MAN LOADS PLYWOOD IN PREPARATION FOR HURRICANE, 1998-09-23 (photo)

Local business owner, Scott Freeman ponders how he is going to load his pallet of plywood to board up his home and businesses September 22 in preparation for the possible arrival of Hurricane Georges. Most lumber yards in Key West ran out of plywood on Tuesday and people rushed to make last minute preparations. Georges, the most powerful storm to strike the region in years, raked the crowded Caribbean island of Hispaniola September 22, leaving more death and destruction in its wake, and forecasters said Georges might strike south Florida later in the week. Gov. Lawton Chiles declared a state of emergency in the center and south of the state in anticipation of heavy rainfall, high tides, gale-force winds and flooding. CM/WS