Battered Florida cleans up after Wilma kills six

Beginning an agonising, all-too-familiar process, Floridians lined up for generators, chain saws and other clean-up supplies only hours after Hurricane Wilma cut a costly, deadly swathe across the peninsula.

The storm slammed across the state in about seven hours yesterday, causing billions in insured damage and leaving 6 million people without electricity.

Wilma was blamed for at least six and possibly as many as eight deaths statewide.

Officials in the state’s three most populous areas – Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties – were preparing to distribute ice, water and other items to storm-struck residents today, while utility-restoration efforts could stretch into weeks.

“It will be days or weeks before we are back to normal,” said Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Alvarez.

President Bush signed a disaster declaration and promised swift help for the storm-ravaged areas.

The hurricane arrived as a Category 3 and littered the landscape with debris. Felled trees and blown roofs dotted roads, and all three of South Florida’s major airports were closed.