2004 — Sep 5-8, Hurricane Frances, FL, GA, SC, NC, OH (esp. FL) — 64
International ( 2)
— 1 Bahamas. (Direct). Beven. Tropical Cyclone Report…Frances, 25 August – 8 Sep 2004.
— 1 Bahamas. (Indirect). Beven. Tropical Cyclone Report…Frances, 25 August – 8 Sep 2004.
United States ( 63)
— 63 Blanchard tally of aggregated State and local breakouts below.
— 49 Banks, et al. “An Assessment of the…Barriers to Effective Disaster Response.” 4-30-2007.
— 49 Longshore. Encyclopedia of Hurricanes, Typhoons, and Cyclones (New Ed.). 2008, 198.
— 48 NCDC. Billion-Dollar Weather/Climate Disasters, 1980-2013. NOAA, NCDC.
— 47 Beven, John L. II. Tropical Cyclone Report. Hurricane Frances, 25 August – 8 Sep 2004.
— 47 McKinney, et al. “Direct and indirect mortality in Florida during the 2004…” 2011, 536.[1]
— 7 Direct. Franklin, et al. “Atlantic Hurricane Season of 2004,” MWR, March 2006, p1002.[2]
Alabama ( 1)
–1 Tuskegee, Sep 5. Traffic accident; family evacuating from Titusville, FL; boy (Dorang), 12.[3]
Florida ( 47)
— 47 State. Blanchard tally based on county and locality breakouts below.[4]
— 45 NWS. “Hurricane Frances…Related Deaths in Sept. 2004” (Spreadsheet). 10-13-2004.
— 43 Blanchard tally of Bevin’s 37 and coroner’s 6 from review of FEMA funeral payouts.
— 38 Sturrock. ESF-8 Public Health Preparedness and Response in Florida (Dissertation). 2010, 198.
— 37 State. Beven. Tropical Cyclone Report. Hurricane Frances, 25 Aug – 8 Sep 2004.
— 32 State, indirect. Beven. Tropical Cyclone Report. Hurricane Frances, 25 Aug – 8 Sep 2004.
—>23 State. News Herald, Panama City, FL. “Hurricane developments,” 9-11-2004, 8A.
— 5 State, direct. Beven. Tropical Cyclone Report. Hurricane Frances, 25 Aug – 8 Sep 2004.
— 6 State. Natural causes identified by coroner examination of FEMA funeral payouts.[5]
Florida County Breakouts:
— 1 Alachua Co, Gainesville, Sep 6. Suffocation; smoke/fire, burning candles, woman (McGriff), 86.[6]
— 1 Alachua Co. Gainesville vic., Sep 5. Tree fall, mobile home; woman (Rose Marie Hall), 61.[7]
— 1 Alachua County, I-17, Gainesville vicinity, Sep 5. Car hits tree; (James Schwartz, 28[8]).[9]
— 1 Bibb Co., Sep 7. Vehicle; public works employee truck rear-ended by SUV, man, 20s.[10]
— 1 Brevard, Oct 12 (earlier inj.). Electrocution; man, 46, connecting RV generator to home.[11]
— 1 Broward County. Renal failure after missing dialysis treatments; hurricane-related.[12]
— 1 Broward County. Vehicle-related. NWS WFO Miami-South Florida. Hurricane Frances.[13]
— 1 Broward Co., Sep 5. Vehicle collision at intersection with traffic lights out, woman, 33.[14]
— 1 Charlton County, Sep 7. Heart attack; man, 58, living in RV park, during the storm.[15]
— 1 Collier County, Sep 12 (earlier injuries). Fall from tree; clearing debris, man, 77.[16]
— 1 Flagler County, Sep 5. Drowning; refused police order to evacuate, boat sinks, man, 81.[17]
— 2 Gadsden Co., Sep 5. Vehicular; wet highway; John Madden and boy, Bowden Madden.[18]
— 1 Highlands County, Sep 6. Fall from roof; man, 80, cleaning storm debris from his roof.[19]
— 1 Hillsborough County, Tampa, Sep 5. Vehicular, one-car crash during rain, man, 19.[20]
— 1 Hillsborough County, Sep 9. Tree branch fall; hits utility repair man, 53, on the ground.[21]
— 1 Indian River, Sep 8. Carbon monoxide poisoning; generator in home garage, man, 30.[22]
— 1 Lake County, Sep 23 (Sep 5 injury). Wind gust, woman, 78, falls, severe leg injury.[23]
— 1 Lee Co., Fort Myers vic., Sep 5. Fall, blunt-force trauma, man, 81, walking dog, high wind.[24]
— 1 Marion County, Sep 6. Fall from ladder checking roof damage at school, man, 47.[25]
— 1 Marion County, Sep 7. Electrocution; female, 48, when lightning hits line tied to tree.[26]
— 1 Martin County, Sep 8. Drowning; workman, 43 repairing structure near pool.[27]
–?7? Miami-Dade County. FEMA funeral expenses for Frances related deaths.[28]
— 1 Orange Co., Sep 24 (Sep 3 injury). Man, 70, scalded by radiator water while evacuating.[29]
— 1 Osceola Co., Sep 12. Man, 19, repairing roof damage falls through sky light opening.[30]
