Hurricane leaves many out of jobs

PORT CHARLOTTE, Fla. -- Still smarting over the loss of their homes, Hurricane Charley's victims turned out by the hundreds in 90-degree heat yesterday to cope with the storm's latest blow to their lives -- the mass shutdown of businesses that has left them without jobs.

''Charley laid me off," said Rose Vito, a 57-year-old telemarketing assistant in red-plaid pajamas, lined up outside the Employ Florida mobile benefits station parked at Port Charlotte's Harold Avenue Recreational Center. ''Without phones and computers, they can't function."

Cape motel owner among hurricane dead. C9.

None of the choices on the unemployment form -- suspension, temporary layoff, discharge/performance -- seemed to fit her situation. So in the space that demanded a ''reason for separation," she wrote: ''Hurricane Charlie."

For thousands of Floridians, services cut off by the rampage of Charley's 145-mph winds last week were being gradually -- and sporadically -- restored yesterday. Federal disaster assistance money began flowing, state officials cracked down on price gouging and postal workers handed out mail.

The death toll rose from 19 to 20. An 86-year-old man who had evacuated his home fell and died at a motel.

Officials in Charlotte County said three new deaths may be linked to the aftermath of Charley. The three people died Monday night in a crash at an intersection where traffic lights were not working.

Before lashing Florida on Friday, Charley killed four people in Cuba and one in Jamaica.

As bill delivery began yesterday, many storm victims -- most without power, water, or phone service -- worried about what Charley and its aftereffects would do to their savings.

In Punta Gorda, one of the hardest-hit areas, Mike Brown, director of the Federal Emergency Management Agency, said $2 million had been issued to victims and more was on the way. More than 23,500 aid applications have been received.

Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy G. Thompson and Homeland Security Secretary Tom Ridge toured the damage in a helicopter. Thompson announced more than $11 million in help, with the majority of the money going to support early childhood education centers. ''It's about helping people restore some sense of normalcy in their lives," Ridge said.

Vowing to punish price gougers, state Attorney General Charlie Crist filed complaints against hotels in West Palm Beach and Lakeland, accusing them of jacking up room rates as the storm approached.

About 493,000 people remained without power yesterday, state officials said, holding to predictions that it could take weeks to fully restore electricity. Nearly 100,000 still lacked local phone service from the storm, estimated to have caused as much as $11 billion in damage to insured homes alone.

Governor Jeb Bush asked the public to be patient. ''No one is suggesting this is easy," Bush said. ''These are difficult times, but if people have a little bit of perspective, those services are going to be restored real soon."

With all the damage, the services of an electrician would seem to be in demand. But Ralph Guthrie was inching his way through the Port Charlotte unemployment line yesterday.

His company's workshop was destroyed, along with all its vehicles. Even if he had tools and transportation, it could be weeks before anyone needed his services.

''It's kind of hard to work on electricity when there ain't none," said Guthrie, 30, who pays support for two children and cares for his 11-month-old.

Wilbert McTier, a benefits administrator out of Fort Lauderdale, said the mobile center had served 266 people Monday ''without any advertising." They surpassed that number by 10 a.m. yesterday.

Dolores Jean Rush, a nurse at Charlotte County Regional Medical Center, said she would be out of work for four to six weeks because the hospital was damaged. ''I think unemployment takes four weeks to start," said the 52-year-old. ''I'm probably not going to see a damn nickel."

Despite her uncertain future, Vito emerged from the air-conditioned employment trailer with a smile and a wave.

''Thank you, everybody. We love you all," she shouted to the state workers.