The Palm Beach Post from West Palm Beach, Florida • Page 12

A12-The Post, Saturday, Songwriter Upstaging Hurricanes Delray Man Catches Stations by Storm Post Staff and Wire Reports DELRAY BEACH Singer and songwriter Peter Harris, the man who has written songs about waiting for the Atlantic Avenue bridge to come down and about the pet population explosion, once again is getting air time on Florida radio stations, this time courtesy of Hurricane Kate. The Delray Beach resident's song Hurricane Party is just what disc jockeys want when the winds pick up. "That's the song played every time there's storm or verve, threat of a hurricane this season." said Todd Swofford, program director of WFYN-FM and WKIZ-AM in Key West, where some of the effects from Kate were felt Tuesday. Also playing the tune was disc jockey J.J. Steele at WBGM-FM in Tallahassee, through which Kate's winds and rain blew Thursday night.

The song pays tribute to duct tape, bottled water, Sterno and even National Hurricane Director Neil Frank's familiar flat-top haircut. Some of the words include: Duct tape and candles, Sterno, too; "Tighten the shutters, it's comin' at you; "Flat-top Frank is cuttin' in on the tube; "She's got a guy's name and it's really bad news Radio stations in the Florida Panhandle, visited by Hurricane Juan in October and Kate Thursday, "have been very good to us," said Rick Ayers, Harris' manager, who has tracked the course of this season's hurricanes then sent copies of the song to the stations in cities expecting foul weather. Harris, 38, who has a Jimmy Buffett style, often performs in Key West. He has been an opening act for Kenny Loggins, America and the Little River Band. He co-wrote his latest song with George Terry, who teamed with Eric Clapton to write Lay Down Sally.

Harris said he got the idea for the song a few years ago and polished it up for this year's hurricane season. Earlier this year, Harris recorded a song called There's Got To Be a Better Way about the pet population explosion and donated proceeds from the record's sales to the Animal Rescue League of Martin County. Loren POST Marvin Hensley uses raft to survey damage to his sailboat in Panama City wife Wanda (right) holds rope as dinghy floats above submerged vessel that held no insurance Residents Without Power; Floods Isolate Some Cities TALLAHASSEE (AP) Power, water and gasoline were scarce throughout Florida's Panhandle yesterday, some cities remained isolated by floods or police roadblocks, and the state capital was nearly shut down by downed trees, utility lines and a strict curfew in the aftermath of Hurricane Kate. For coastal areas battered by tropical weather three times earlier this year, Kate was "like hitting a man when he's down," one resident said. A mandatory 7 p.m.

to 7 a.m. curfew was ordered in Tallahassee and Leon County beginning yesterday, said Scott Hunt, a spokesman for the Tallahassee Police Department. All available plainclothes officers were to patrol Leon County and the city in unmarked cars. Anyone out past 7 p.m. would be stopped.

Sheriff John McDaniel set a curfew from 11 p.m. to 8 a.m. in Jackson County. "They've got to have a real good reason. If they don't, they will subject themselves to arrest," Hunt said of anyone volating the curfew.

Hunt said city leaders and the Leon County Commission agreed to order the curfew because of possible looting, downed power lines and heavy traffic thwarting efforts of power crews. Eighty percent of Tallahassee was without power yesterday, but Hunt said electricity being turned on in some areas is causing an extreme safety hazard because so many power lines are lying on streets or hanging at car level. Gov. Bob Graham at noon declared a state of emergency in Leon County, Gadsen County to the east and five other inland northwestern counties, bringing to 19 the number in a state of emergency. National Guardsmen were helping local police thwart looting, assist storm victims and keep people away from power lines.

"These inland counties felt the storm's fury," GraKate- ham said. "My action will allow state agencies to assist local officials contending with flooding, extensive wind damage and other problems left in the storm's wake." After a tour of the worst-hit areas by military helicopter yesterday, Graham said the storm's destruction wasn't as extensive as he had believed, at least in the area between Shell Point and Apalachicola. "Most of the damage seemed to be from tidal and standing water, as opposed to wind damage," Graham said. "That is, you didn't see any roofs off houses "Certainly there will be some counties that will qualify (for federal aid) particularly because you started from the stress of Elena," the governor added. Meanwhile, Graham lifted the evacuation order for Franklin County at 6 p.m.

and ordered the opening of two disaster a assistance centers to help residents recover from Hurricane Kate. The governor instructed state officials to establish the assistance centers at Gulf State Bank in Apalachicola and the old Western Auto Store in Eastpoint. The centers will be open this morning. Residents in Wakulla, Jefferson and Taylor counties remained in shelters waiting for officials to clear a safe path home. Graham agreed to let residents of Gulf, Bay, Walton and Okaloosa counties return home about 10:30 a.m.

