the runways were cleared of planes and most passengers had left the terminals. Commercial flights ceased at 12 p.m. Friday, even though Orlando was still enjoying Frances-free weather.

A spokeswoman said the closure was necessary in order to prepare the airport for the approaching hurricane.

"There's a lot of work to be done in anticipation so that we can begin operating efficiently once the storm has passed," said Carolyn Fennell.

She said airport employees are working to tie down equipment and waterproof ticket counters.

Most passengers left the airport earlier in the day after officials encouraged them to find a hotel or go to a shelter. Fennell said they hope to be flying again on Monday, but officials will probably meet Sunday to make a decision.

 

[Tim G]

Flight Information From Airlines



Full information below. Bottom line is major airlines (American, Delta, Air Tran, Continental, US Airways, Southwest) are not charging for changes. Dates and specifics vary by airline.

American Airlines - American will allow customers who have reservations for travel to, from or through all Florida airports, Anguilla, Freeport, George Town, Marsh Harbour, Nassau, Providenciales, St. Croix, St. Maarten, St. Thomas, and Tortola to change their travel at no cost through Monday, Sept. 13. One time or date change is permitted at no charge.

Delta - Customers scheduled to travel September 1, 2004 through September 7, 2004, to, from, or through the following Florida cities on Delta, Delta Connection®, Song or Delta-coded flights, may make changes without penalty or additional fees if you change your ticket and travel by September 21, 2004. Customers whose flights are cancelled may request refunds or ticket changes: Daytona Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Gainesville, Jacksonville, Key West, Melbourne, Miami, Orlando, Sarasota, Tampa, West Palm Beach

Continental - Continental is providing the option to reschedule or reroute your travel once, without a penalty, if you are ticketed to/from/through one of the cities listed below for travel through Friday, September 10, 2004. Travel must be completed by November 15, 2004. Please contact Continental reservations for assistance: Aguadilla, PR (BQN), Antigua, Antigua and Barbuda (ANU), Cat Island, Bahamas (TBI), Charleston, SC (CHS), Daytona Beach, FL (DAB), Fort Lauderdale, FL (FLL), Fort Myers, FL (RSW), Freeport, Bahamas (FPO), Governor's Harbour, Bahamas (GHB), Great Exuma Island, Bahamas (GGT), Jacksonville, FL (JAX), Key West, FL (EYW), Mobile, AL (MOB), Marsh Harbour, Bahamas (MHH), Miami, FL (MIA), Myrtle Beach, SC (MYR), Nassau, Bahamas (NAS), North Eleuthera, Bahamas (ELH), Orlando, FL (MCO), Pensacola, FL (PNS), Ponce, PR (PSE), Puerto Plata, Dominican Republic (POP), Punta Cana, Dominican Republic (PUJ), San Juan, PR (SJU), Santiago, Dominican Republic (STI), Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic (SDQ), Sarasota, FL (SRQ), Savannah, GA (SAV), St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands (STX), St. Maarten, Netherlands Antilles (SXM), St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands (STT), Tampa, FL (TPA), Tallahassee, FL (TLH), Treasure Cay, Bahamas (TCB), West Palm Beach, FL (PBI)

Southwest Airlines - We are allowing Customers holding reservations through Sunday, September 5 to/from PBI to rebook their travel in the original class of service without paying any additional charge, travel stand by, or request a refund. This affects service to/from Fort Lauderdale (FLL), Jacksonville (JAX), Orlando (MCO), Tampa (TPA), and West Palm Beach (PBI)

US AIrways - Customers with itineraries for travel through Sept. 6, 2004, to and from the following destinations can make changes to their itineraries any time this month by calling 1-800-428-4322 by Sept. 30, 2004. US Airways will waive the standard change fee and advance reservation and ticketing requirements.

The Islands of the Bahamas: Governor's Harbour, Grand Bahama Island, Marsh Harbour, Nassau, North Eleuthera and Treasure Cay; Providenciales, Turks & Caicos and San Juan; and All Florida destinations allowed changes include: The entire itinerary can be moved forward or delayed to originate as late as Sept. 30, 2004. The length of trips cannot be changed; or The full value of wholly unused tickets can be applied toward the purchase of a ticket to an alternate destination, with travel to originate by Sept. 30, 2004.

