The Hindu : International : Hurricane claims 13 lives

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Aug 16, 2004

International

International

Hurricane claims 13 lives

By Sridhar Krishnaswami

Washington: At least 13 persons have been confirmed dead in Florida when Hurricane Charley ripped through it. Losing its sting and downgraded to a tropical storm, Charley has headed out to the Carolinas even as thousands of affected people in Florida are trying to pick up the pieces left behind in the devastation. A spokesman for Governor Jeb Bush has said that the storm might cost the state "at least several billion dollars." The hurricane hit Punta Gorda, a quiet retirement community of about 14,000 with many of them living in trailer homes. Eyewitness account speak of shaken residents having little or nothing to pick up. The President, George W Bush, will visit the state on Sunday. His aides have tried to shrug off suggestions that the visit has politics written all over it. Political observers have not failed to take note of a belief that the Senior George Bush lost Florida in 1992 because of a weak federal response to a hurricane. Florida is a key battleground State for Mr. Bush and his Democratic opponent John Kerry.

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