THE US: Relief supplies poured rapidly into south-west Florida after the devastating advent of Hurricane Charley. Some of the thousands of newly homeless yesterday expressed frustration as they faced the prospect of rebuilding their lives.
The hurricane, which also caused damage in a wide area of central Florida including the area around Orlando, killed 16 people, ripped apart thousands of mobile homes and damaged tens of thousands of buildings.
More than 2,000 people were still in shelters yesterday, according to Florida emergency officials, and many more had sought refuge with relatives, friends or in hotels.
Some 890,000 people in the state were without power, said Florida Secretary for Community Affairs Thaddeus Cohen.
Florida officials were predicting the storm would cause damage amounting to at least $15 billion, according to preliminary damage estimates.
The death toll for the fiercest storm to hit Florida in 12 years climbed to 16 on Sunday, but it looked like the final toll would not be as high as originally feared.
"I thought we would be looking at a significant loss of life," said Wayne Sallade, director of emergency management in Charlotte County. "I am feeling better."
Since shortly after the storm hit like a 10-mile-wide tornado with 145 m.p.h. winds on Friday, supplies were pouring into the worst-affected areas, the coastal cities of Punta Gorda and Port Charlotte.
Immediate needs such as water, food and shelter appeared to have been quickly met.
Some 4,000 National Guard troops ferried supplies, erected tents for temporary shelter and patrolled to prevent looting.
"We're very well taken care of, there's lots of everything," Kathy Tooker (30) said.
She and her four children were among some 500 people at a Red Cross shelter at the L.A. Ainger Middle School in Englewood.
But frustration, fatigue and anger were beginning to set in. Some of the people at the shelter were wondering when they would get vouchers for food and housing, others worried they might be forced out soon.
Like many of the people whose homes were demolished or destroyed, Tooker said she would need help to get back on her feet.
"It's tough . . . Just trying to clean up. Tough to start over," said Anthony Jones (42) whose two-bedroom mobile home in Punta Gorda was shredded. - (Reuters)