Tom Lewis, head of the Department of Community Affairs, toured the area with Graham. Lewis said Kate probably did more damage than Hurricane Elena, which caused an estimated $44 million in public and private damages in Florida. This season's $6.5 million oyster crop, nearly 10 percent of the nation's supply, was ruined by Hurricane Elena in late September, and Kate's assault battered the baby oyster beds counted on by residents for a comeback next year. "Essentially the entire Panhandle and Big Bend a area is under the state of emergency, said Jon Peck, spokesman for the state's emergency management office. Kate, the 11th named storm of the 1985 Atlantic hurricane season, was blamed for up to 10 deaths and "grave" crop and property damage Cuba.

Up to seven deaths in the United States were blamed on the storm since Wednesday. At 11 p.m., the storm was at latitude 34.8 north and longitude 74.5 west, just south of Cape Hatteras, N.C. It was moving east-northeast at 25 mph. "It shouldn't strengthen because of a cold front moving down from North said National Weather Service meteorologist Chuck Little. "It should keep moving eastward on out into the Kate's strongest winds had decreased to 40 mph yesterday and little change was expected.

Rain spawned by the storm fell in North Carolina, West Virginia and Maryland and some flood watches were posted. In Georgia, Sheila Cason of the Grady County Sheriff's Department said things were a mess in Cairo, one of the state's hit areas. "All four lights are out, all of our radios are out, everything." Rain driven by gusts of wind as high as 60 mph in Charleston, where 3.12 inches fell, reduced visibility to near zero at times, causing a rash of morning accidents, including one that claimed a life. About 20,000 Georgia Power Co. customers lost electricity Thursday night, and about 8,000 remained without power yesterday afternoon, spokesman Gary Webb said.

Page 1- -From Page I didau EXC SCONE 7 Loren POST Sign at Panama City Beach Holiday Inn tells story 'All Rooms Ocean Front' after Kate lifts roof from structure Damagesengine plane lay buried beneath the rubble. Although there was water standing in many yards throughout the city yesterday, the sun was shining and the streets were dry. Florida National Guardsmen almost abundant as the tree limbs and pine needles strewn as about watched over the highways and stores. A tractor-trailer loaded with 2,000 gallons of water, food and medical supplies for Apalachicola residents slowly negotiated U.S. 98, which was washed out in many spots.

A Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Atlanta sent the supplies to those hit by the storm. Merchants along the main thoroughfare off U.S. 98 inspected their broken windows and damaged goods. Many who packed up their breakable items during Hurricane Elena didn't bother to do the same for Kate. This almost every window was cracked and merchandise time lost to the storm.

"I don't think it hurt the movies just the posters," a video rental store owner said as he looked over his store. As he spoke, a young child rode up on a racing bike and returned a Flash Gordon film. "I think it was due Thursday," 12-year-old John Moore said. In Jones Homestead just west of Port St. Joe, a tear trickled down Ada Waters' cheek as she lifted a Christmas ornament from the remains of a 60-foot mobile home that lost its walls and roof in the hurricane.

"I wouldn't mind so much except it was full of kids' stuff and Christmas thiNgs," she said. "I raised three Meteorologist Close On His Predictions Of Violent Weather By Walter Sullivan only one did so: Hurricane Diana, New York Times which struck North Carolina. NEW YORK In June, a meteoTwo months after his initial prerologist at Colorado State University, diction, which concerned the total statistical analyses of several number of storms rather than those using global weather patterns, made a relthat downward might to 10 named Gray storms and reach land, revised atively accurate prediction of hurriit and tropical storms that origiseven hurricanes. canes the Atlantic Ocean this According to Mark Ziller, meteonated over rologist on duty at the National HurDr. William ricane Center fn Coral Gables, only in year.

The meteorologist, Gray, predicted that this season 11 1909 and 1916 have as many as eight intense to be assuch storms reached the mainland. storms sufficiently signed names would form in the AtHowever, this year's total number lantic and that eight would evolve of tropical storms and hurricanes, hurricanes. including those that never reached into full-fledged his unusual effort to land, was not much higher than usual. Although of hurriBased on a century of weather remake a long-term forecast its outcome is cords, the average number of storms canes is experimental, encouraging to meteorologists. forming in the Atlantic is 10 fullHis analysis differed from estabfledged tropical storms, of which six lished approaches in its reliance on become hurricanes.

such global influences as a hypothetiFor reasons not fully understood, cal effect that El Nino, the vast cliZiller said, the general circulation of matic disturbance that periodically the atmosphere sometimes keeps the affects the eastern tropical Pacific, storms off shore and at other times would have on hurricane probabilidraws them toward land. Both the number of storms and ties. With the appearance of Hurricane their paths vary considerably from which swept across the northyear to year, he pointed out. The Kate, west Florida coast his totals in 1982 and 1983 were only half Thursday, original forecast made at the start of normal. In 1984 names were assigned the season in June has to 12 of them, although only one come fulfillment.

