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u.s. news Diahuebs 12 November 2020

Eta weakens to a tropical storm as Florida prepares for hit

(AP) — Eta weakened A coronavirus testing site Mexico early Monday near
again to a tropical storm at Tropicana Field was also where the Everglades meet
Wednesday afternoon just closed Wednesday. the sea, with maximum sus-
hours after regaining hur- Eta was centered about 115 tained winds of 50 mph (85
ricane strength as Florida miles (180 kilometers) south- kph).
braced for a second hit west of Tampa on Wednesday
from the storm along the and moving north-northeast There was nowhere for the
Gulf of Mexico coast near near 10 mph (17 kph). water to go across much of
the heavily populated The hurricane center said South Florida, which had al-
Tampa Bay region. “life-threatening storm ready experienced nearly 14
surge" is possible early inches (35 centimeters) of
The storm's maximum sus- Thursday, and forecasters rain in October.
tained winds decreased to shelters to protect people high winds. Tampa Interna- advised residents to heed Eta hit land late Sunday as
around 70 mph (110 kph) off from the coronavirus, such tional Airport tweeted that it warnings from local officials. it blew over Lower Mate-
Florida's southwest coast as it as social distancing, and sug- would suspend operations at Tropical storm-force winds cumbe, in the middle of the
moved northward. Addition- gested people bring their 3 p.m. Wednesday. are expected in the area by chain of small islands that
al weakening was expected as own masks. late Wednesday. form the Keys, but the heav-
Eta approaches the coast. “Everything will be done to In Pasco County, officials set ily populated areas of Miami-
Forecasters at the National make sure all of our residents up four do-it-yourself loca- Forecasts call for more rain Dade and Broward Counties
Hurricane Center in Miami are safe," Castor said. tions for people to fill sand- from the storm system over bore the brunt of the fury.
issued a hurricane watch for The latest hurricane watch bags. In Tampa, the Busch parts of already drenched It was the 28th named storm
a 120-mile (193-kilometer) extends from Anna Maria Gardens theme park an- South Florida. of a busy Atlantic hurricane
stretch that includes Tam- Island, which is south of St. nounced it is closed Wednes- “Never seen this, never, not season, tying the 2005 record
pa and St. Petersburg. The Petersburg, to Yankeetown. day and several Veterans Day this deep,” said Anthony Lyas, for named storms. And late
storm has been in the Gulf The forecast prompted school events in the area were can- who has lived in his now- Monday, it was followed by
of Mexico since crossing over officials in Pinellas and Pasco celed. waterlogged Fort Lauderdale the 29th storm — Theta.
South Florida on Sunday. counties, which includes St. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis neighborhood since 1996. The U.S. National Hurricane
The Tampa Bay region is Petersburg, to send students issued an expanded emer- He described hearing water Center in Miami said Theta
home to more than 3.5 mil- home early Wednesday. Both gency declaration to include and debris slamming against broke the record of 28 named
lion people across five coastal counties announced schools 13 counties along or near the his shuttered home overnight storms in 2005. Theta was
counties. No mandatory would remain closed Thurs- Gulf coast, adding them to as the storm crossed Florida. centered Wednesday after-
evacuations were immedi- day, as did neighboring Hills- South Florida counties. De- The storm first hit Nicaragua noon about 670 miles (1,080
ately ordered but authorities borough County. Santis also asked for an early as a Category 4 hurricane and kilometers) southwest of the
began opening shelters for The Florida Highway Patrol emergency order from the killed at least 120 people in Azores, bearing top sustained
anyone needing them. closed the Sunshine Skyway Federal Emergency Manage- Central America and Mexico, winds of 60 mph (95 kph)
Tampa Mayor Jane Castor Bridge that links Pinellas and ment Agency to free resourc- with scores more missing. It as that system moved east-
said special care is taken at Manatee counties because of es needed to tackle the storm. then moved into the Gulf of northeast at 10 mph (17 kph).
NYC woman gets ill swan to clinic via foot, car and subway

(AP) — Ariel Cordova-
Rojas went to New York's
Jamaica Bay Wildlife Ref-
uge last week to celebrate
her 30th birthday.

She ended up rescuing a swan
with lead poisoning, taking it
to a wildlife clinic by foot,
car and subway with the help
of both friends and strang-
ers. Cordova-Rojas is trained
in identifying and rescuing
wildlife, the New York Times
reported, having worked at
the Wild Bird Fund clinic in
Manhattan for five years.
couple persuaded yet another ing strength and mobility.
friend with a car to help get
She got to the Queens wild- Cardova-Rojas, her bike and It could take three weeks or
life refuge on Nov. 5 and the swan to a subway station.) up to two months before Bae to look around. The wildlife have swan-removal policies
spotted a swan alone in the An employee of Wild Bird returns to the refuge, Cordo-
are just as much New Yorkers that range from egg-shaking
grass on the side of the water. Fund met them at the Nos- va-Rojas said. The tale of the as we are, and it is our duty to to shooting or gassing adult
She approached it and saw it trand station in Brooklyn and swan's rescue saga inspired an keep each other safe."
was unable to walk or fly. She helped them get to the orga- outpouring of affection. birds.
wrapped the 17-pound bird, nization’s clinic on the Up- ‘
which she says is named Bae, per West Side. Photos show “I think it just shows the im- The mute swan, which has New York had its own anti-
an orange bill and holds its swan proposals that brought
in her jacket and carried it a the swan nestled in an orange mense compassion of New neck in a graceful S-curve, a deluge of protest, but Dem-
mile to the refuge entrance, jacket on a seat in a train car. Yorkers. People always think isn't native to North Ameri-
ocratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo
the newspaper reported. that we are rude and heart- ca. It has multiplied in New eventually signed a bill in
Cordova-Rojas told the Asso- less, but we are just busy York, the upper Midwest and 2016. It allowed for the kill-
Calls to various animal res- ciated Press the swan was be- and have places to go, so we along the Atlantic coast since ing of swans upstate if the
cue services and the ranger ing treated for lead poisoning move fast," Cordova-Rojas it was imported in the 1800s birds can’t be captured and
stations yielded no immedi- and with antifungals and an- said. “Even though we live in to adorn parks and opulent relocated to facilities. Down-
ate assistance. Then a couple tibacterial medications. She a concrete jungle, we are sur-
with a car agreed to drive the has made a friend of another rounded by nature and wild- estates. Citing threats to na- state, it emphasized popu-
lation control by damaging
tive wildlife, plants and un-
swan and Cordova-Rojas to a swan at the clinic and is gain- life if you just take a second wary humans, six states now eggs.
nearby subway station. (The