Florida reels after another hurricane

5 people left dead, millions without power

WESTON, Fla. — Floridians lined up for water, gas, ice and generators Tuesday morning outside the few stores that were open after Hurricane Wilma cut a costly, deadly swath across the peninsula.

The storm slammed across the state in about seven hours Monday, causing billions in insured damage and leaving 5.9 million peoplewithout electricity. More than 5,000 residents remained in shelters Tuesday as the hurricane’s remnants headed toward the North Atlantic.

Wilma was blamed for at least 1 ve deaths in Florida. Earlier, authorities reported six deaths in the state but revised the toll on Tuesday.

Of 1 cials of the state’s three most populous areas — MiamiDade, Broward and Palm Beach counties — prepared to distribute ice, water and other essentials to storm- struck residents. Utilities warned that restoration of services could stretch into weeks.

“ It will be days or weeks before we are back to normal,” Miami- Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez said.

Most stores remained closed because of the widespread power outages, creating long lines at those that were open. More than 500 people were in line early Tuesday outside a Broward County Super WalMart, w hich w as l etti ng i n about 20 people at a time.

The 1 rst person in line, Joyce Carr, had been waiting several hours in hopes of buying a generator, only to learn the store was out. But she still wanted to buy a grill, charcoal and water.

“We’ve heard different reports that the powerwill be out for some time, so we’re worried about supplies for our family,” Destructive storm: Miguel Rodriquezwalks past a mobile home destroyed by Hurricane Wilma in Clewiston, Fla., on Tuesday. Insured losses were estimated to be from $2 billion to $10 billion. Carr said.

At a Home Depot in Weston, a Fort Lauderdale suburb, about 100 people waited in line late Monday for supplies.

“ Nobody’s arguing, nobody’s 1 ghting, nobody’s pushing,” said Garry Greenough, who needed a chain saw to deal with 10 trees that fell in his yard, one on his home.

President Bush promised swift help and signed a disaster declaration.

“We have pre-positioned food, medicine, communications equipment, urban searchandrescue teams,” the president said. “ We will work closely with local and state authorities to respond to this hurricane.”

Wilma struck Florida’s Gulf Coast as a Category 3 hurricane, littering the landscape with power lines, wrecked signs, torn awnings and other debris.

Trees and roofs dotted expressways, and all three of South Florida’s major airports — Miami International, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood and Palm Beach — were closed. Miami’s airport might not reopen until today, spokesman Henderson said.

“ Miami is a major point, and this is a major disruption,” said John Hotard, a spokesman for American Airlines, which has a hub in Miami.

Before hitting Florida, the storm killed at least six people in Mexico and 13 others in Jamaica and Haiti.

At 11 a. m. EDT Tuesday, Wilma was centered about 570 miles east- northeast of Cape Hatteras, N. C. The system had weakened to a Category 2 storm with 105 mph sustained wind but was moving incredibly fast for a tropical system — 53 mph. Itwas expected to lose its tropical characteristics over the cooler Atlantic late Tuesday or early today.

Of 1 cials warned residents to boil water in parts of Palm Beach, Broward and MiamiDade counties. A water main breach in downtown Miami sprayed water 15 feet in the air.

“ We’ve lived here 37 years and we’ve never had a hurricane like this,” said Paul Kramer, 71, of Tamarac, in Broward County. In Key West, Chuck Coleman’s routine also was broken. Normally this time of year, his two charter 1 shing boats would be packed with out-of- towners hoping to chase sail 1 sh.

But on Monday he was standing on the dock, losing perhaps $ 1,000 a day until the customers come back. Although the dock took a beating and the 1 sh freezer was a loss, the boats weren’t damaged by Wilma. But they can’t run if there’s no one to go 1 shing.

“ Without tourists, we die,” Coleman said. “ There is no other form of income.”

Eqecat Inc., a risk modeling 1 rm, said early estimates projected that Wilma’s insured losseswould range from $2 billion to $6 billion. AIR Worldwide Corp. estimated that insurance companies will have to pay claims ranging from $6 billion to $9 billion. Risk Management Solutions estimated a range of $6 billion to $10 billion. Marc

By Luis M. Alvarez, AP