Eleven hurricane, reached the mainland. In only two storms have been identified years, 1909 arfd 1916, was the maintropical with names in the hurricane season, land hit by eight hurricanes or tropiand seven have been designated hurcal storms. ricanes. In the 1950s and 1960s, hurricanes Of those seven, all but one hit the tended to reach the East Coast. mainland, four in the Gulf of Mexico whereas in the previous two decades and two on the East Coast.

Last year they traveled farther west. Ken POST Tim Ard, wife Mitzi talk about Hurricane Kate windows were broken in couple's florist shop in Port St. Joe From At the height of the storm, an estimated 35,000 customers across South Carolina were left without electricity, but officials said they hoped to restore power to most by the end of the day. Along the South Carolina coast, Jasper County schools closed. Classes in several Beaufort County schools were held without benefit of electricity, and cold lunches were served, Supt.

Robert Salisbury said. Five inches of rain fell in Albany, and many less-traveled roads were closed by flooding or uprooted trees. The weather service reported that a tornado had touched down south of Meigs, damaging two houses. Flood watches were posted across South Carolina. In the north, a bridge washed out in York County and in the east, water rose over the Creek Bridge in Florence County.

Along Florida's Gulf Coast, the most dramatic damage was to be found from Port St. Joe east through Apalachicola and Eastpoint bore the brunt of the storm. The eye of the hurricane passed over Mexico Beach, a community of about 1,000 some 30 miles east of Panama City, but little damage could be seen there. Farther east the evidence of Kate's Page 1 visit was more compelling, with one it could be repaired. stretch of U.S.

98 approaching ApaIn addition, at least 15 miles of U.S. lachicola blocked by fallen pine 98 between Eastpoint and Carrabelle trees. By midmorning yesterday, were washed away by the storm. crews had cut segments out of the State emergency office spokesman centers of many of the trees to allow Jon Peck said roads and bridges in at traffic to pass. Many remained inleast seven Panhandle counties were tact, though, and vehicles were either washed away or rendered imforced to pass around them on the passable by debris and that it could shoulder of the road.

take "several days" to get many of In Apalachicola in Franklin Counthem back in shape. ty, there was heavy structural damGulf Power Co. officials said the age, including the municipal water storm caused more damage to electower which fell and a landmark restrical lines than any hurricane this taurant which was gutted by the year. About 33,000 residents 50 storm surge out of the bay. percent of the company's customers "It's been through a lot of storms lost power in Bay, Walton, Washbut this is the first one to get her," ington and parts of Jackson counties, said co-owner Vernon Crotts as he said Charles Bryant, a supervisor and others removed liquor and other with Gulf Power Co.

items from the restaurant under the About 300 lines were knocked protective eye of National Guardsdown in the storm. A 110.000-volt men. transmitter dropped 35 feet to the In Eastpoint, heavy damage to the ground small seafood wholesale and retail "Even though (Hurricane) Elena outlets was reported Franklin went through twice, this was worse," County's acting Civil Defense DirecBryant said. tor Pal Rivers. "All the fish houses Gulf Power sent 250 workers to along Eastpoint are pretty much repair lines and restore electricity, gone," he said.

Bryant said. Another 60 workers Rivers said the causeway to nearfrom Georgia utility companies were by St. George Island, which had been sent in to help, he said. rebuilt after Hurricane Elena, was washed out again and officials said it This story was supplemented by would be at least several days before Associated Press reports. young'uns in that." The Waters family used the backyard trailer for storage.

They originally planned to stay in their home during the storm, but left after their car was moved 3 feet by the wind and the mobile home fell apart. "It looked like they put an explosive in it," John Henry Waters said. "One gust of wind got it. When the thing blowed up, we got up and left." Roy Smith, an insurance agent in Port St. Joe, said claims for storm damage already were considerable.

"I don't know if there will be anyone who doesn't turn in a claim," he said. Most residents suffered water, roof and tree damage. Awnings were ripped from houses, steeples were blown off churches, and freezers left outdoors were carried several blocks. "I stood there and watched my own roof come out all night," Ollie Stutzman said. "It's a shame.

If you leave you're in the path of all the tornadoes, and you got all those cars and traffic to follow." Stutzman, a roofer, said when Kate struck he still hadn't finished fixing houses damaged by Hurricane Elena. "I got a call last night from a woman who said, 'A tree's coming through my he said. Smith said just before the storm some birds could be seen at the beach. "Those stupid sea gulls were having the best time in the forld," he said. NURSERY CLEARANCE SALE Unbelievable Prices on Grade Quality Foliage Material WHILE SUPPLY LASTS! CORN PLANTS (3-2-1) $14.50 10" CORN PLANTS (4-3-2) $17.00 19" SPATHIPHYLLUM (Peace Lily) $6.50 10" DRACENA MARJINATA $5.50 14" SCHEFFELERA (Umbrella Tree) $12.00 10" YUCCA CANE (4-3-2) $10.50 10" BRAIDED FICUS $15.00 4" BEGONIAS 10" POT SIZE LIVING COLOR NURSERY 7044 LAWRENCE LANTANA S.E.

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