— 1 Osceola Co., Sep 13. Man, 40, repairing roof damage falls through sky light opening.[31]
— 6 Palm Beach Co. Vehicle-related accidents and drownings. NWS WFO, Miami-So FL.[32]
–1 Palm Beach County, Sep 4. Heart attack; man, 46, while assisting neighbors shutter.[33]
–1 Palm Beach County, Sep 5. Drowning; securing boats at marina boat ramp, man, 55.[34]
–1 Palm Beach Co., Sep 7/8. Drowning; man, 22, attempts swim across marina channel.[35]
–1 Palm Beach Co., Sep 22. Electrocution; man, 52, trimming downed tree, hit power line.[36]
–1 Palm Beach Co., Sep 22 (from earlier injury). Fall in darkened home, man, 81.[37]
–1 Palm Beach Co., Sep 8. Vehicle accident, intersection where traffic lights out, man, 67.[38]
— 1 Polk County, Sep 10. Fall from roof while cleaning storm debris; man, 57.[39]
— 1 Polk Co., Sep 10. Fall from roof while cleaning storm debris; man, 58 (separate event).[40]
— 1 Polk County, Sep 11. Aircraft accident; spraying mosquitoes, wing hits tower, man, 61.[41]
— 1 Polk County, Sep 11. Aircraft accident; spraying mosquitoes, wing hits tower, man, 55.[42]
— 1 Putnam County, Sep 8. Tree limb fall onto man, 44, cleaning-up downed tree limbs.[43]
— 1 Seminole Co., Sanford. Vehicle; traffic light out at intersection due to storm, man, 44.[44]
— 1 St. Lucie Co., Sep 8. Suicide; gunshot wound, man, 63 “was distraught over…storm.”[45]
— 1 Sumter County, Sep 7. CO poisoning from generator in mobile home; man, 41.[46]
— 1 Taliaferro County, I-20, Sep 7. Vehicle hydroplanes off road and strikes tree; man, 22.[47]
— 1 Taliaferro Co., I-20, Sep 7. Vehicle hydroplanes off road and strikes tree; woman, 20.[48]
— 4 Volusia County, Deland, Sep 8. Two motorcycles skid into downed tree in dark.[49]
–1 Ryan Cayford, 21, of Debary.
–1 Andrea Wagner, 21, of Deltona.
–1 Matthew Teston, 21, of Orange City.
–1 Rebecca Smith, 20, of Deland.
— 1 Warren Co., I-20, Sep 6. Car hydroplanes into oncoming car (no injuries); woman, 20.[50]
— 1 Warren County, I-20, Sep 6. Car hydroplanes into oncoming car (no injuries); male, 24.[51]
Georgia ( 8)
— 8 (Indirect). Beven. Tropical Cyclone Report. Hurricane Frances, 25 August – 8 Sep 2004.
— 1 Butts County, Jackson Lake, Sep 7. Drowning; blown off boat by high wind, man, 22.[52]
— 5 Vehicular. AP. “14 deaths blames on Hurricane Frances.” USA Today, 9-7-2004.[53]
–3 One accident. AP. “14 deaths blames on Hurricane Frances.” USA Today, 9-7-2004.
–1 Sep 6. Vehicular; car hydroplanes and overturns during the storm, female, 18.[54]
–1 Ashburn, Sep 7. Head-on collision; Brant Moskowicz, 40.[55]
North Carolina ( ~3)
— ~3 National Weather Ser., Raleigh, NC. Hurricane Frances, September 2004. 10-18-2004.[56]
Ohio ( 2)
— 1 (Indirect). Beven. Tropical Cyclone Report. Hurricane Frances, 25 August – 8 Sep 2004.
— 1 (Direct). Beven. Tropical Cyclone Report. Hurricane Frances, 25 August – 8 Sep 2004.
— 1 Cambridge, Guernsey Co., Apparent heart attack; man, 65, helping pump basement water.[57]
— 1 Tuscarawas County. Drowning; girl, 9, swept off footbridge by rain-swollen stream.[58]
South Carolina ( 3)
—>1 National Snow & Ice Data Center, NASA. AMSR-E Images of Hurricane Frances.[59]
— 1 Aiken Co., I-20, Aiken vic. Traffic accident; woman (Robin J. Williams), 50.[60]
— 1 Fairfield County. Tornado destroys mobile home, middle-aged man injured, later dies.[61]
— 1 Greenville County, Greenville, Sep 7. Electrocution; utility worker, Glenn Wyatt, 33.[62]
Cause of Death Breakouts
Direct ( 8):
Drowning: ( 3)
–1 FL, Flagler County, Sep 5. Drowning; refused police order to evacuate, boat sinks, man, 81.
–1 GA, Butts County, Jackson Lake, Sep 7. Drowning; blown off boat by high wind, man, 22.[63]
–1 OH, Tuscarawas County. Drowning; girl, 9, swept off footbridge by rain-swollen stream.
Electrocution: ( 1)
–1 FL, Marion County, Sep 7. Electrocution; female, 48, when lightning hits line tied to tree.[64]
Fall; outside: ( 2)
–1 FL, Lake County, Sep 23 (Sep 5 injury). Wind gust, woman, 78, falls, severe leg injury.
–1 FL, Lee Co., Ft. Myers vic., Sep 5. Fall; blunt-force trauma, man, 81, walking dog, high wind.
