NTA Continues to Watch Wilma

October 24, 2005

NTA Continues to Watch Wilma
October 24, 2005 – Hurricane Wilma ripped ashore the Florida coast today after damaging parts of Mexico over the weekend. The Category 3 storm battered southwest Florida with 125 mph winds after making landfall at 6:30 a.m. ET near Cape Romano. The National Hurricane Center says expect storm surges of up to 19 feet are expected in some areas.

According to the U.S. State Department, about 10,000 Americans were in the shelters along Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. Mexican officials are planning to take these tourists to Merida by bus, about 170 miles from Cancun. A U.S. government disaster relief specialist traveled there Thursday to assess the situation. Continental Airlines is the only U.S.-based airline that has regularly scheduled service to Merida. U.S. officials were working with other airlines to see if they could help evacuate the stranded tourists. The Cancun Airport escaped major damage and is expected to re-open Tuesday.

NTA will continue to monitor the storm and its effects upon our members and our industry. We would like to receive any information available from members in the affected areas and those who are offering services to those impacted. Please send any information, comments or observations to NTA’s communications specialist Pat Henderson via e-mail at pat.henderson@ntastaff.com or by calling 800.682.8886, ext. 4425 (U.S and Canada) or 859.226.4425.