- Title: USA / CUBA: Hurricane Wilma pounds South Florida and floods Havana
- Date: 25th October 2005
- Summary: PEOPLE IN SHELTER
- Embargoed: 9th November 2005 12:00
- Keywords:
- Topics: Disasters / Accidents / Natural catastrophes
- Reuters ID: LVA2YODFDBOP7ZG75T3OBDK2J9E3
- Story Text: Hurricane Wilma crashed into Florida on Monday (October 24), swamping its west coast and hammering the densely populated Miami-Fort Lauderdale area.
Wilma hit the state as surprisingly strong Category 3 hurricane after feeding for days over the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico. It later weakened to a Category 2 as it raced across the state in about four hours, but dealt a harsh blow.
The storm knocked out electricity to more than 3 million people, as it blasted beach sand across coastal roads and shredded power lines.
Speaking from Washington, US President George W. Bush, said the government was well situated to deal with the storm.
I signed a major disaster declaration today. We have prepositioned food, medicine, communications equipment, urban search and rescue teams. We will work closely with local and state authorities to respond to this hurricane. I urge local citizens to listen to the local authorities about returning back to your homes," he said.
At a Naples shelter Carol Rowe said she was worried about her home.
"I have huge concerns, I'm a block from the beach and there is flooding down now a few blocks from me. I don't know if it has come across and I have a lake behind my house," she said.
Wilma had weakened after hammering Cancun and Cozumel in Mexico for three days, but revved up to reach Florida with 125 mph (200 kph) winds. The winds and heavy rain left severe flooding across the state. The winds slowed to 105 mph (170 kph) as it crossed the state.
Forecasters said Wilma, at one point the strongest Atlantic hurricane on record, could prove to be the strongest storm in Miami since Hurricane Andrew caused more than $25 billion in damage in August 1992.
Tourists were stranded on Cuba on Monday (October 24) as Cuba was hit by strong winds and heavy flooding from both Hurricane Wilma.
As Havana's 2 million inhabitants hunkered down in the dark, countless tourists accompanied them, listening to battery-powered radios after authorities cut power to prevent electrical accidents.
Havana's famed seafront, the Malecon, and the main road that encircles the capital city was completely flooded as western Cuba was buffeted by 86-mph (138 kph) wind gusts and spates of torrential rain from hurricane Wilma's outer bands.
Parts of the 5-mile (7 km) wall were hidden under the sea.
Wilma spared Cuba a direct hit after devastating Mexico's Mayan Riviera tourist resorts, but strong wind gusts ripped through Havana, knocking down lampposts and stripping branches off trees.
"I was afraid but now I think it's better. I hope so, just hoping to get home," said Israeli tourist Soela.
At one point the most intense hurricane recorded in the Atlantic basin, Wilma weakened as it hammered Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula for days, but strengthened again to carry 110 mph (175 kph) winds toward the Florida Keys, where storm-weary residents largely ignored evacuation orders.
Wilma hit southern Florida with 125 miles per hour winds and disaster modeling agency AIR Worldwide Corp. said it estimates insured losses at $6 billion to $9 billion.
This hurricane season has had so many storms that all the names were used up with Hurricane Wilma. The hurricane season still has five weeks to run. - Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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