Tornado: ( 1)
–1 SC, Fairfield County. Tornado destroys mobile home, middle-aged man injured, later dies.
Tree fall during hurricane: ( 1)
–1 FL, Alachua County, Sep 5. Tree fall onto mobile home; woman (Rose Marie Hall), 61.
Indirect (56):
Accidents ( 3)
–1 FL, Orange Co., Sep 24 (Sep 3 injury). Man, 70, scalded by radiator water while evacuating.
–1 FL, Osceola County, Sep 12. Man, 19, repairing roof damage falls through sky light opening.
–1 FL, Osceola County, Sep 13. Man, 40, repairing roof damage falls through sky light opening.
Airplane crash: ( 2)
–1 FL, Polk County, Sep 11. Aircraft accident; spraying mosquitoes, wing hits tower, man, 61.
–1 FL, Polk County, Sep 11. Aircraft accident; spraying mosquitoes, wing hits tower, man, 55.
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning: ( 2)
–1 FL, Indian River Co., Sep 8. Carbon mono. poisoning; generator in home garage, man, 30.
–1 FL, Sumter County, Sep 7. CO poisoning from generator in mobile home; man, 41.
Drowning accident: ( 3)
–1 FL, Martin County, Sep 8. Drowning; workman, 43 repairing structure near pool.
–1 FL, Palm Beach County, Sep 5. Drowning; securing boats at marina boat ramp, man, 55.[65]
–1 FL, Palm Beach Co., Sep 7/8. Drowning; man, 22, attempts swim across marina channel.[66]
Electrocution: ( 3)
–1 FL, Brevard, Oct 12 (earlier inj.). Electrocution; man, 46, connecting RV generator to home.
–1 SC, Palm Beach Co., Sep 22. Electrocution; man, 52, trimming downed tree, hit power line.
–1 SC, Greenville County, Greenville, Sep 7. Electrocution; utility worker, Glenn Wyatt, 33.
Falls, inside: ( 1)
–1 FL, Palm Beach Co., Sep 22 (from earlier injury). Fall in darkened home, man, 81.
Fall; outside during cleanup: ( 5)
–1 FL, Collier County, Sep 12 (earlier injuries). Fall from tree; clearing debris, man, 77.
–1 FL, Highlands County, Sep 6. Fall from roof; man, 80, cleaning storm debris from his roof.
–1 FL, Marion County, Sep 6. Fall from ladder checking roof damage at school, man, 47.
–1 FL, Polk County, Sep 10. Fall from roof while cleaning storm debris; man, 57.
–1 FL, Polk Co., Sep 10. Fall from roof while cleaning storm debris; man, 58 (separate event).
Fire/Smoke Inhalation/Suffocation: ( 1)
–1 FL, Alachua Co, Sep 6. Suffocation; smoke/fire, burning candles, woman (McGriff), 86.
Health-Related: ( 4)
–1 FL, Broward County. Renal failure after missing dialysis treatments; hurricane-related.
–1 FL, Charlton County, Sep 7. Heart attack; man, 58, living in RV park, during the storm.
–1 FL, Palm Beach County, Sep 4. Heart attack; man, 46, while assisting neighbors shutter.
–1 OH, Cambridge, Guernsey Co., Apparent heart attack; man, 65, helping pump-out basement.
Suicide: ( 1)
–1 FL, St. Lucie County, Sep 8. Suicide; gunshot, man, 63 “was distraught over…storm.”
Tree fall during cleanup: ( 2)
–1 FL, Hillsborough County, Sep 9. Tree branch fall; hits utility repair man, 53, on the ground.
–1 FL, Putnam County, Sep 8. Tree limb fall onto man, 44, cleaning-up downed tree limbs.
Vehicular: (23)
–1 FL, Alachua County, I-17, Gainsville vicinity, Sep 5. Car hits tree; (James Schwartz, 28).
–1 FL, Bibb Co., Sep 7. Vehicle; public works employee truck rear-ended by SUV, man, 20s.
–1 FL, Broward County. Vehicular. NWS WFO Miami-South Florida. Hurricane Frances.
–1 FL, Broward Co., Sep 5. Vehicle collision at intersection with traffic lights out, woman, 33.
–2 FL, Gadsden Co., Sep 5. Vehicular; wet highway; John Madden and boy, Bowden Madden.
–1 FL, Hillsborough County, Tampa, Sep 5. Vehicular, one-car crash during rain, man, 19.
–1 FL, Palm Beach Co., Sep 8. Vehicle accident, intersection where traffic lights out, man, 67.
–1 FL, Seminole Co., Sanford. Vehicle; traffic light out at intersection due to storm, man, 44.
–1 FL, Taliaferro County, I-20, Sep 7. Vehicle hydroplanes off road, strikes tree; man, 22.
–1 FL, Taliaferro County, I-20, Sep 7. Vehicle hydroplanes off road, strikes tree; woman, 20.
–4 FL, Volusia County, Deland, Sep 8. Two motorcycles skid into downed tree in dark.
–1 Ryan Cayford, 21, of Debary.
–1 Andrea Wagner, 21, of Deltona.
–1 Matthew Teston, 21, of Orange City.
–1 Rebecca Smith, 20, of Deland.
