With
winds of 95mph, Frances hurricane made landfall on Saturday
on Florida’s east coast knocking out power to at least
two million homes, toppling trees and drenching areas with torrential
rains.
The storm brought torrential rain, damaging winds, coastal storm
surge flooding, and isolated tornadoes to southern Florida for
much of the day.
The American Red Cross opened 249 shelters throughout the state
providing safe shelter to more than 80,000 people. Red Cross
workers in communities affected by the hurricane are on the
scene, providing shelter and feeding. Before the Frances made
landfall, the nationwide network of Red Cross volunteers, Emergency
Response Vehicles and supplies were positioned ready to provide
immediate support.
The Red Cross has supplemented local resources with more than
5,180 Red Cross workers and volunteers from all 50 states and
U.S. territories. The organization also pre-positioned 42 kitchens
and have the capacity to serve more than 280,000 meals a day
throughout the affected areas
This storm presents a significant challenge for the Red Cross
as this is the largest pre-positioning and mobilization of resources
for a natural disaster in American Red Cross history.
“Before Hurricane Charley, the Red Cross had less than
$850,000 in the Disaster Relief Fund,” said Joe Becker,
Vice President of Response for the American Red Cross.
“We estimated that Charley would cost the Red Cross $50
million and we are now responding to a disaster that will cost
much more. To allow us to assist the disaster victims, we need
the public to give a monetary contribution.”
After crossing the peninsula, Frances is expected to turn to
the Gulf of Mexico and it is due to hit Alabama and Georgia,
over the next several days.
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Hurricane
Frances over Florida. Hurricane Frances whipped off roofs,
felled trees and cut power to about 4 million people in
Florida (REUTERS/courtesy www.alertnet.org)
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A
local resident looks at sailboats blown ashore over by
winds from Hurricane Frances in Ft. Pierce, Florida September
5, 2004. In the foreground is whats left of the dock.
(REUTERS/Rick Wilking/www.alertnet.org)
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