Jeanne Hits Weary Florida…
Early yesterday, Hurricane Jeanne battered the East Coast of Florida, the fourth hurricane in six weeks to affect the GA-heavy state, where the damage tally already is up to about $15 billion. Jeanne crossed the coastline near Stuart, with 120-mph winds, drenching rain and huge waves. The winds tore off rooftops and made missiles of debris left over from Frances, which tore through the same area just three weeks ago, damaging hundreds of airplanes and hangars. More than a million people lost power in yesterday’s winds. Where electricity is out, obstruction lights on towers are also out, and many airports and towers are shut down. Max Mayfield, director of the National Hurricane Center in Miami, told the Associated Press it was the “first time ever that we know of” that two hurricanes landed so close in place and time. Later yesterday, the storm was weakening and moving across the peninsula toward Tampa, and was then expected to work its way northward.