–1 FL, Warren Co., I-20, Sep 6. Car hydroplanes into oncoming car (no injuries); woman, 20.
–1 FL, Warren County, I-20, Sep 6. Car hydroplanes into oncoming car (no injuries); male, 24.
–5 GA, Vehicular. Assoc. Pr. “14 deaths blames on Hurricane Frances.” USA Today, 9-7-2004.
–3 One accident. AP. “14 deaths blames on Hurricane Frances.” USA Today, 9-7-2004.
–1 Sep 6. Vehicular; car hydroplanes and overturns during the storm, female, 18.[67]
–1 Ashburn, Sep 7. Head-on collision; Brant Moskowicz, 40.[68]
–1 SC, Traffic accident. CNN. “Florida cleans up as Frances moves north,” 9-7-2004.
Unidentified: ( 5)
— 2 GA (indirect). Beven. Tropical Cyclone Report…Frances, 25 Aug – 8 Sep 2004.[69]
–~3 NC. National Weather Ser., Raleigh, NC. Hurricane Frances, Sept. 2004. 10-18-2004.[70]
Narrative Information
South Florida Sun-Sentinel: “Fort Lauderdale, Fla. — The federal government used hurricane aid money to pay funeral expenses for at least 203 Floridians whose deaths were not caused by last year’s storms, the state’s coroners said. The deaths include a Palm Beach Gardens millionaire recovering from heart surgery who died two days before Hurricane Frances, a Miami baby not born when the storm arrived, and a Port Charlotte man who died of cirrhosis and heart failure five months after Hurricane Charley. In two other cases, coroners could find no record of the people dying.
“The Federal Emergency Management Agency approved 319 hurricane funeral claims in Florida for $1.3 million. But most of those people died from natural ailments, suicides or accidents unrelated to the storms, the coroners concluded.
“Florida’s Medical Examiners Commission will discuss the findings at a meeting today in Key Biscayne. The commission began a review of the deaths after the South Florida Sun-Sentinel reported in April that FEMA funeral claims were nearly three times as high as the official hurricane death toll. Statewide, the number of deaths FEMA counted as hurricane-related but that coroners did not blame on the storms is at least 203. That number could increase because coroners have not completed a review of 33 deaths that resulted in FEMA payouts, most of them in the Panhandle, and medical examiners did not rule on 10 other people who died outside Florida. The death review is the first official look at where the funeral money went.
“Charged with compiling the official list of hurricane deaths, the coroners examined the FEMA cases to see whether they missed any fatalities. The review identified six deaths not previously attributed to the storms, including one man in Broward who died of renal failure after missing dialysis treatments because of Hurricane Frances.
“Ten people were not in Florida at the time of their deaths, including Brant Moskowicz, 40, of Boca Raton. He died in a head-on collision Sept. 7 in Ashburn, Ga.” (South Florida Sun-Sentinel. “Deaths claimed as storm-related found not to be.” 8-11-2005.)
Sources
Associated Press. “13 Florida deaths blames on Hurricane Frances.” St. Augustine.com, 9-8-2004. Accessed at: http://staugustine.com/stories/090804/sta_2565602.shtml
Associated Press. “14 deaths blames on Hurricane Frances.” USA Today, 9-7-2004. Accessed at:
http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/weather/hurricane/2004-09-07-frances_x.htm
Associated Press. “Hurricane Frances floods streets, knocks out power as it crosses Florida.” USA Today, 9-6-2004. Accessed at: http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/weather/hurricane/2004-09-05-frances-landfall_x.htm
Banks, Laura L., Michael E. Richards, Mark B. Shah (Center for Disaster Medicine, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque). “An Assessment of the Personal and Emotional Barriers to Effective Disaster Response on the Part of Healthcare Professionals. 4-30-2007. Boulder, CO. Natural Hazards Center, University of Colorado at Boulder, Quick Response Report No. 188, December 2006. At: http://www.colorado.edu/hazards/research/qr/qr188/qr188.pdf
Beven, John L. II. Tropical Cyclone Report. Hurricane Frances, 25 August – 8 September 2004. National Hurricane Center, National Weather Service, NOAA. 12-17-2004. Accessed at: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/2004frances.shtml
Brewer, Michael. Email from Chief Michael Brewer, Director, Butts County Emergency Management Agency, 12-16-2004 to Kenneth Davis, Georgia Emergency Management Agency. Forwarded to Max Mayfield, National Hurricane Center. Forwarded by John L. Bevin, Tropical Prediction Center, National Hurricane Center, 3-7-2014 to Edward N. Rappaport, Deputy Director, National Hurricane Center, and then by Dr. Rappaport to Wayne Blanchard, 3-7-2014.
