Highways Jammed as Floridians Flee Hurricane Frances
ighways in Florida were jammed on Friday as 2.5 million residents were ordered to head for safety ahead of Hurricane Frances, the Associated Press reported.
Traffic backed up for miles on sections of Interstate 95, the main north-south highway along the state's east coast, and was heavy along Interstate 4, which connects Daytona Beach, Orlando and Tampa in central Florida.
Florida rescinded tolls on major roads and said lanes on some highways could be reversed to handle the evacuation traffic. Some gasoline stations ran short of fuel, as residents fleed and deliveries were stopped, Reuters reported.
The storm, which could be the most powerful to hit Florida in more than 10 years, forced what has turned into the largest evacuation in state history. About 14.6 million of Florida's 17 million people live in the areas under hurricane watches and warnings.
Frances weakened Friday into a strong Category 3 storm packing 120 mph winds and the potential to push ashore waves up to 14 feet high, and was expected to begin affecting the state by Friday evening.
