Hortense hits the Ocean

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico: Hurricane Hortense headed out to sea Wednesday morning, leaving behind 10 dead in Puerto Rico and the Dominican Republic. Up to 20 inches of rain drenched the islands Tuesday morning as the storm swept through. At just over 100 miles per hour, winds were barely hurricane strength, but strong enough to do significant damage. Hundreds of homes were destroyed, many swept away by the floods. Hortense killed at least eight Puerto Ricans, four of them children, and two in the Dominican Republic. Dozens are missing, and authorities say the death toll will rise as rescuers reach isolated areas. Power remained off across much of Puerto Rico Wednesday, and the Turks and Caicos were reported without electricity as well. Forecasters predict Hortense will approach Florida and make a northward turn later this week. The National Hurricane Center in Miami said the storm could pass within 65 miles of West Palm Beach on Florida's east coast Friday, meaning that Hortense could become the third hurricane this year to hit the Carolinas. A more likely scenario, meteorologists say, is that a low pressure system on the East Coast will push the storm further north. -->