CNN. “Florida cleans up as Frances moves north,” 9-7-2004. Accessed 3-3-2014 at: http://www.cnn.com/2004/WEATHER/09/07/hurricane.frances/
Collins, Jeffrey (Associated Press). “Rain and wind but not much damage,” Aiken Standard, SC, 9-9-2004, 6A. At: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=103883399&sterm
Franklin, James L., R. J. Pasch, L. A. Avila, J. L. Beven II, M. B. Lawrence, S. R. Stewart, E. S. Blake. “Annual Summary. Atlantic Hurricane Season of 2004,” Monthly Weather Review, Vol. 134, March 2006, pp. 981-1025. At: http://www.aoml.noaa.gov/hrd/hurdat/mwr_pdf/2004.pdf
Kestin, Sally, Megan O’Matz and Jon Burstein. “FEMA paid for at least 203 funerals not related to 2004 hurricanes.” Sun-Sentinel, FL, 8-10-2005. Accessed 3-9-2014 at: http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-fema10aug10,0,1862957.story
Longshore, David. Encyclopedia of Hurricanes, Typhoons, and Cyclones (New Edition). New York, NY: Facts on File, 2008. 468 pages. Google preview accessible at: http://books.google.com/books?id=8kXwskQHBLoC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
Los Angeles Times, CA. “Remnants of hurricane still strong enough to stir up trouble.” The Gazette, Colorado Springs, CO, 9-8-2004, p. A10. Accessed 3-9-2014 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=189014166&sterm
McKinney, Nathan, Chris Houser, Klaus Meyer-Arendt. “Direct and indirect mortality in Florida during the 2004 hurricane season.” International Journal of Biometeorology, Vol. 55, 2011, pp. 533-546. Accessed 2-23-2014 at: http://www.academia.edu/421697/Direct_and_Indirect_Mortality_In_Florida_During_the_2004_Hurricane_Season
National Climatic Data Center. Billion-Dollar Weather/Climate Disasters, 1980-2013. NOAA, NCDC. Accessed at: https://www.ncdc.noaa.gov/billions/events
National Snow & Ice Data Center, NASA. AMSR-E Images of Hurricane Frances. (Web). Accessed 3-3-2014 at: http://nsidc.org/data/amsre/image_gallery/frances.html
National Weather Service. “Hurricane Frances Storm Related Deaths in September 2004” (Spreadsheet). As of 1500, 10-13-2004. John L. Bevin (NOAA) email attachment to Edward N. Rappaport, National Hurricane Center, and forwarded to Wayne Blanchard, 3-7-2014.
National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office, Miami-South Florida. Hurricane Frances (website). 4-8-2010 modification. Accessed at: http://www.srh.noaa.gov/mfl/?n=frances
National Weather Service Weather Forecast Office, Raleigh, NC. Hurricane Frances, September 2004. 10-18-2004 update. Accessed at: http://www4.ncsu.edu/~nwsfo/storage/cases/20040908/
News Herald, Panama City, FL. “Hurricane developments,” 9-11-2004, 8A. Accessed 3-9-2014 at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=182085937&sterm
Palm Beach Post, FL. Mean Season: Florida’s Hurricanes of 2004. Roanoke, VA, R. R. Donnelley and Longstreet Press, 2004. Google preview accessed at:
http://books.google.com/books?id=QBj7tWkUmwMC&printsec=frontcover#v=onepage&q&f=false
Pharos-Tribune, Logansport, IN. “Frances (continued from page A1),” 9-7-2004. A2. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=109357850&sterm
Pickering, Bob (Flagler County, Georgia, Emergency Management). Email dated 11-12-2004, subject “RE: Storm Fatality,” to Al Sandrick, NOAA. Forwarded 3-7-2014 by Edward Rappaport, Deputy Director, National Hurricane Center, to Wayne Blanchard.
South Florida Sun-Sentinel. “Deaths claimed as storm-related found not to be.” Baltimore Sun, 8-11-2005. At: http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2005-08-11/news/0508110244_1_hurricane-frances-fema-coroners
Sturrock, Kenneth. ESF-8 Public Health Preparedness and Response in Florida (Dissertation). University of Florida Graduate School, 2010. Accessed 3-9-2014 at: http://ufdcimages.uflib.ufl.edu/UF/E0/04/16/57/00001/sturrock_k.pdf
Winchester Star, VA. “Francis (continued from A1),” 9-7-2004. Accessed at: http://newspaperarchive.com/fullpagepdfviewer?img=217040658&sterm
[1] Table 1. “Dates, damage estimates and official death counts for hurricanes to make landfall in the State of Florida during the 2004 hurricane season.” No source citation. We have to assume “official death counts” are for U.S. A look at the other death counts in the Table makes clear that the reference could not be to Florida alone.
[2] “Francis is directly responsible for eight deaths: five in [FL]…one each in [GA], [OH], and…Bahamas. Of the US deaths, three are attributed to wind, one to storm surge, one to freshwater floods, one to a tornado…one…lightning.”
[3] 10-21-2014 email from boy’s father, Kyle P. Dorang, to Public Affairs at National Weather Service, NOAA, noting that his son, Tyler Braden Dorang, was killed in a traffic accident while evacuating from Frances and asking if his death could be recognized in the NWS database. Email forwarded to Blanchard by Edward Rappaport, Deputy Director, National Hurricane Center, 10-22-2014.
[4] Does not include the death near Tuskegee, AL of 12-year-old Tyler Braden Dorang, evacuating from FL.
[5] This includes, however, the Broward County renal failure death noted below.
[6] NWS. “Hurricane Frances Storm Related Deaths in September 2004” (Spreadsheet). As of 1500, 10-13-2004. “Officials believe the death of Jacqueline McGriff, 87, was caused by smoke inhalation when burning candles set a mattress on fire. The candles were lit because the power was out. Her body was found Monday [Sep 6].” Associated Press. “13 Florida deaths blames on Hurricane Frances.” St. Augustine.com, 9-8-2004; also, Winchester Star, VA. “Francis (continued from A1),” 9-7-2004.
