The Stuart News from Stuart, Florida • 14

Tho Nw Monday October 16 1999 1 A I (' HURRICANE'IRENE Farmers assess damage begin crop cleanup after Irene The agricultural loss might reach $100 million said the mayor of Miami-Dade County By Dn Bryn Associated Proto writer South Florida which supplies 75 percent of the winter produce was not limited to Miami-Dade US Sugar Bryant Sugar processing mill in Palm Beach County suffered S4 million in damage when Irene's winds destroyed two cooling towers and ripped down walls said Robert Buker Jr senior vice president of the Clewiston-based company It is too early to tell how much of a loss the company sustained to its 180000 acres of sugar cane he said But the harvest had been delayed because of September rains and Irene has brought on another four- or five-day delay until fields dry out enough so that tractors can begin harvesting Buker said If Hood waters stand too long in the fields the company will have to replant he said "This will hurt our bottom line by of dollars said Buker "We know going to lose sugar and harvesting wilT be slower US Sugar also grows oranges in neighboring Hendry County The company lost about 500000 boxes of oranges a box weighs 90 pounds or about 10 percent of its orange crop Buker said Attempts to reach officials at the state Department of Citrus on Sunday were unsuccessful and a message left with Florida Citrus Mutual a growers' trade group in Lakeland was not returned But Frank Dunnahoe presi- ery of flooded fruit and vegetable fields and wind-ravaged avocado and lime trees said Borek "If I could get hold of the fellow that bought the Brooklyn Bridge try to sell him some waterfront property" said Richard Alger of Alger Farms where he and his son grow sweet com and potatoes and have a field nurseiy Sebanos Torres was supervising about a dozen seasonal workers at a muddy avocado grove owned by Acosta Farms Nurseries They were boxing the dark green fruit that had been blown from the trees Dressed in galoshes and wielding a machete to cut away damaged tree limbs Torres said workers must first pick through the approximately 45-acre grove before company officials could determine how bad the losses were the water was up to here" he said pointing to just below his knee Steve Sapp president of the Dade County Farm Bureau and a lime tree grower said the longer that flood waters stand the more damage to tree crops Avocado and other trees cannot stand too much water for too long in their root zones because they can lose fruit prematurely or even die he said "The tree starts to shut said Sapp adding that it takes about eight years to grow an avocado tree to bear fruit The agricultural damage in HOMESTEAD Joe Borek gazed Sunday on 70 acres of submerged tomato plants and figured he Tost more than S2 10000 in seedlings labor chemicals and equipment after Hurricane Irene swept through the palm tree-dotted farmland of southwest Miami-Dade County rode through this whole county" said Borek 55 man that thinks got something left well he doesn't" Borek who farms 500 acres of Xsh tomatoes pole beans and peppers was among farmers growers nursery owners and seasonal workers who took stock of the damage over the weekend The total agricultural loss could reach about SI00 million in Miami-Dade said Mayor Alex Penelas The county has about 58 percent row crocs 25 percent tropical fruits such as limes avo- Hurricane Irene dumped 18 inches of rain on South Florida ruining this beanfield near Homestead and many other crops lands dry and farmers go to work More they can earn group in Pblk County estimated a paycheck again said 46-y that 15 to 25 percent of Florida's Manuel Lara a I -year-old labor contractor Even when farmlands dry! many fanners and growersuwill have financial difficulty the test of the season because they rrir on revenues from eariy-season to finance new crop plantingsaid Borek 60 workers who hires out 50 to during a season lychees and mangos and 17 percent horticultural nurseries according to a 1992 study done by the University of Florida The storm which dumped as much as 18 inches of rain will set farmers back this season even if no additional rains hinder recov citrus crop could be ruined by Irene It not just bottom lines that have been damaged by Irene Seasonal workers ana their families will have to wait until have to stay no id to Lara sa north go back i to place too cold" have to square he said Officials warn of dangers of floodwater By Nancy MeVlear Sun-Sontinol happen The water can conceal hazards like broken bottles a metal can nails and yoi And then you have an opening for infection FREE Complete 1 8 Digital Satellite System by: mrn nepareMH maaNf fmEZndRaceiyr A EBB CAmuLmJ riinLsilnnrJ 8 s- rKEm OmKmu fTOfOWKXiOl IbmOmi HUE Local Antenna For Local "Even if you don't get hurt most people have cuts and scrapes that could allow the bacteria to get he said Swimming in the deeper water is also a bad idea he said you swim in it likely to swallow it and then you get gastrointestinal problems" Dr Alina Alonso director of clinical services for the Palm Beach County Health Department said she was disturbed" to see so many children splashing in the floodwaters Saturday She told parents to watch for redness or swelling around cuts that might have been contaminated by the bacteria and to see a doctor if that occurs JmTS ate 1 1 itCom pan WEST PALM BEACH Public health officials continue to caution people to stay out of standin water left behind by Hurricane Irene because it couli be contaminated with bacteria from sewage and animal feces as well as chemicals "When it rains the stormwater mixes with the dirt candy wrappers animal feces oils and greases on the street even dirty diapers people have dumped" said Frank Gargiulo director of environmental health and engineering at the Palm Beach County Health Department The mixture that results is dangerous he said but in neighborhood after neighborhood children ride their bikes or splash with their dogs in the instant lakes formed by the storm "People think that cute for kids to play in stormwater but Gargiulo said "If anyone goes into that water there are several things that can "But Deal Abound Entertainment imij 8793488 far 44 IJklMond 24 How Smite LkaMThwOTErr mm kotetooktooteHMIi UoltOte ouoM Make sure if you haven't had a tetanus shot keep an eye out for any If that you you get one Abo or swelling" she said' happens see a that ness if Invitation Zookeepers come to rescue in boat By Jon Buratoin Sun-Sontlnal when the zoo might reopen "It will take months to get back where we were" Zeitlin said More than 50 zoo employees Saturday transformed the picnic areas into holding pens for the petting zoo animab and the zoo's education trailer was filled with quacks squawks and growls from holding cages throughout the room The only animals left in their cages or exhibits were ones that could seek refuge on higher sound such as the tigers Townee and Kali who spent Saturday in their elevated sleeping quarters Dalton said didn't belong to the zoo officials estimate the hurricane caused about 500000 in damage In addition to wreaking havoc on the zoo's exotic trees and plants the storm toppled several trees onto exhibits said Laurie Smith the director of education and marketing Zoo Director Salvatore Zeitlin said it was absolute no zoo animals were hurt or killed The animab are still at risk for disease brought in by mosquitoes or outside pathogens in the storm drainage water that swept throuthe park he said ror is our No I concern safety for our animab and the Zeitlin had no estimate on WEST PALM BEACH In Hurricane Irene's aftermath Palm Beach Zoo employees scrambled to rescue dozens of animals by boat after finding the Dreher Park grounds under feet of water in some areas The 23-acre zoo's walkways became canals forcing zoo employees to load donkeys goats ana other animals onto a boat the zoo normally keeps on the park's lake Most of the zoo's 400 animals had been moved to higher ground by Saturday afternoon said Bob Dalton the zoo's redevelopment director Although the only casualty found was a wild peacock that You are cordially invited to attend our: Senior Health Care Luncheon Seminar Do you thoroughly understand Medicare? 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