Hurricane Irma has pummelled Florida, packing winds up to 130mph, swamping homes and boats, knocking out power to millions and toppling massive construction cranes over the Miami skyline.

Trying to prove a point to someone who deals in ‘alternative facts’ is like trying to knit an Aran sweater out of overcooked spaghetti, writes Terry Prone.

Driven from splintered trailers, roofless condominiums and powerless suburban homes, Hurricane Charley’s hungry victims sweated through long lines to find food, showers and drinking water three days after the storm left their lives in shambles.

HURRICANE Charley slammed Florida’s west coast with winds of 145mph last night, striking south of populous Tampa and threatening to swamp the vulnerable shore with a 15-foot tidal surge.