Florida, Caribbean brace for storms

Two storms charged through the Caribbean on Wednesday, one poised to strike the Florida Panhandle and the stronger Hurricane Charley drenching Jamaica with heavy rain.

Millions people in the region were on alert as the hurricane and Tropical Storm Bonnie churned on paths that weather forecasters said could deliver a double whammy to parts of Florida.

Charley sustained winds of 121 kph, just at the threshold for hurricane status, as it headed on a course that would take its eye just south of Jamaica, the US National Hurricane Center said.

Forecasters the system to sweep over the Cayman Islands, a British colony and offshore finance center, then Cuba, home to about 11 million people, yesterday before hitting the lower Florida Keys early today.

Jamaican were shuttered, universities suspended exams and hospitals sent patients home as people rushed to shops and gas stations to stock up on emergency supplies.

Emergency officials said there were no immediate reports of damage or deaths in Jamaica but scores of emergency shelters opened across the island of 2.7 million people.

Bonnie hampering Gulf oil and gas operations and was poised to strike the Florida Panhandle within a day, prompting authorities to issue a hurricane warning for the area.

It was growing stronger as it moved closer to the coast. It had sustained winds of 105 kph and could become a hurricane on Wednesday night or this morning.

Energy evacuated workers from 108 production platforms and 37 rigs in the Gulf of Mexico.

Florida Governor Jeb Bush declared a state of emergency as the storms approached, setting the wheels in motion for emergency shelters to open. Around 8,000 National Guard personnel were on alert.

Charley Air Jamaica, British Airways, American Airlines and BWIA to cancel flights and a cruise ship was diverted from a stop in Montego Bay. A caller to a radio station said there were mudslides along Jamaica's eastern coast and the Yallahs River in the eastern parish of St Thomas.

Authorities the Florida Keys issued a mandatory evacuation order to visitors, telling them to pack up and leave immediately. It can take days to completely evacuate the 160 km chain of islands and many tourists were unable to book flights, hotel managers said.

In Key West, restaurants and bars were urged to close early yesterday. City-operated buildings were already shuttered on Wednesday but most private shops and homes were not. Duval Street, popular with tourists, was bustling.

"Que sera, que sera (What will be, will be)," said Arthur Murphy of Fort Myers, Florida, celebrating his 72nd birthday at the popular Sloppy Joe's bar, which was frequented by Ernest Hemingway.

At 5pm EDT (5am yesterday in Taiwan) Wednesday, Charley's center was 135 km southwest of Kingston, at latitude 17 North and longitude 77.5 West, the hurricane center said.

It was expected to carry 7.5 to 15 cm of rain and and large waves to Jamaica and the Caymans.

Bonnie's at 5pm EDT (5am yesterday in Taiwan) Wednesday was about 270 km south of the mouth of the Mississippi River at latitude 26.7 north and longitude 89.3 west. It was moving to the northeast at about 19 kph and was expected to hit land between Pensacola and Panama City early today, possibly as a hurricane.