AirTran - Airport Service Suspended Service Expected to Resume Fort Lauderdale Friday, Sept. 3, 2004, (all flights) Saturday, Sept. 4, 2004 (expect 12 noon resumption)

Grand Bahama Friday, Sept. 3, 2004 (all flights) Sunday, Sept. 5, 2004

Jacksonville Saturday, Sept. 4, 2004 (12 noon suspension) Sunday, Sept. 5, 2004 (expect 9 p.m. resumption)

Miami Friday, Sept. 3, 2004 (9:30 a.m. suspension) Saturday, Sept. 4, 2004 (expect 12 noon resumption)

Orlando Friday, Sept. 3, 2004 (12:05 pm suspension) Monday, Sept. 6, 2004 (expect 12 noon resumption)

Tampa Saturday, Sept. 4, 2004 (9:00 p.m. suspension) Sunday, Sept. 5, 2004 (expect 3:00 p.m. resumption)

W. Palm Beach Friday, Sept. 3, 2004 (9:30 a.m. suspension) Saturday, Sept. 4, 2004 (expect 12 noon resumptio

 

[HorizonsMan]

thanks atta

 

[NemoRocks78]

Feeling Frances' first effects,
South Florida takes cover

By ELIOT KLEINBERG, THOMAS R. COLLINS, JENNIFER SORENTRUE and MARY McLACHLIN
Palm Beach Post Staff Writers
Friday, September 3, 6:02 p.m.

WEST PALM BEACH — Streets and highways grew more deserted with every gust of wind Friday as residents of Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast took cover from the first breaths of Hurricane Frances.

Frances, slowed but stubborn and still unpredictable, was expected to strike Palm Beach County and the Treasure Coast this morning as a minimal Category 3 storm, with top sustained winds of 115 mph.

Friday afternoon, the storm was about 200 miles east-southeast of Palm Beach and moving 9 mph on a west-northwest track.

It was expected to slow even more during the next 24 hours.

Curfews loomed throughout the coastal area as the last desperate searchers for plywood, batteries and water scoured shelves of the few stores still open.

Short but heavy storms known as "feeder bands" from Hurricane Frances whipped through South Florida around 3 p.m. Friday, leaving 170,000 Florida Power & Light Co. customers without power, FPL spokeswoman Kathy Scott said.

About 7,000 residents in Palm Beach County and an equal number in Martin County lost power, Scott said. The bulk of the outages were in Miami-Dade County, where 43,000 customers lost power, and Broward County, which had 24,000 outages.

The remaining 89,000 without electricity are scattered across other parts of the state, which also have been affected by the early signs of Frances.

FPL had restored service to 90,000 customers by 5 p.m. Scott said the company would continue to work on the remaining 80,000 until winds reach a sustainable force of 35 miles per hour.

"That's when we think it's no longer safe for our employees," she said.

FPL restores power to emergency and public safety customers, such as hospitals and police and fire stations first, and then it works on turning on the power to the largest number of affected customers. Restoration is not based on when power is knocked out or when consumers call.

The storm's first feeder band, which whipped through the county in mid-afternoon, generated 70 mph gusts at the Boca Raton water treatment plant, according to National Weather Service officials.

The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office was considering a countywide curfew, Paul Milelli, director of public safety for Palm Beach County, told emergency workers from government agencies and private companies assembled at the Palm Beach County Emergency Operations Center.

Sustained tropical-storm-force winds of 39 mph and higher were expected in Palm Beach County late Friday, escalating to hurricane-force winds of 74 mph by midday today and lasting until 11 p.m. Winds of 55 mph were expected to continue until 5 a.m. Sunday.

People probably will be allowed to leave shelters by Sunday afternoon, Milelli said.

All of those estimates would be delayed if the storm's speed continues to drop. Frances could pound the peninsula with rain for hours.

Slowing also makes the eventual track more unpredictable.

"It's kind of like Frances Franciscqtie the mule," National Weather Serv¬ice meteorologist Jim Lushine said, invoking a 1950s film character. "It's stubborn. It's going in fits and spurts."

Predictions of rainfall vary widely. The South Florida Water Management District is predicting 4 to 8 inches, while other agencies are calling for up to 20 inches. The storm surge is likely to be 5 to 10 feet, and Lake Okeechobee is expected to rise about 3 feet, Milelli said.

Frances weakened Thursday night as it rolled through the Bahamas, its top sustained winds dropping from 140 mph to 115 mph. The hurricane lost its eye Friday morning, but satellite pictures showed it was trying to reform hours later.

"While the hurricane moves over the warm waters of the Gulf Stream, this could easily lead to reintensification" before landfall, National Hurricane Center forecaster Lixion Avila said.

By midday Friday, the storm's outer bands were producing squalls in Palm Beach County. Palm Beach International Airport reported a 37-mph gust at 11:45 a.m., Boca Raton's airport a 38-mph gust at 10:50 a.m. and the Lake Worth Pier a 30-mph gust at noon.

The storm could make a westward turn, which would suggest a greater threat to Palm Beach County, but forecasters said the change in course probably would be temporary. The Vero Beach-Sebastian area continued to be the most likely target, but forecasters said landfall could occur anywhere from southern Miami-Dade County to the Daytona Beach area.

