A NASA-suppplied image of Hurricane Frances as it swirled toward Florida. Coming just weeks after Charley's devastating visit, Frances threatened to deliver the most powerful one-two punch to hit a state in at least a century.
Alfred Battey, left, and Matt Payne secure a boat at Golden Isles Marina on St. Simons Island, Ga., Sept. 2, 2004. Marina personnel were doubling lines to all the boats at the marina and securing the docks in preparation for any bad weather as a result of Hurricane Frances.
Stephanie Graniero, owner of the Oh My Bod store, watches Chris Elinades, center, and Jim Harper install hurricane shutters on the store's front windows in Delray Beach, Fla., Sept. 1, 2004, in preparation for Hurricane Frances.
Customers rush to buy plywood at the Home Depot store in Casselberry, Fla., Sept. 1, 2004, in preparation for the possible strike of Hurricane Frances to the area.
Customers at the Florida City, Fla., Home Depot purchase supplies, Sept. 1, 2004, as they prepare for Hurricane Frances to hit Florida. The area was heavily damaged more than 10 years ago when Hurricane Andrew roared through the area.
The cruise ship Norwegian Dawn heads out into the Atlantic Ocean from the southern tip of Miami Beach, Fla., Sept. 1, 2004. Several cruise ship companies announced that some of their ships have changed their itineraries due to Hurricane Frances.
Beachgoers walk along the shore at Miami Beach, Sept. 1, 2004, as a stiff breeze churns the surf of the Atlantic Ocean behind them. Nearly a half-million people were ordered to evacuate as Hurricane Frances swirled toward Florida.
Winnie Trudeau applies duct tape to the outside of the windows of her manufactured home in Barefoot Bay in Vero Beach, Fla., Sept. 1, 2004. Trudeau was preparing her home for Hurricane Frances and then planned to head to her son's house in Coral Springs. Trudeau went through hurricane Irene in 1999.
City of Fort Pierce Parks and Grounds crewman Kyle Fatzinger, partially shown, hands Derrick Thompson, top, screws to secure storm shutters on the second floor of the Seven Gables House vistors center in Fort Pierce, Fla., Sept. 1, 2004.
Residents of the coast town of Luquillo run away during a short shower while looking at the outer storm swells of Hurricane Frances at their beach, about 45 miles east of San Juan, Puerto Rico, Aug. 31, 2004. Hurricane Frances brushed Puerto Rico with pounding surf and blustery winds as its powerful vortex swirled offshore on a path for the Bahamas and the southeastern United States.
With the outer storm swells of the Hurricane Frances in the background, two children play in the sand of Luquillo beach, 45 miles east of San Juan, Puerto Rico, Aug. 31, 2004.
A group of surfers wait on the San Juan area shore for the arrival of Hurricane Frances, Aug. 31, 2004, in Puerto Rico. Hurricane Frances strengthened as it churned near islands of the northeastern Caribbean with 135-mph winds.
A dog runs in the waves of the outer storm swells of Hurricane Frances at the beach of Luquillo, Puerto Rico, Aug. 31, 2004. Hurricane Frances brushed Puerto Rico with pounding surf and blustery winds.
Carlos Fortuno, 40, watches the San Juan area shore, waiting for the arrival of Hurricane Frances, Aug. 31, 2004.
Gladys Pacheco takes pictures of the outer storm swells of Hurricane Frances in the beach of Luquillo, Puerto Rico, Aug. 31, 2004.
Yamia Mundo, 19, walks with her surfboard toward the beach in front of high tide warning sign on Aug. 31, 2004. Hurricane Frances strengthened as it churned near islands of the northeastern Caribbean with 135-mph winds.
Margarita Armstrong, 16, left, and Josh Martin, 20, both from Texas, wax their surfboard in front of Pine Grove beach in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Aug. 31, 2004.
A surfer gets in the water of Luquillo beach to take advantage of the outer storm swells of Hurricane Frances about 45 miles east of San Juan, Puerto Rico, Aug. 31, 2004.
Boats at El Conquistador Hotel marina stand idle as operations were suspended due to the effects of Hurricane Frances in Fajardo, about 60 miles east of San Juan, Puerto Rico, Aug. 31, 2004.
An unidentified fisherman watches the rising outer storm swells of Hurricane Frances on the beach in Luquillo, Puerto Rico, Aug. 30, 2004.