Frances struck Florida's Atlantic coast late Saturday as a Category 2 storm, knocking out electricity for roughly two million residents and bringing sustained winds of 153 kilometers per hour. By Sunday midday the system had weakened to Category 1, though forecasters warned of rainfall totaling up to 46 centimeters and significant flooding across the state.
Damage was widespread along the east coast. Trees fell by the hundreds in West Palm Beach, power lines sagged over flooded streets, and rooftops were stripped from buildings across several communities. No deaths from the storm were reported.
Governor Jeb Bush urged residents to stay put until authorities cleared the roads, noting that most hurricane fatalities occur after a storm has passed. Some 2.5 million people had been ordered to evacuate before Frances arrived; St. Lucie County was hit hardest, and curfews were imposed in several localities to deter looting. Palm Beach police arrested at least three people on looting charges.
President George W. Bush declared a major disaster in five Florida counties to speed federal aid. Southeastern Florida airports, including Miami International, reopened Sunday afternoon. Frances was expected to cross into the Gulf of Mexico on Monday as a much weaker system, even as Floridians in many areas were still clearing debris from Hurricane Charley, which had struck the west coast three weeks earlier, killing 27 people and causing seven billion dollars in damage.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this AFP wire report, first published in September 2004, in its own words.