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Fay Sets Course for Florida Panhandle

6 deaths tied to storm

By Nick McMaster, Newser Staff

Posted Aug 22, 2008 12:50 PM CDT

(Newser) – Tropical Storm Fay is heading west across Florida, having pummeled the southern part of the state with flooding from 20-inch rainfalls and soaked areas farther north, the Tallahassee Democrat reports. Authorities have linked the storm to the deaths of six Floridians, including a 21-year-old woman who drowned while swimming in the Atlantic, which has experienced unusually strong undertows related to Fay.

The five other victims of the storm drowned, died in car accidents or suffered carbon monoxide poisoning while stuck in their homes with emergency generators. Fay is expected to batter North Florida over the weekend and then move on, so officials are hopeful that the state primary election Tuesday won’t have to be postponed.

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This image provided by NOAA shows Tropical Storm Fay taken Friday Aug. 22, 2008 at 6:32 a.m. EDT. (AP Photo/NOAA)

Eedie O'Kane hugs one of the cats she rescued from her mother's flooded home in Melbourne, Fla., Friday, Aug. 22, 2008. (AP Photo/J. Pat Carter)

Stan Kasyanov surveys flood waters surrounding his house left by Tropical Storm Fay in the Lamplighter Village in Melbourne, Fla. Friday, Aug. 22, 2008. (AP Photo/J. Pat Carter)

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We want every Floridian, every guest to be a survivor of this storm. Stay vigilant. Stay calm. Stay focused. This is a killer storm. - Gov. Charlie Crist

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Fay Sets Course for Florida Panhandle