World News 16-08-2004 Bush Breezes Into Hurricane Zone who: George W Bush what: Accused of playing politics as he brings aid to hurricane-hit region where: Florida, USA when: Yesterday snippet: President George Bush flew into south-west Florida yesterday, reports today`s Independent, "on a mission that was as much about politics as compassion for the area devastated by a hurricane over the weekend." "Acutely aware that in 1992 his father was widely criticised for not reacting quickly enough to Hurricane Andrew, which also struck Florida in August of a presidential election year, Mr Bush viewed the damage from a helicopter and on the ground," adds an equally sceptical Times, "before receiving a full briefing all less than 24 hours after Charley struck." $8 billion of damage was done by Hurricane Charley, which left 16 dead and "many more unnaccounted for" at the weekend after 145-mph winds "uprooted houses, lifted 20-ton trucks and snapped street lights", says The Sun. British mum Chris White, 45, sheltered in the "panic room" of her Florida house with her family and their four dogs while the storm raged. "It went very dark and then there was another almighty clap of thunder and we heard a tremendous roar," she tells The Mirror. "It was like a freight train coming straight at us. The windows blew in, the whole house shuddered and then we heard bits of our roof ripped away." "Water started gushing through the light sockets and that was the most frightening thing in the world. I really thought we were going to die." [... more]

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