FLORIDA 4th storm threatens

A hurricane watch is in effect for most of the state's eastern coast.
WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) -- Hurricane Jeanne trekked westward today on a path that could lead to Florida's east coast by Sunday, setting off another round of storm preparations in a state still reeling from three earlier strikes.
Fears of more flooding, flying debris and power outages sent shoppers scurrying to grocery and hardware stores for supplies that had run low before the last storms. State and federal officials geared up for another disaster response.
"We're obviously stretched here. ... To prepare for another storm will stretch our resources, but we have a duty to do this, and we will," Gov. Jeb Bush said.
Jeanne could hit just over a week after Hurricane Ivan thrashed the Panhandle Sept. 16. Ivan and the two previous storms, Charley and Frances, caused billions of dollars of damage and were blamed for at least 70 deaths in the state.
The only other time four hurricanes have been known to hit the same state in one season was in Texas in 1886, National Hurricane Center Director Max Mayfield said.
An exasperated Margaret McFarlane of Greenacres, who was without power for 12 days after Hurricane Frances, found herself back at the store to stock up on water and food.
"We've already refilled our refrigerators, gotten the debris out of the streets and it's going to happen all over again. I'm not sure how much more people can take," she said.
Watch issued
A hurricane watch was issued early today for most of the state's eastern coast, from Florida City to St. Augustine. A watch means hurricane conditions with wind of at least 74 mph are possible within 36 hours.
At 8 a.m., Jeanne was centered about 510 miles east of Miami, moving west at 8 mph, the hurricane center in Miami said. The storm had top sustained wind of 100 mph and could strengthen as it reaches warmer water closer to Florida's coast.