Hurricane-force winds extend 85 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds 185 miles from the center, so a wide swath of the state will be affected, regardless of where it comes ashore.

Gov. Jeb Bush warned Floridians not to take comfort in the fact that Frances' winds had decreased, because it is expected to dump torrential rain as it creeps across the state.

"To think somehow this is good news," Bush said, "I don't."

Bush also said he wrote to 17 governors asking them to waive weight and size restrictions on highways for vehicles tr__________g resources and equipment into the state, part of state and federal plans to stage a more substantial response than the massive turnout for Charley.

Water managers expect higher amounts of rainfall farther north in the storm's impact area. Major flooding is expected in parts of St. Lucie and Indian River counties.

The South Florida Water Management District's control system is designed to handle about 8 inches of rain, and officials estimate the storm could drop 10 to 12 inches in those areas.

"I would expect there will be streets and possibly homes flooded," said Bob Howard, the district's water control operations chief.

Some flooding is expected in western communities such as The Acreage and older neighborhoods that don't have drainage systems, Howard said. The storm could leave several feet of water in low-lying areas.

Lisa De La Rionda, spokeswoman for Palm Beach International Airport, said no commercial jets were left at the airport Friday afternoon. Private jets can remain, but all flights essentially had ceased, she said.

As the ocean began churning and the wind picked up in coastal areas, Christine Bauer, 54, of Juno Isles decided to take one last stroll on the beach with her dog, Taz.

"You can see it coming," said Bauer, gazing toward the east. "It's scary out there. The ocean looks mean. I'm taking the last walk. We'll eat the last supper tonight."

The Juno Beach Pier was supposed to be closed, but the lock had been breached, and dozens of people walked out on the pier to watch the wind-whipped waves. Police arrived at about 10 a.m. to shut down the party.

"In a storm like this, people get curious," said Juno Beach police officer David Gregg. "Curiosity gets the best of them."

Officers quickly cleared the pier, locked the gate and strung yellow tape to ban more onlookers. The police department, a block from the ocean, planned to evacuate if conditions worsened.

In Palm Beach, the streets along the 16-mile barrier island were empty as most residents and tourists heeded the mandatory evacuation order.

The three bridges to the island were closed to boat traffic. Hotels had evacuated their guests and shut their doors Thursday. Guards stood watch at hotel entrances Friday. Restaurants, grocery stores and the boutiques along Worth Avenue remained closed.

By midday, about 100 people were strolling along the shoreline, where a small boat had washed ashore behind The Breakers hotel. A few ventured into the choppy waters and went for a swim.

As the crowd grew, Palm Beach police arrived and ordered everyone off the beach, then tied yellow police tape along the entrances. The island is under an 8 p.m.-to-7 a.m. curfew.

“Don’t come to Palm Beach to sightsee or check the waves or see if Worth Avenue is open,” Police Chief Michael Reiter said.

The suspense and strain of waiting for Frances' blow had taken its toll on Floridians by Friday. Linda Hollister of Melbourne Beach summed it up as she and her husband weighed whether to evacuate.

"I'm just tired of being scared," she said.

 

[Tim G]

Hurricane Frances Update
(South-East Florida Doppler Radar)

 

[Tim G]

Slowing, Frances will still have 'tremendous impact'

September 3, 2004, 5:55 PM EDT


Hurricane Frances, a powerful and dangerous hurricane, continues to crawl toward Florida's shore this evening, bringing with it the potential for torrential rains and flooding once it hits land and starts a slow journey across the state.

The National Hurricane Center in Miami said late today that Floridians have no cause to breathe easier.

Frances may be weakening, wobbling and disheveled, but it's still a huge Category 3 storm capable of doing enormous damage to Florida, especially since its wind bands are expanding.

"It's not good news. Don't let your guard down,'' said Max Mayfield, the center's director. "The wind field is really spreading out, and I can assure you this will have a tremendous impact on Central Florida.''

At 5 p.m., the massive storm was about 200 miles east-southeast of Florida's east coast, with maximum sustained winds of near 115 mph. It was moving about 8 mph, and its core was expected to be near Florida's shores tomorrow afternoon, the hurricane center said.

The exact timing and location of landfall remains difficult to predict, but the hurricane center projects the storm will hit Florida's southeastern coast around 2 p.m. tomorrow and then move slowly northwest across the state, taking it over Central Florida.

The official 24-hour forecast track, which has an average error of about 87 miles, had Frances making landfall just north of Fort Pierce. If Frances follows that track, the storm would traverse the state southwest of Orlando, bringing its eye -- and hurricane force winds -- over Osceola County.

