HURRICANE IRMA:
Residents return to pick up the pieces in Florida
This is going to be a frustrating event. It's going to take some time to let people back into their homes
Florida allowed some residents to return on Tuesday to areas hammered by Hurricane Irma’s high winds and storm surge, while the death toll rose in the second major hurricane to hit the US in 2017. Irma, which rampaged through the Caribbean islands,, was downgraded to a tropical storm on Monday. At its peak, it prompted evacuation orders for 6.5-million people in Florida, the largest evacuation in modern US history. Latest figures put the death toll at 40 in the Caribbean and six in Florida and Georgia. A Florida official said there had been more deaths yet to be reported, particularly on the Florida Keys, where Irma arrived as a category 4 hurricane with sustained winds of up to 215km/h on Sunday. Local authorities told 90,000 residents of Miami Beach and from some parts of the Keys they could go home, but warned it might not be prudent to remain there. "This is going to be a frustrating event. It’s going to take some time to let people back into their homes particularly in the Flor...
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Subscribe now to unlock this article.
Support BusinessLIVE’s award-winning journalism for R129 per month (digital access only).
There’s never been a more important time to support independent journalism in SA. Our subscription packages now offer an ad-free experience for readers.
Cancel anytime.
Questions? Email helpdesk@businesslive.co.za or call 0860 52 52 00. Got a subscription voucher? Redeem it now.