Florida Tries to Return to Normal After Hurricane Frances
lorida residents began to rebuild on Tuesday after Hurricane Frances completed its weekend assault on nearly the entire state, news services reported. Early estimates on the damage were several billion dollars.
At least 10 deaths were blamed on the storm and about 3 million people in Florida were without power on Tuesday, the Associated Press reported. In addition, more than 40,000 people in Georgia did not have power.
Along the Atlantic coast of Florida, motorists waited for gasoline in lines stretching up to five miles. There was also heavy demand for water, ice and basic supplies, AP said.
Trucks had been rolling since Sunday, when the strong winds that had halted deliveries subsided enough to resume operations, the Herald said.
In Miami, most gas stations were back in business on Tuesday, following a four-day interlude that saw pumps drained by drivers topping off their tanks in advance of the storm.
Miami International Airport was among a number of airports in the central and southern parts of the state that reopened on Sunday morning, the Herald said.
In parts of Tampa, police were forced patrol streets with amphibious tanks and close about a mile of a busy thoroughfare.
President Bush expected to survey damage in Florida on Wednesday, and would asking Congress to approve $2 billion for "urgent needs" stemming from Hurricane Charley and Frances, AP said.