[7] AP. “13 Florida deaths blames on Hurricane Frances.” St. Augustine.com, 9-8-2004; Winchester Star, VA. “Francis (continued from A1),” 9-7-2004. Aged 60 according to: NWS. “Hurricane Frances Storm Related Deaths in September 2004” (Spreadsheet). As of 1500, 10-13-2004.
[8] Associated Press. “13 Florida deaths blames on Hurricane Frances.” St. Augustine.com, 9-8-2004.
[9] AP. “13 Florida deaths blames on Hurricane Frances.” St. Augustine.com, 9-8-2004. NWS account (“Hurricane Frances Storm Related Deaths in September 2004” (Spreadsheet). As of 1500, 10-13-2004,) writes of this indirect fatality: “Victim was traveling on I-75 at a high rate of speed when he hit standing water in the right lane. He lost control and impacted into a tree.”
[10] NWS. “Hurricane Frances Storm Related Deaths in September 2004” (Spreadsheet). As of 1500, 10-13-2004.
[11] NWS. “Hurricane Frances Storm Related Deaths in September 2004” (Spreadsheet). As of 1500, 10-13-2004.
[12] South Florida Sun-Sentinel. “Deaths claimed as storm-related found not to be.” 8-11-2005.
[13] Reported two vehicle-related fatalities, but we have more detail from another NWS source, thus list it separately.
[14] NWS. “Hurricane Frances Storm Related Deaths in September 2004” (Spreadsheet). As of 1500, 10-13-2004
[15] NWS. “Hurricane Frances Storm Related Deaths in September 2004” (Spreadsheet). As of 1500, 10-13-2004.
[16] NWS. “Hurricane Frances Storm Related Deaths in September 2004” (Spreadsheet). As of 1500, 10-13-2004.
[17] NWS. “Hurricane Frances Storm Related Deaths in September 2004” (Spreadsheet). As of 1500, 10-13-2004. An email string sent to Wayne Blanchard on 3-7-2014 by Edward Rappaport, Deputy Director, National Hurricane Center (Pickering to Sandrik, 11-12-2004), notes that this man lived on a sailboat on Silver Lake off the Intra Coastal Waterway and that he drowned on Sep 5 after “a heavy squall bringing white out conditions came through.” Notes the boat capsized and the body was found several days later (probably Sep 7).
[18] Associated Press. “14 deaths blames on Hurricane Frances.” USA Today, 9-7-2004.
[19] NWS. “Hurricane Frances Storm Related Deaths in September 2004” (Spreadsheet). As of 1500, 10-13-2004.
[20] Associated Press. “13 Florida deaths blames on Hurricane Frances.” St. Augustine.com, 9-8-2004; NWS. “Hurricane Frances Storm Related Deaths in September 2004” (Spreadsheet). As of 1500, 10-13-2004.
[21] NWS. “Hurricane Frances Storm Related Deaths in September 2004” (Spreadsheet). As of 1500, 10-13-2004.
[22] NWS. “Hurricane Frances Storm Related Deaths in September 2004” (Spreadsheet). As of 1500, 10-13-2004.
[23] NWS. “Hurricane Frances Storm Related Deaths in September 2004” (Spreadsheet). As of 1500, 10-13-2004.
[24] NWS. “Hurricane Frances Storm Related Deaths in September 2004” (Spreadsheet). As of 1500, 10-13-2004. An AP story writes he died of abdominal trauma when he was hit by debris. (AP. “13 [FL] deaths blamed… Frances.” St. Augustine.com, 9-8-2004.) The NCDC writes: “an elderly man was blown over by a wind gust while walking his dog 10 feet outside of his home. He hit his head on the sidewalk and died from blunt force trauma.”
[25] Associated Press. “13 Florida deaths blames on Hurricane Frances.” St. Augustine.com, 9-8-2004.
[26] This is listed as a direct death. The spreadsheet “Description of Incident” notes: “Removing towels from clothesline that was tied to a pine tree which was struck by lightning.” NWS. “Hurricane Frances Storm Related Deaths in September 2004” (Spreadsheet). As of 1500, 10-13-2004.
[27] NWS. “Hurricane Frances Storm Related Deaths in September 2004” (Spreadsheet). As of 1500, 10-13-2004. “was found…in the pool probably as a result of being injured during work and falling in pool.”
