(24 Sep 1998) English/Nat
Hurricane Georges continued on its calamitous path towards the Florida Keys in the southeastern United States, leaving rescuers to pull bodies from rivers, collapsed houses and mudslides.
At least 110 people have died and hundreds are missing since the sprawling storm began its rampage across the Caribbean on Monday.
A hurricane warning was issued for south Florida early on Thursday, including in Miami, Dade, Broward and Collier counties.
A hurricane watch was in effect for counties just to the north of that area.
All 8-thousand residents of the Florida Keys were told to evacuate on Wednesday.
Cars and trucks with boats in tow squeezed onto the lone two-lane highway to the mainland.
But there are a number of residents who have chosen to stay behind in Key West, despite the warning.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
\"This is home, this is paradise, it's a beautiful day, some days it rains, some days it don't.\"
SUPER CAPTION: 'Doc', Key West resident
SOUNDBITE: (English)
\"This is home you know, you got to stay and take care of what you've got. By Monday we'll all be laughing again, no big deal, it's just a storm.\"
SUPER CAPTION: Jimmy, Key West resident
Although the bird life appears unaffected at this stage, fishing boats are leaving the area to avoid damaging their expensive equipment.
The normally bustling streets of Key West are largely empty of the tourists.
Almost all of the bars and restaurants are closed, with one exception being Mangoes.
Owner Amy Culver has organised to stay in touch with the residents who cannot leave, and has food supplies for at least two weeks.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
\"Definitely, they're taking it a lot more seriously than I've ever seen any other storm, there's no question, absolutely no question. I don't know, if it's category two, or category three it can get pretty touch and go but I think (hurricane) Andrew scared a lot of people. People didn't take Andrew seriously until they saw the devastation.\"
SUPER CAPTION: Amy Culver, \"Mangoes\" restaurant owner
One of the most famous homes in Key West has been battened down in preparation for Hurricane Georges.
Writer Ernest Hemingway wrote some of his best known works in this house, and the descendants of his famous cats still live here.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
\"We are ready for the hurricane, all the kitties, the most we can get in, put them in the offices, put them in the studio, behind the studio, we've got to take care, we're ready for it.\"
SUPER CAPTION: Eduardo Aceverdo, Caretaker Hemingway's house
Hemingway spent a lot of time at Sloppy Joe's bar.
Special precautions are being taken here as well.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
\"This is a safety building. It has 18 inch (45 centimetres) walls. It's been here since the 1800's, so hopefully we'll go through one more.\"
SUPER CAPTION: Mike Stanley, Key West resident
In the meantime, bar goers are keeping an eye on Hurricane George's path.
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