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| Florida braced for tropical storm | Florida braced for tropical storm |
| (20 minutes later) | |
| The US state of Florida is braced for Tropical Storm Fay, which is thought to have claimed dozens of lives on its rampage through the Caribbean. | The US state of Florida is braced for Tropical Storm Fay, which is thought to have claimed dozens of lives on its rampage through the Caribbean. |
| Forecasters warned Fay could reach hurricane force as it approached the Florida peninsula. | Forecasters warned Fay could reach hurricane force as it approached the Florida peninsula. |
| The storm's centre has already crossed Florida Key West with winds near 60mph (97km/h), flooding some roads. | The storm's centre has already crossed Florida Key West with winds near 60mph (97km/h), flooding some roads. |
| Florida's Governor Charlie Crist warned that Fay threatened a "major disaster", but he insisted the state was prepared. | Florida's Governor Charlie Crist warned that Fay threatened a "major disaster", but he insisted the state was prepared. |
| With a state of emergency in place, Mr Crist said some 500 national guard members had been deployed, with another 8,500 on standby. | With a state of emergency in place, Mr Crist said some 500 national guard members had been deployed, with another 8,500 on standby. |
| The US National Hurricane Center said the storm still had the potential to top sustained winds of 74 mph (119 km/h) by the time it hits the west coast of Florida early on Tuesday. | The US National Hurricane Center said the storm still had the potential to top sustained winds of 74 mph (119 km/h) by the time it hits the west coast of Florida early on Tuesday. |
| Across Florida at least 22 school districts, a number of colleges and a university have cancelled classes. | Across Florida at least 22 school districts, a number of colleges and a university have cancelled classes. |
| HOW HURRICANES FORM Sea surface temperatures above 26.5C (79.7F)A pre-existing weather disturbanceMoisture in the atmosphereFavourable conditions, such as light winds or weak wind shear Animated guide: Hurricanes | HOW HURRICANES FORM Sea surface temperatures above 26.5C (79.7F)A pre-existing weather disturbanceMoisture in the atmosphereFavourable conditions, such as light winds or weak wind shear Animated guide: Hurricanes |
| Residents of Miami have been stocking up on bottled water, fuel and other vital supplies. | Residents of Miami have been stocking up on bottled water, fuel and other vital supplies. |
| The main highway linking the Keys to the mainland was choked with traffic on Sunday as thousands of tourists evacuated. | The main highway linking the Keys to the mainland was choked with traffic on Sunday as thousands of tourists evacuated. |
| But not everyone was hunkering down - hundreds of surfers flocked to Miami beaches to take advantage of the huge swells created by the storm. | But not everyone was hunkering down - hundreds of surfers flocked to Miami beaches to take advantage of the huge swells created by the storm. |
| In Cuba, Fay caused some flooding and damaged a number of homes, although no deaths were reported. | In Cuba, Fay caused some flooding and damaged a number of homes, although no deaths were reported. |
| But a number of lives were lost in the Dominican Republic and Haiti. | But a number of lives were lost in the Dominican Republic and Haiti. |
| The worst incident was in Haiti, where a truck carrying up to 80 passengers plunged into a swollen river. | |
| Officials there said more than half the passengers were missing, with many feared drowned. | |
| Fay is the sixth tropical storm of the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season. | Fay is the sixth tropical storm of the 2008 Atlantic hurricane season. |
| Two of the tropical storms so far, Bertha and Dolly, have reached hurricane strength. | Two of the tropical storms so far, Bertha and Dolly, have reached hurricane strength. |
| Has Tropical Storm Fay affected you? Are you in Florida preparing for the storm to hit? Send us your comments by completing the form below. | Has Tropical Storm Fay affected you? Are you in Florida preparing for the storm to hit? Send us your comments by completing the form below. |
| Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here.Read the terms and conditions | Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here.Read the terms and conditions |
| At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |