2008 Woodie Awards
Hurricane Wilma Slower But Strong
Martin Merzer, Frances Robles, and Phil Long
Issue date: 10/24/05 Section: News
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Hurricane Wilma prowled closer Thursday to a collision with Mexico, edged a bit farther from Florida and slowed down again.
Though it appeared to have little respect for the timetables written every six hours by forecasters, Wilma's core was expected to crash into the tip of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula on Friday afternoon, then linger there for nearly a full day. It remained a dangerous Category 4 storm Thursday and could regain its top-of-the-scale Category 5 status as it strikes the Yucatan.
That poses a threat of catastrophic damage to the tourist areas of Cancun and Cozumel.
At the same time, experts urged Floridians not to let their guards down, even though the storm kept dawdling and could arrive weakened when it gets around to hitting the Sunshine State.
"It's still coming," said Max Mayfield, the director of the National Hurricane Center near Miami. "We might as well take advantage of the time. Gas up your cars and get all your supplies ready."
In Washington, White House spokesman Scott McClellan said the Bush administration, harshly criticized for its belated response to Katrina, "is actively taking steps to prepare for Hurricane Wilma."
David Paulison, the acting director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said: "We're hoping the hurricane does not hit Florida or anyplace else, but if it does, we're going to be ready for it."
Wilma already has been responsible for 13 deaths in Haiti and Jamaica. At one point Wednesday it became the most intense hurricane ever recorded in the Atlantic basin.
Resorts in Cancun were deserted Thursday after tens of thousands of tourists fled by plane or were evacuated by Mexican authorities, who took them to inland shelters.
"There were plenty of people who wanted to stay, but we wouldn't let them," said Monica Aldy, a reception clerk at the Hyatt hotel in Cancun. "The only ones left are the employees. Of course we're all scared, but at least we're all in the same boat."
Though it appeared to have little respect for the timetables written every six hours by forecasters, Wilma's core was expected to crash into the tip of Mexico's Yucatan Peninsula on Friday afternoon, then linger there for nearly a full day. It remained a dangerous Category 4 storm Thursday and could regain its top-of-the-scale Category 5 status as it strikes the Yucatan.
That poses a threat of catastrophic damage to the tourist areas of Cancun and Cozumel.
At the same time, experts urged Floridians not to let their guards down, even though the storm kept dawdling and could arrive weakened when it gets around to hitting the Sunshine State.
"It's still coming," said Max Mayfield, the director of the National Hurricane Center near Miami. "We might as well take advantage of the time. Gas up your cars and get all your supplies ready."
In Washington, White House spokesman Scott McClellan said the Bush administration, harshly criticized for its belated response to Katrina, "is actively taking steps to prepare for Hurricane Wilma."
David Paulison, the acting director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said: "We're hoping the hurricane does not hit Florida or anyplace else, but if it does, we're going to be ready for it."
Wilma already has been responsible for 13 deaths in Haiti and Jamaica. At one point Wednesday it became the most intense hurricane ever recorded in the Atlantic basin.
Resorts in Cancun were deserted Thursday after tens of thousands of tourists fled by plane or were evacuated by Mexican authorities, who took them to inland shelters.
"There were plenty of people who wanted to stay, but we wouldn't let them," said Monica Aldy, a reception clerk at the Hyatt hotel in Cancun. "The only ones left are the employees. Of course we're all scared, but at least we're all in the same boat."