[28] “In Miami-Dade County, FEMA paid seven Hurricane Frances funeral claims, but the Labor Day weekend storm was not to blame for any of the deaths, said Medical Examiner Bruce Hyma. T toddler drowned in a swimming pool before Frances hit, and the others died of natural causes, Hyma concluded. Tremayne Ward Jr. was still in his mother’s womb when the storm brushed by Miami. The 21-day-old infant died Oct. 13 of an infection, ‘clearly not storm-related,’ Hyma said. Truck driver Jerry Watkins, 60 of Webster Fla., had a history of heart disease. While in South Florida making a delivery, he suffered a heart attack, collapsed and died Oct. 14, weeks after Hurricanes Francis and Jeanne. ‘No hurricane was evident,’ Broward Medical Examiner Joshua Perper concluded. Watkins’ widow, Joan, told the Sun-Sentinel that a week before he died, her husband’s truck hit a tree downed by one of the storms and the impact affected a stent in his heart. FEMA awarded her almost $6,000 after a doctor linked his heart attack to the accident. FEMA funeral assistance also covered six suicides, including that of Delbert M. Copeland, 42, of Lady Lake in central Florida. He died Sept. 7 in the Withlacoochee State Forest after shooting himself in the head. ‘Distraught over business indebtedness,’ coroner records say….Officials found no death certificates for two people FEMA identified as having died in Florida, including Airaden R. White in Broward County. Unless FEMA misspelled the names or the people died in another state, Florida should have a death certificate on file, coroners said….In response to concerns by…[a] Senate committee, FEMA on Friday announced several changes to its disaster assistance program, including how it awards funeral money. Applicants must now prove they are legally ‘next of kin’ to the deceased. They also must provide signed documentation from a coroner or doctor attributing the death to the disaster, a death certificate and evidence that “funeral expenses have not been met by other resources.” Under federal guidelines, FEMA is only supposed to pay funeral expenses for deaths “that are a direct result of a disaster.” After last year’s hurricanes, FEMA officials said they relied on coroners, news stories, family doctors, police and paramedics in deciding whether to pay a funeral claim. Agency officials told the Gainesville coroner that anyone who died in a FEMA-provided trailer, regardless of the cause, could receive funeral benefits. “FEMA is counting `storm-related’ any person who dies while receiving services such as housing from FEMA,” Larry Bedore, the coroner’s director of operations, wrote in a June 14 e-mail to the Medical Examiners Commission….Sheldon Solodar, 75, of Palm Beach Gardens, underwent heart surgery in July. He died Sept. 2 at St. Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm Beach, two days before Hurricane Frances hit. His death certificate lists the manner of death as natural due to heart problems and an infection. His widow, Jacqui Solodar, said she thinks the hospital was short-staffed while preparing for Frances. “My husband had an episode and there was no one there to take care of him,” she said. The hospital disagrees, saying it was “more than adequately staffed,” said spokeswoman Patti Patrick. Two weeks after her husband’s burial, Jacqui Solodar said she reported the death to FEMA. A caseworker visited her home, she said, and within days she received $7,500, the maximum funeral payout. Sheldon Solodar, who had run a paperboard company, left an estate worth $2 million, court records show….Bell, the Palm Beach County coroner, said FEMA should rely on medical examiners in approving funeral payments after hurricanes. “We’re clearly the most objective,” he said. “To make decisions based just on what the family says, or what the treating physician says or what FEMA wants to do, is less than optimal.”” (Sally Kestin, Megan O’Matz, Jon Burstein. “FEMA paid for at least 203 funerals not related to 2004 hurricanes.” Sun-Sentinel, FL, 8-10-2005.)
[29] “Man was evacuating from Hurricane Frances on 9/3 on the Florida Turnpike. He stopped to check his radiator which sent scalding water to his face and chest. He was hospitalized until his death on 9/24.” NWS. “Hurricane Frances Storm Related Deaths in September 2004” (Spreadsheet). As of 1500, 10-13-2004.
[30] NWS. “Hurricane Frances Storm Related Deaths in September 2004” (Spreadsheet). As of 1500, 10-13-2004.
[31] Specifically noted that this is a separate incident from that of the day before. NWS. “Hurricane Frances Storm Related Deaths in September 2004” (Spreadsheet). As of 1500, 10-13-2004.
[32] Nat. Weather Ser. Weather Forecast Office, Miami-South Florida. Hurricane Frances (website). 4-8-2010 mod.
[33] He and neighbors were putting up hurricane shutters when he collapsed and died. Citing Medical Examiner, note reads: “Heart disease exacerbated by stress from storm preparation.” NWS. “Hurricane Frances Storm Related Deaths in September 2004” (Spreadsheet). As of 1500, 10-13-2004
[34] Sturrock. ESF-8 Public Health Preparedness and Response in Florida (Dissertation). 2010, 199. Disappeared from the ramp and later found in the Intracoastal Waterway.” NWS. “Hurricane Frances Storm Related Deaths in September 2004” (Spreadsheet). As of 1500, 10-13-2004.
[35] “Man was last seen by his family on 7 Sept when he told them that he was going to swim across a Marina channel to an evacuated area where his home was. His body was found the next day in the Marina waters.” NWS. “Hurricane Frances Storm Related Deaths in September 2004” (Spreadsheet). As of 1500, 10-13-2004.
[36] “The tree had fallen on a high power line..” NWS. “Hurricane Frances…Deaths…” (Spreadsheet). 10-13-2004.
[37] “Elderly man was looking for a flashlight during power outage…fell and sustained head injuries, but was not discovered for several days…was hospitalized but died…on 9/22 from his head injuries.” NWS. “Hurricane Frances Storm Related Deaths in September 2004” (Spreadsheet). As of 1500, 10-13-2004
[38] NWS. “Hurricane Frances Storm Related Deaths in September 2004” (Spreadsheet). As of 1500, 10-13-2004
[39] NWS. “Hurricane Frances Storm Related Deaths in September 2004” (Spreadsheet). As of 1500, 10-13-2004.