Orange County, however, would probably feel tropical storm-force winds of about 58 mph. As the storm makes its agonizingly slow march to the Gulf of Mexico, its winds will slacken, but the rains aren't expected to. Forecasters expect inland counties in Frances' path to be deluged with 10 to 15 inches of rain and as much as 20 inches in isolated pockets.

State meteorologist Ben Nelson said the area north of the track would still take a beating because the highest winds are at the northeastern side of the storm.

The center's projection shows the storm hitting land somewhere between Stuart and Cape Canaveral and exiting into the Gulf of Mexico in the Tampa area, state officials said. But areas north and east of the storm also will experience blistering conditions.

The storm's slow speed means coastal areas could experience hurricane-force winds for 12 hours or longer. A hurricane warning is in effect along the east coast from Florida City in Miami-Dade County north to Flager Beach.

The storm's delay, and the slight drop in the top wind speed, should not offer any comfort, said Lt. Gov. Toni Jennings.

"Those who are in an evacuation mode need to get out. We're not kidding," Jennings said. "We don't want people to think, 'Oh, this isn't a big, bad storm.' This is a big, bad storm."

Craig Fugate, director of the state Division of Emergency Management, said Frances still is bringing a variety of scary conditions - high winds, heavy rain, a massive storm surge and sporadic tornadoes.

"I don't want people to be scared. I want people to respect this storm," Fugate said.

Frances could push water ashore 14 feet above normal tide levels and drop up to 20 inches of rain on some sections of the state, the center said.

"A lot of people may have water in their homes with this kind of flooding," Fugate said.

Across Central Florida, some residents prepared to wait out the storm in their homes Friday, some behind plywood-covered windows, while others headed to emergency shelters, fearful their homes were unsafe or too vulnerable to flooding.

Local residents in coastal communities, mobile homes and low-lying areas had been ordered to evacuate as Frances approached Florida's shores.

Noel and Betzadia Castro and their three children decided to ride out the storm at Freedom Elementary in Volusia County. The school is one of numerous local schools turned into emergency shelters to house hurricane evacuees. By this afternoon, thousands of residents had set up camp inside these schools.

The Castros moved to a mobile home in DeLand from Puerto Rico three weeks ago, looking for better schools for their children. They now fear their new home will be lost to Frances' high winds.

"It's going to fly away," said Noel Castro, 35, a cook at a Perkins restaurant, as his wife started crying.

They'd brought to the shelter little more than some toys for their children and important papers. "We should have come in a couple of months," he added.

As the massive hurricane came nearer, officials warned that serious flooding could follow the rain Frances will drop on the region. Some municipal offices ran out of sandbags today, though Seminole County said its shortage was temporary and more would be available tomorrow.

In Lake County, some cities already are on guard because of the 10 inches of rain that soaked that area when Hurricane Charley stormed through three weeks ago.

In Mascotte, for example, one street already is flooded and water rising near the city's ball field.

"Its just one of those things we're going to have to deal with," said Glenn Irby, city manager in Mascotte, where nearly half of the 4,000-resident population was forced to evacuate from mobile and manufactured homes today.

Officials said residents should remain very wary about Frances.

Mayfield, the center's director, said he expected people to die well outside of Frances' hurricane force winds "because that's what always happens. They're out riding around and a tree falls on their car and kills them. Or they go outside to smoke a cigarette.''

 

[Tim G]

Q&A - What to do before the storm

Curbside piles can become projectiles

Q: What threat does all the debris piled on curbs pose if Frances blows through, and what should we do about it?

A: There is a real threat that the debris will become airborne projectiles, but it's unlikely cities or counties will be able to get much of it collected before this weekend.

The more debris people could move themselves, the better. Orange County has set up six free debris drop-off centers, and other counties also have set up drop-off sites or are accepting debris at landfills. The Orange County sites are at the Agricultural Center at 5741 S. Conway Road; the Northwest Water Reclamation site at 701 W. McCormick Road in Apopka; a site on International Drive, south of the Bee Line Expressway; the Fort Christmas Park Expansion, 1300 N. Christmas Road; the Dr. Phillips Park Property, 10625 Smith Bennett Road; and the Conway Water Treatment Plant, 4750 Manatee St.

Q: How vulnerable do missing shingles or tiles make my roof to more severe damage in another hurricane?

A: It depends on the type of roof and how it was applied, but most roofs should be OK just missing a few shingles or tiles. Among tile roofs, the ones to be worried about are those that have nails holding the tiles in place. If the tiles are set with concrete or foam, there should be very little problem. But nailed-tile roofs put thousands of nail holes in the subroof. If homeowners can handle simple roof work, apply mortar mix around the exposed areas as a temporary fix.

