Census Bureau; More Than 14.6 Million Floridians in Path of Hurricane

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9/2/2004 2:36:00 PM

To: National and State desks

Contact: Stephen Buckner of the Census Bureau, 301-763-3586 or 301-457-1037 (TDD) or [e-mail]

WASHINGTON, Sept. 2 /U.S. Newswire/ -- Based on the latest (2 p.m. EDT) projected path of Hurricane Frances, the U.S. Census Bureau said today that an estimated 14.6 million residents of Florida could be affected by the storm's 145 mph winds.

Nearly 10 million Floridians, or 58.4 percent of the state's entire population, live in 21 counties along the Atlantic coast. Moreover, many of these counties were among the fastest growing in Florida (and the nation) between 1990 and 2003. Flagler County (62,206) more than doubled its population during this period and Osceola County's (205,870) growth was more than 90 percent. Palm Beach County, among the counties with evacuations currently underway, experienced a population increase of 352,764, or 40.9 percent from 1990 to 2003.

According to 2003 data from the bureau's American Community Survey, about 10 percent, or more than 840,000, of the state's 7.8 million housing units are mobile homes.

Hurricane Frances, the second hurricane of the 2004 Atlantic season to draw a bead on Florida this month, was projected to hit the state within the next 24-36 hours. According to the National Hurricane Center at 2 p.m. EDT, Frances packed maximum sustained winds of about 145 MPH, making it a strong Category 4 hurricane. Hurricane-force winds extend 80 miles from the center of the storm, with tropical storm force winds extending outward 185 miles.

http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=35583

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