[40] NWS. “Hurricane Frances Storm Related Deaths in September 2004” (Spreadsheet). As of 1500, 10-13-2004.
[41] NWS. “Hurricane Frances Storm Related Deaths in September 2004” (Spreadsheet). As of 1500, 10-13-2004: “…contract employee of FEMA spraying for mosquitoes due to excessive standing water from Frances. Aircraft wing clipped a tower and crashed.”
[42] NWS. “Hurricane Frances Storm Related Deaths in September 2004” (Spreadsheet). As of 1500, 10-13-2004.
[43] NWS. “Hurricane Frances Storm Related Deaths in September 2004” (Spreadsheet). As of 1500, 10-13-2004.
[44] NWS. “Hurricane Frances Storm Related Deaths in September 2004” (Spreadsheet). As of 1500, 10-13-2004; Associated Press. “13 Florida deaths blames on Hurricane Frances.” St. Augustine.com, 9-8-2004.
[45] NWS. “Hurricane Frances Storm Related Deaths in September 2004” (Spreadsheet). As of 1500, 10-13-2004.
[46] NWS. “Hurricane Frances Storm Related Deaths in September 2004” (Spreadsheet). As of 1500, 10-13-2004.
[47] NWS. “Hurricane Frances Storm Related Deaths in September 2004” (Spreadsheet). As of 1500, 10-13-2004.
[48] Passenger in aforementioned vehicle. NWS. “Hurricane Frances Storm…Deaths” (Spreadsheet). 10-13-2004.
[49] Associated Press. “13 Florida deaths blames on Hurricane Frances.” St. Augustine.com, 9-8-2004. Curfew in effect because power was out.
[50] NWS. “Hurricane Frances Storm Related Deaths in September 2004” (Spreadsheet). As of 1500, 10-13-2004.
[51] Passenger in aforementioned car. NWS. “Hurricane Frances Storm…Deaths” (Spreadsheet). 10-13-2004.
[52] Email from Chief Michael Brewer, Director, Butts County Emergency Management Agency, 12-16-2004 to Kenneth Davis, Georgia Emergency Management Agency. Forwarded to Max Mayfield, National Hurricane Center. Forwarded by John L. Bevin, Tropical Prediction Center, National Hurricane Center, 3-7-2014 to Edward N. Rappaport, Deputy Director, National Hurricane Center, and then by Dr. Rappaport to Wayne Blanchard, 3-7-2014.
[53] A LA Times report cites the Georgia Emergency Management Agency as source for five traffic accident fatalities. (Los Angeles Times, CA. “Remnants of hurricane still strong enough to stir up trouble.” The Gazette, Colorado Springs, CO, 9-8-2004, p. A10.)
[54] Pharos-Tribune, Logansport, IN. “Frances (continued from page A1,” 9-7-2004. A2.
[55] South Florida Sun-Sentinel. “Deaths claimed as storm-related found not to be.” 8-11-2005.
[56] Our number based on: “Several fatalities in North Carolina were directly related to the storm.”
[57] NWS. “Hurricane Frances Storm Related Deaths in September 2004” (Spreadsheet). As of 1500, 10-13-2004.
[58] NWS. “Hurricane Frances Storm Related Deaths in September 2004” (Spreadsheet). As of 1500, 10-13-2004.
[59] “The storm and its remnants were blamed for at least 19 deaths in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina.”
[60] Lost control of her sports utility vehicle according to Coroner Parks Evans; of Martinez GA. Noted as one of two “storm-related deaths” in SC. Jeffrey Collins (Associated Press). “Rain and wind but not much damage,” Aiken Standard, SC, 9-9-2004, 6A. Also: CNN. “Florida cleans up as Frances moves north,” 9-7-2004.
[61] NWS. “Hurricane Frances Storm Related Deaths in September 2004” (Spreadsheet). As of 1500, 10-13-2004.
[62] Jeffrey Collins (Associated Press). “Rain and wind but not much damage,” Aiken Standard, SC, 9-9-2004, 6A.
[63] Email from Chief Michael Brewer, Director, Butts County Emergency Management Agency, 12-16-2004 to Kenneth Davis, Georgia Emergency Management Agency. Forwarded to Max Mayfield, National Hurricane Center. Forwarded by John L. Bevin, Tropical Prediction Center, National Hurricane Center, 3-7-2014 to Edward N. Rappaport, Deputy Director, National Hurricane Center, and then by Dr. Rappaport to Wayne Blanchard, 3-7-2014.
[64] NWS Hurricane Francis spreadsheet lists this as an indirect death.
[65] NWS Hurricane Francis spreadsheet lists this as an indirect death.
[66] NWS Hurricane Francis spreadsheet lists this as an indirect death.
[67] Pharos-Tribune, Logansport, IN. “Frances (continued from page A1,” 9-7-2004. A2.
[68] South Florida Sun-Sentinel. “Deaths claimed as storm-related found not to be.” 8-11-2005.
[69] Report actually notes 8 indirect deaths, but we have accounted separately for five vehicular-related deaths and one drowning after high wind knocked a boater into Jackson Lake in Butts County.
[70] Our number based on: “Several fatalities in North Carolina were directly related to the storm.”