Q: Should people turn off their electrical breakers?

A: There is a slight difference of opinion on this. Rick Janka, spokesman for Progress Energy, thinks it's a good idea, or at least for people to turn off all major appliances ranging from refrigerators to air conditioners to TVs. Leave on a light so you'll know when power returns. If you leave everything on, you could have a surge.

Orlando Utilities Commission spokesman Sheridan Becht doesn't think there's a need to turn off breakers or even the fridge, but said the TVs, computers and air conditioner should be off.

Q: If I can't get the debris removed from the street in front of my house, would it be safer to move it up against the house?

A: The better thing would be to tie it down with rope, then stake it to the ground, said Kelly Kwas, spokeswoman for Orange County government.

Q: If I don't have flood insurance, am I still covered if Hurricane Frances drowns my house?

A: If you don't have flood insurance you are probably not in a flood zone, so you have little to worry about, said Justin Glover, spokesman for Florida Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher.

However, if people do get flooded, the Federal Emergency Management Agency may have programs to help.

People with personal insurance questions can get help by calling the Florida Department of Financial Service's hurricane hotline at 1-800-22-STORM (1-800-227-8676), Glover said.

Q: Is it too late to sign up for renters' insurance? If I sign up today, would my stuff be protected if the hurricane hits?

A: If you can find a company still selling it, your stuff would be protected. The same goes for homeowners insurance. However, insurance companies cut off sales when hurricanes approach.

Different companies have different rules about when they do so.

Citizens Insurance Co., for instance, stops sales when hurricane or tropical-storm advisories go up in Florida, said Bob Lotane, spokesman for the Florida Office of Insurance Regulation.

 

[Tim G]

Q&A - What to do during Frances



Q.What's the safest place in the house to weather the storm?

A. The best place is an inside closet or a bathroom with no windows.

Q. Can I use a portable generator indoors?

A. It's not recommended to use generators in enclosed spaces. They emit carbon monoxide, which can be lethal.

Q. How can I keep the children from being scared?

A. Talk to them about the storm and explain what they should expect. It might be a good idea to keep books and board games handy to keep them occupied. Try to keep them comfortable with a favorite blanket or sleeping bag.

Q. What if I don't feel well?

A. Keep prescription and over-the-counter medication handy. Make a list of emergency telephone numbers, such as your personal physician, for after the storm.

Q. Is it safe to watch the storm through a window?

A. It's best to stay away from all glass, including windows and patio doors, as they may shatter in a storm.

Q. What is the brightness in the sky during a hurricane?

A. Many people mistake the brightness for lightning, but it may be light from power transformers as they are damaged.

Q. How can I track the hurricane or stay informed during the storm?

A. Your best bet will be to use a battery-powered radio. Try not to turn on computers or televisions, and don't talk on the phone if possible during a storm.

 

[speck76]

Update on me

I am staying home tonight.

I have decided to stay in my apt tonight, and make a decision tomorrow about staying at the resort.

If we are just going to get tropical storm force winds and tons of rain, I will stay home.

If the winds will be bad, I will go to the resort.

Here is a 5 minute old picture from my balcony, the weather is currently hot/humid, and it is a bit breezy.

 

[Tim G]

Q&A - What to do after the storm

Moving debris may be risky


Q. Is it safe to remove debris?

A. It may not be wise to move some debris. Aluminum pool enclosures, for instance, may have sharp edges. Tree stumps can be heavy. Insurance companies don't want you to make repairs before an adjuster can survey the damage. But they still want you to protect your home from further damage. Holes in roofs should be covered with tarpaulins

Q. How safe is my drinking water?

A. It's a good idea to boil water before drinking.

Q: How will deductibles work? If another hurricane hits and someone has already filed a claim, will they have to pay the 2 percent deductible twice?

A: This is a wait-and-see situation. Florida Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher is asking the Office of Insurance Regulation to review the question, with the hope that Florida residents will not be charged two hurricane deductibles in one season.

However, if damage from Charley leads to still more damage, that should be covered under one deductible, Gallagher spokesman Justin Glover said. For example, if someone lost part of a roof to Charley and has reported it to the insurance company but hasn't been able to get it fixed yet, water damage caused by the next storm should be covered under the original deductible, he said.

Q: My neighbor's tree fell on my home. Whose insurance company is responsible for the damage and cleanup?

A: Yours. Most policies cover damage only within the boundaries of the insured property, regardless of where the tree came from.

Q: My car was damaged in the storm. Will my homeowners insurance cover it?

A: No. You must file a claim with your auto insurer.

Q. Do people with insurance qualify for aid from the Federal Emergency Management Administration?

A. Yes, but typically not until insurance claims are settled. If your claim is not settled by the time your application is evaluated, you will receive a denial letter. Once the insurance claim is settled, you can reactivate your claim.

