Alberto loses steam over Fla.

The storm knocked out power to about 21,000 people and flooded streets.
KNIGHT RIDDER NEWSPAPERS
CEDAR KEY, Fla. -- It some ways, it was a practice storm. Not that Florida needs any more practice.
Tropical Storm Alberto, the state's 2006 introductory tropical-weather experience, left Florida widely soaked but largely relieved. There were no reports Tuesday of deaths, serious injuries or sweeping damage associated with the storm.
"This is a good lesson, I think, in preparedness," Gov. Jeb Bush said. "I hope that all the storms that hit us this year are tropical storms and not hurricanes, but I can assure you that if a stronger storm comes our way that we have a great team."
Still, a tropical storm is not a minor event -- especially in a state bombarded by eight hurricanes during the past two years.
Damage suffered
About 21,000 people lost power during the two-day storm, heavy rain flooded streets in Tampa and many other places along the Gulf Coast, and thousands of people suffered financial losses and considerable distress.
In Cedar Key, a vulnerable spit of land along Florida's Big Bend, the Gulf of Mexico flooded roads, restaurants and stores. In some places, a foot of water flowed under homes built on stilts.
Chris Evers and Logan Stanfield, staying in a mobile home close to the Gulf, twice fled rising water, retreating to relatively high ground downtown.
"We're used to hurricanes," Stanfield said. "They're inconvenient, at best."
Steve Kerr of the American Red Cross said it would be a mistake to suggest that Florida "dodged a bullet."
"To a business, to a family, to a homeowner, a loss is a loss," Kerr said. "To a small community like that, it can be devastating."
Forecasters said Alberto, penetrated overnight by a burst of dry air that sapped some of its power, did not grow into a hurricane before its center landed at 12:30 p.m. near Adams Beach, about 50 miles southeast of Tallahassee.
At that point, Alberto's highest sustained winds were 50 mph, well below the 74-mph hurricane threshold. At its strongest, Alberto produced 70-mph sustained winds.
By the time its center reached land, much of Alberto's worst weather already had passed through Florida and was moving into Georgia, South Carolina and other parts of the Southeast.
Weakened
The storm weakened throughout the day and was on the brink of being downgraded to a tropical depression. In the end, truckloads of ice, water and blue tarps that had been ready to move into north-central Florida remained in reserve for the next time.
Though Alberto rated relatively low on Florida's tropical weather hit list, there was no doubt about it -- nature once again propelled a wet, windy nuisance through the state.
In the Tampa Bay area, heavy rain flooded some roads and high winds pushed a barge into the Howard Frankland bridge, closing one outside eastbound lane. Police said an initial survey revealed no damage to the bridge.
Fierce squalls raged through the state, generating wind gusts of 60 mph in Tampa, 53 mph in Orlando, 51 mph in Clearwater Beach and 44 mph in Cedar Key.
Many people evacuated their homes and about 300 found refuge in public shelters.