Wilma 'rockets' towards Florida
Residents evacuated, owners boarded up homes and businesses and emergency officials prepared rescue and relief plans as forecasters predicted Hurricane Wilma would pick up speed on a course toward Florida.
The southern half of Florida's peninsula was under a hurricane warning today in anticipation of Wilma, a Category 2 storm with 100mph winds. Although still far from the state, Wilma's outer bands managed to cause street flooding in a South Florida suburb.
About 160 people were in a Miami shelter, a hospital was evacuated, state officials monitored gas supplies and workers assembled truckloads of water, ice and meals for relief efforts planned once the storm makes it expected pass over the state tomorrow.
"The time of preparing is rapidly moving into time of action as people are evacuating," said Florida emergency management director Craig Fugate.
Saturday became an historic and meaningful day for hurricane trackers and weather buffs when Tropical Storm Alpha formed south of the Dominican Republic as a record 22nd named storm for the Atlantic season. It marked the first time forecasters had to turn to the Greek alphabet for names in almost 60 years of naming storms. The previous record of 21 named storms had stood since 1933.
By 5am EDT (10am Irish time) today, Wilma was moving toward the northeast. The storm had maximum sustained winds near 100mph and was located about 40 miles north of Cancun, Mexico, or about 350 miles west-southwest of Key West.
Hurricane centre director Max Mayfield predicted the storm would dramatically pick up speed later tonight and its top winds would increase.
"It's really going to take off like a rocket," he said. "It's going to start moving like 20mph."
The storm was expected to near Florida's southwest coast as a Category 1 or 2 hurricane early tomorrow. It could hit near the spot where Hurricane Charley barrelled ashore last year, causing major damage in Punta Gorda and other places in southwest Florida.
Federal Emergency Management Agency spokesman Butch Kinerney said resources ranging from dozens of military helicopters to 13.2 million ready-to-eat meals were standing by.
"We're ready for Wilma and, whatever the storm brings, we're set to go," Kinerney said.
Officials in the island chain of the Florida Keys issued a mandatory evacuation order on Saturday, but many people ignored that mandate. Collier County also urged evacuations for coastal areas, such as Marco Island and parts of Naples.
To the north, Wilma's outer rainbands caused hip-deep flooding in some neighbourhoods in the Fort Lauderdale area, forcing people out of at least 50 apartments and houses.
Four to 8ins of rain was expected in southern Florida through Tuesday, with up to a foot in some areas. Category 2 hurricanes can be accompanied by storm surge flooding of 12-14ft. Battering waves could be on top of that.
Southwest Florida residents, some still rebuilding from Charley, made late preparations for Wilma amid fear and frustration.
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