 

[NemoRocks78]

Stay alert, prepared, governor tells Floridians
By Dara Kam

Palm Beach Post Special Correspondent

Friday, September 03, 2004

TALLAHASSEE — "This storm is very unpredictable,: Gov. Jeb Bush told reporters at a 9 a.m. briefing."This storm, unlike Charley, will be with us for a long, long while because of the speed. Which means there's going to be a lot of rain and a lot of sustained winds over our state."

Bush warned Floridians "don't take comfort" in the fact that overnight Frances' winds had decreased from 145 to 120 miles per hour and slowed to about 9 mph early this morning, because it is now expected to dump up to two feet of torrential rains as it creeps across the state.

"To think somehow this is good news," Bush said, "I don't."

Bush also said he wrote to 17 governors Thursday night asking them to waive weight and size restrictions on highways for vehicles tr__________g resources and equipment into the state, part of his and federal officials plans to stage an even more substantial response than the massive turnout for Charley. The states include stretch across the south to Texas and as far North as Missouri all across to Virginia.

"And we're gonna need it," he said.

Bush said he was "doing everything possible to alleviate the problem" of fuel shortages, but said he did not know if the shortages were related to the gasoline tax holiday, which ended Tuesday. Early Thursday morning, gasoline was still available on the turnpike route, Bush said.

For the first time during his regular briefings in Tallahassee, Bush delivered his comments, which are accompanied by a sign-language interpreter, in Spanish as well. Frances victims should be especially prudent after the storm passes, officials said, hoping to avoid the tragedy left in the wake of Charley when more deaths occurred from electrocution and drowning than fatalities suffered during the storm.

"Understand the storm is only the beginning of the hazard," Fugate said. "The recovery and the aftermath are deadly if people don't use caution."

State law requires homeowners filing insurance claims to pay a separate deductible for each named storm, potentially hitting residents who incurred damage from Charley with a double whammy in their pocket books as well as their roofs after Frances. Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher said that he plans to ask the legislature to fix that.

Potential damages in the billions of to crops, homes, businesses and government buildings such as schools, piled atop job losses and tens of billions of dollars in devastation wreaked by Charley, could leave a disastrous impact on the state's economy, Bush said.

"All of this creates the possibility of down-turn in our growth," Bush said, adding that however he is "confident in a year from now we'll be leading the country in terms of job growth."

 

[Tim G]

Safeguarding your home

Whether you're staying or leaving, there are some basic steps to get yourself and your home ready for the storm:



<LI>If you leave, turn off your home's power, water and gas.


<LI>If possible, board windows with half-inch plywood.

<LI>Secure awnings.

<LI>Bring in porch furniture, plants, toys, grills, garbage cans and anything else that could become airborne in strong winds.

<LI>Turn off power to the pool pump, lights and chlorinator.

<LI>Turn refrigerator and freezer to coldest settings.

<LI>Clean and fill plastic soft-drink containers with water and freeze them for ice later.

<LI>Be sure to have a fire extinguisher on hand.

Keep important tools in a high and dry place.

 

[Tim G]

Preparing your yard for the storm


Material and debris around your home can turn into flying objects in a storm. It is unlikely that all debris left over from Hurricane Charley will be cleared before Frances strikes. Here are some things to do for clearing debris and your yard:

<LI>Pile debris onto a truck and haul it to a county-approved site. Orange County has set up six free debris drop-off centers, and other counties also have set up drop-off sites or are accepting debris at landfills.

<LI>If you can't haul away debris, try to tie it, stack it and anchor it as much as possible to keep it from flying away. Put it in your garage, if possible.

<LI>Remove broken fencing. Do not leave it at the curb.

Trim branches surrounding your home to prevent damage.

 

[Tim G]

Tips for keeping pets safe


People who have pets want to make sure to keep them safe in a storm. Here's how:

<LI>Bring all pets inside your home.

<LI>Make sure your pet has plenty of food and water.

<LI>Make sure the pet is wearing a collar with identification.

<LI>Try to make your pet as comfortable as possible; give it a familiar place to stay and leave a familiar blanket or towel.

<LI>Stock up on newspapers, paper towels, trash bags and cat litter.

<LI>If you decide to go to a shelter, check whether it accepts pets.

If you own horses:

<LI>In most cases it's best to keep them in a pasture instead of a barn.

Take a photo of the horse and write your phone number on the animal with a permanent marker in case it gets out during the storm.

 

[Tim G]

Preparing your car


Whether leaving or staying, make sure your autos are ready.



<LI>Make sure cars and trucks are filled with gas. Check oil and other fluid levels.



