============================================================ DIGITAL DIGEST � http://www.naplesnews.com � September 26, 2004 ============================================================ Subscribe to the Naples Daily News: http://web.naplesnews.com/circulation/ CONDITIONS IN COLLIER LIKELY TO CLEAR BY THE AFTERNOON The worst of today's Hurricane Jeanne-powered weather in Collier County will most likely be gone by midday. Jeanne's rough weather could add up to 4 to 6 inches of rain, wind gusts of up to 40 mph and possible tornadoes, emergency managers say. Some dry air in the weather system around Jeanne is helping to keep the hurricane north of Lake Okeechobee and far enough away from Collier County to spare the area the worst effects as long as Jeanne keeps on her projected path and makes landfall in the Vero Beach area. LEE PLAYS HOST TO SOME EVACUEES FROM EAST COAST As Hurricane Jeanne grew more gusty Saturday, increasing sustained winds to 115 mph, east coast residents continued their trek westward to Southwest Florida. The Category 3 hurricane, predicted to hit the Vero Beach area last night and to move northwest into the middle of the state, sent residents away from gray skies and to hotels and a shelter in sunny Lee County. EAST COAST EVACUEES FILL SOUTHWEST FLORIDA HOTEL ROOMS Southwest Florida hotel rooms were booked days in advance and the majority of the ones that weren't were gone by Saturday. East coast residents were finding refuge in Collier and Lee counties. It has become a routine for some during this hurricane season. The Santos family from Melbourne Beach unloaded dozens of bags from their Explorer for the second time in three weeks. TECHNOLOGY IMPROVES STUDY OF HURRICANES Six weeks ago, it churned off the Southwest Florida coast. Hurricane Charley, heading north after slamming into Cuba, suddenly met warm water and the right wind environment to quickly grow from a Category 2 to a Category 4 storm. It took a sharp turn to the right and, instead of hitting Tampa or St. Petersburg, caught Punta Gorda residents off guard, hitting 70 miles south of where broadcasters had focused during their TV predictions. SOME EMPLOYEES MAY FACE LEGAL PROBLEMS IN WAKE OF HURRICANES Many workers who think their employers must pay them for the days their offices voluntarily closed during one of the hurricanes are out of luck. Just be glad they didn't fire you if downed trees or electrical wires prevented you from making it to the office once it reopened. BEN BOVA: HURRICANES ARE BEYOND THE CONTROL OF MAN ... FOR NOW Reader John D. Schmahmann, of Bonita Springs, brought up a very timely question in a letter he sent me last week: "With all of the scientific advances in the past 50 years," he wrote, "I would think that something can be done to alter (hurricanes), or are we doomed to suffer them?" Can we alter or abolish hurricanes? The short answer, unfortunately, is no. Not yet. But why is the answer negative? A bit of explanation � and history � is in order.
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