In the 2004 Atlantic Hurricane season, Hurricane Frances was named as the 6th storm with maximum winds reaching around 145 mph. The hurricane started as a tropical vigorous wave at the eastern side of the Atlantic, western side of the Cape Verde Islands. It happened on 24th of August in the morning on Tuesday, and the system was moving at a speed of 17 mph but recorded a higher speed of 30mph as it moved towards the West. On Wednesday August the 25th, Hurricane Frances became a tropical storm while at around 1400 miles east of the Lesser Antilles. During this time, winds of about 40 mph were recorded. At approximately 1000 miles east-southeast side of Leeward Island, the winds had increased and reached a speed of 75mph with a pressure of about 983 MB. The Hurricane Frances moved across several states as it fluctuated both in speed and strength causing significant damage.
Hurricane Frances track
After it had begun in the eastern tropical Atlantic, Hurricane Frances moved to the northwest across the ocean. It gradually turned west and passed north of Puerto Rico and later went back to its track heading towards northwest direction. This led the Hurricane towards the Bahamas and Turks & Caicos Islands. The motion led the Hurricane onshore towards the east coast of Florida and across central Florida. On reaching the Gulf of Mexico, Hurricane Frances turned north where it moved again onshore on the Florida panhandle. Later, Hurricane Frances went northeast towards the spine of the Appalachians to the Northeastern side of United States.
Damages and impact
The storm struck during Labor Day weekend which traditionally meant the last weekend of the summer in the United States. There was both property and economic damage caused by Hurricane Frances. Following Hurricane Charley, visitors decided to avoid the coastal area, and most hotels in Florida and South Carolina were closed due to this effect. In Bahamas, one death was reported while one and five deaths were reported in Ohio and Florida respectively directly resulting from the disaster. 42 more deaths not directly attributed to the Hurricane Frances were recorded later in Bahamas, Ohio and Georgia. The total property damage from the deadly Hurricane Frances was estimated to be approximately $8.8 billion in 2004. It became the 4th costly Hurricane in the United States behind Hurricane Andrew in 1992, Hurricane Ivan, and Hurricane Charley both in 2004. Due to the Hurricane, floods were reported in the close tributaries causing more damage, more so in Pittsburgh and Pennsylvania.
Recovery process
The government of United States at that time played a significant role in helping the victims recover from the disaster. After the Hurricane, some people from the ministry of works, Royal Bahamas Defense and police force and the Department of Environment health services were used in clearing the roads and rescuing those affected. Telecommunications and electricity were restored within 24 hours, but the Islands stayed for more time without power since they were most affected. Some people had taken flood insurance covers from private insurance companies and were compensated back to their financial positions. This helped quite a large number of people recover in a remarkably short time.