<LI>Check tires for wear. Roads could be slick.



<LI>Park autos in a garage if possible. If not, park away from trees or poles that could fall.


Keep a first-aid kit and a tool kit in the car.<!-- <lbl1>Prepare your car</lbl1><lbl2></lbl2> -->

 

[NemoRocks78]

What to do NOW

• Get shutters, siding or plywood in place on windows. If you haven't sunk sockets, nail wood in with masonry nails.

• DON'T tape windows; tape can create daggers of glass and bake onto panes.

• Move vehicles out of flood-prone areas and into garages if possible. If not, park cars away from trees and close to homes or buildings.

• Remove swings and tarps from swing sets. Tie down anything you can't bring in. Check for loose rain gutters, moldings.

• Prepare your pool.

• Move grills, patio furniture and potted plants into house or garage.

• Clear yard of loose objects. If you do any last-minute pruning, take the clippings inside; trash pickup will have been suspended and you'll be creating a nice pile of missiles if you leave outside.

• Remove the roof antenna; unplug antenna wire from the set first.

• Remove roof turbines and cap the holes with screw-on turbine caps. Unsecured turbines can fly off and create large hole for rain to pour through.

• Prepare patio screening. It is built to sustain 75 mph winds but as it fills with wind it can separate from the frame. Officials recommend you remove a 6-foot panel on each side to let wind pass through. Pull out the tubing that holds screening in frame to remove screen.

• Secure anything inside your home that can be thrown around. Tape or tie cabinets. Remove items from counter and table tops. Close closet doors.

• DON'T turn off your natural gas at the main meter. Only emergency or utility people should do that.

 

[Tim G]

Preparing your boat


Boat owners have time to batten down the hatches for Frances. The first thing to know is, never ride out a storm in your boat. Here are other things to consider:

<LI>Have adequate insurance; you are responsible for damage caused by your boat.

<LI>Decide how to remove equipment from your boat. Also remove canvas, sails, dinghies and cushions. Tie down all else, such as tillers, wheels and booms.

If you decide to leave your boat in the water:

<LI>Use three or four points to tie down the boat. Double up the lines. Make ties high on pilings to allow for rising water. Cover tie lines at contact points with rubber to stop chafing. Install fenders to protect boat from rubbing against the dock. Put duct tape on windows and hatches. Put plugs in engine ports. Disconnect shore power.

If your boat is at home:

<LI>Put the boat in the garage. If outside, remove outboard motor. Fill one-third to halfway with water. Support the boat with chocks inside each wheel.

<!-- <lbl1>Preparing your boat</lbl1><lbl2>FOR BOAT OWNERS</lbl2>



Joe Burbank</photog>/Orlando Sentinel</pcr1> -->

 

[NemoRocks78]

What to do as the storm approaches

• Put on your medic-alert tag.
(Alzheimer's aid offered)

• Fill your tub and bottles with water.

• Prepare food and water according to instructions in this guide.

• Move as many valuables as possible off the floor to limit flooding damage.

• Shut your water at the meter to prevent contamination.

• Secure and brace external doors, especially double doors.

• Move furniture away from windows or cover with plastic.

• Continue to listen to radio and television for instructions.

• Stay off the roads. It's too late to get supplies, and you'll be competing with people trying to flee unsafe homes.

• Stay inside. Conditions will deteriorate rapidly, sometimes hours before landfall and often at night.

 

[NemoRocks78]

Hurricane Frances drops to Category 2 storm
By Leslie Postal and Maya Bell | Sentinel Staff Writers
Posted September 3, 2004, 7:53 PM EDT

Hurricane Frances dropped to a Category 2 storm late today with top sustained winds of 105 mph. The system continues to crawl toward Florida's shore bringing with it the potential for torrential rains and flooding once it hits land and starts a slow journey across the state.

Despite the consistent drop in wind speed over the last 24 hours, the National Hurricane Center in Miami said Floridians have no cause to breathe easier.

Frances may be weakening, wobbling and disheveled, but it's still a huge storm capable of doing enormous damage to Florida, especially since its wind bands are expanding.

"It's not good news. Don't let your guard down,'' said Max Mayfield, the center's director. "The wind field is really spreading out, and I can assure you this will have a tremendous impact on Central Florida.''

At 8 p.m., the massive storm was about 200 miles east-southeast of Florida's east coast, with maximum sustained winds of near 105 mph. It was moving about 4 mph, and its core was expected to be near Florida's shores tomorrow afternoon, the hurricane center said.

The exact timing and location of landfall remains difficult to predict, but the hurricane center projects the storm will hit Florida's southeastern coast around 2 p.m. tomorrow and then move slowly northwest across the state, taking it over Central Florida.

