Florida is recovering from a second hurricane in almost as many weeks as citrus growers begin to count the cost.
Figures for the damage caused by hurricane Francis are still unknown, although the storm made landfall in the Indian River citrus district where three quarters of Florida’s citrus is grown.
Agriculture commissioner Charles Bronson said he expected the losses from Frances to be as much as the damage from Charley, although reports indicate the second storm, while larger, lacked the punch of the initial hurricane.
Bronson estimates the total agriculture loss from both hurricanes at around US$300 million: “There has been a lot of foliage loss and fruit off the tree. The abundant rainfall is going to cause a lot of problems.”
While Florida continues to count the cost, they could yet face more problems, with reports of hurricane Ivan looming on the horizon, currently heading towards the Caribbean Windward islands at around 125 mph.
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