Tropical storm Fay heads towards Florida
Tuesday, 19 Aug 2008 08:59
Tropical storm Fay strikes Florida Keys with heavy rains and strong winds
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Tropical storm Fay has struck the Florida Keys with heavy rains and strong winds today.
The sixth storm of the Atlantic season killed over 50 people when it travelled through the Caribbean earlier this month.
It is now heading towards Florida with winds of 60mph. Forecasters, however, have warned Fay may develop into hurricane force, winds of 74 mph, when it hits the west coast of Florida on Tuesday.
Offshore oil and gas rigs have been evacuated and Florida's governor Charlie Crist has warned that Fay threatens a "major disaster".
Mr Crist claimed that the state was ready. A state of emergency has been called with some 500 national guard members deployed and another 8,500 on standby.