The official 24-hour forecast track, which has an average error of about 87 miles, had Frances making landfall just north of Fort Pierce. If Frances follows that track, the storm would traverse the state southwest of Orlando, bringing its eye -- and hurricane force winds -- over Osceola County.

Orange County, however, would probably feel tropical storm-force winds of about 58 mph. As the storm makes its agonizingly slow march to the Gulf of Mexico, its winds will slacken, but the rains aren't expected to. Forecasters expect inland counties in Frances' path to be deluged with 10 to 15 inches of rain and as much as 20 inches in isolated pockets.

State meteorologist Ben Nelson said the area north of the track would still take a beating because the highest winds are at the northeastern side of the storm.

The center's projection shows the storm hitting land somewhere between Stuart and Cape Canaveral and exiting into the Gulf of Mexico in the Tampa area, state officials said. But areas north and east of the storm also will experience blistering conditions.

The storm's slow speed means coastal areas could experience hurricane-force winds for 12 hours or longer. A hurricane warning is in effect along the east coast from Florida City in Miami-Dade County north to Flager Beach.

The storm's delay, and the slight drop in the top wind speed, should not offer any comfort, said Lt. Gov. Toni Jennings.

"Those who are in an evacuation mode need to get out. We're not kidding," Jennings said. "We don't want people to think, 'Oh, this isn't a big, bad storm.' This is a big, bad storm."

Craig Fugate, director of the state Division of Emergency Management, said Frances still is bringing a variety of scary conditions - high winds, heavy rain, a massive storm surge and sporadic tornadoes.

"I don't want people to be scared. I want people to respect this storm," Fugate said.

Frances could push water ashore 14 feet above normal tide levels and drop up to 20 inches of rain on some sections of the state, the center said.

"A lot of people may have water in their homes with this kind of flooding," Fugate said.

Across Central Florida, some residents prepared to wait out the storm in their homes Friday, some behind plywood-covered windows, while others headed to emergency shelters, fearful their homes were unsafe or too vulnerable to flooding.

Local residents in coastal communities, mobile homes and low-lying areas had been ordered to evacuate as Frances approached Florida's shores.

Noel and Betzadia Castro and their three children decided to ride out the storm at Freedom Elementary in Volusia County. The school is one of numerous local schools turned into emergency shelters to house hurricane evacuees. By this afternoon, thousands of residents had set up camp inside these schools.

The Castros moved to a mobile home in DeLand from Puerto Rico three weeks ago, looking for better schools for their children. They now fear their new home will be lost to Frances' high winds.

"It's going to fly away," said Noel Castro, 35, a cook at a Perkins restaurant, as his wife started crying.

They'd brought to the shelter little more than some toys for their children and important papers. "We should have come in a couple of months," he added.

As the massive hurricane came nearer, officials warned that serious flooding could follow the rain Frances will drop on the region. Some municipal offices ran out of sandbags today, though Seminole County said its shortage was temporary and more would be available tomorrow.

In Lake County, some cities already are on guard because of the 10 inches of rain that soaked that area when Hurricane Charley stormed through three weeks ago.

In Mascotte, for example, one street already is flooded and water rising near the city's ball field.

"Its just one of those things we're going to have to deal with," said Glenn Irby, city manager in Mascotte, where nearly half of the 4,000-resident population was forced to evacuate from mobile and manufactured homes today.

Officials said residents should remain very wary about Frances.

Mayfield, the center's director, said he expected people to die well outside of Frances' hurricane force winds "because that's what always happens. They're out riding around and a tree falls on their car and kills them. Or they go outside to smoke a cigarette.''

Gwyneth Shaw, Denise-Marie Balona and Robert Sargent of the Sentinel staff contributed to this story.

 

[Tim G]

Hurricane Frances Update
(South-East Florida Doppler Radar)


<TABLE borderColor=#000000 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 width="98%" border=1><TBODY><TR><TD bgColor=#ff0000><TABLE width="100%"><TBODY><TR><TD class=large>STORM STATUS</TD><TD class=small align=right>September 3, 7:44 PM EDT</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR><TR><TD bgColor=#cccccc><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=2 width="95%" border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=2>Name: Hurricane Frances</TD></TR><TR><TD class=small vAlign=top>Location: About 90 miles, 145 km, East-Southeast of Freeport Grand Bahama Island And 200 Miles East-Southeast Of The Florida Lower East Coast.
Lat/Long: 25.9N, 77.5W
Max Winds: 105 mph
Category: 2
</TD><TD class=small vAlign=top noWrap>Heading: West-Northwest
Speed: 4 mph
Pressure: 28.35 inches
</TD></TR><TR><TD class=small align=middle colSpan=2></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE></TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>