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Florida Begins Wilma Cleanup
Written by
Lesly C. Simmons
, Staff Writer, RedCross.org
Tuesday, October 25, 2005 — Cleanup efforts began to day in Key West Florida as Hurricane Wilma moved out into the Atlantic, leaving behind major flooding and significant damage across the southern part of the state.
At least six million people are without power and some of the hardest hit areas may not have it restored for weeks, according to state emergency officials. To ease that burden, ice, food and water distributions began on Monday for those who are able to return to their homes.
Hurricane Wilma is still a Cat. 2 storm in the Atlantic Ocean, fueling a strong storm bringing rain, wind and snow to the Northeast. (Image courtesy NASA.) |
“There is a lot more that needs to be done and will be done for the people of Monroe County,” said Florida Gov. Jeb Bush in a press conference in Key West on Monday.
Overnight, the American Red Cross had more than 100 shelters open, with more than 35,000 residents, and served more than 20,000 meals.
Wilma arrived in Florida early Monday morning on the Gulf Coast as a fast moving Category 3 storm. It reached the Atlantic coast later that day as a still strong Cat. 2 storm 100 mile per hour winds that pummeled West Palm Beach. At least six deaths have been attributed to Wilma.
After speaking with many residents of the Keys who did not leave despite mandatory evacuations, Gov. Bush said he got the feeling that most would heed evacuation warnings in the future if they did not for Wilma. Officials said as many as 90 percent of Keys residents did not evacuate, although that has not been confirmed.
“We want to create a culture of preparedness,” said Bush. “Secure your home and get the heck out of there. It just makes it easier.”
Now hundreds of miles off shore, Wilma’s effects are being felt across the northeast as it helps fuel a strong nor’easter that is bringing lots of rain and even snow across the region. Parts of New England are expecting flooding from New Jersey to Connecticut, and other areas are dealing with high winds around 40 miles per hour.
All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. You can help the victims of thousands of disasters across the country each year, disasters like the Midwest ice storms, by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, which enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to victims of disaster. The American Red Cross honors donor intent. If you wish to designate your donation to a specific disaster please do so at the time of your donation. Call 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P. O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting www.redcross.org.
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