By HOLLY HUNT and LINDSEY IORG
As Florida residents recover from the damages caused by Hurricanes Charley and Frances, a third hurricane, projected to hit the state by Sunday, is carrying the most devastating capability of the three.
Hurricane Ivan has already killed at least 15 people in the Caribbean and destroyed 90 percent of the homes and businesses on the island.
Orlando resident, Brittany Devincent, 25, said the realities of a third hurricane hitting the state are unimaginable.
'No one wants to talk about it,' Devincent said. 'We're sick of hearing about it. We're worn out.'
Devincent, said the Orlando area is just beginning to recuperate from the flooding, power outages, fallen trees and debris caused by Charley and Frances.
On Thursday, Ivan's wind speed reached 160 mph, only 1,000 miles southeast of Miami.
'We are devoting our focus to the people in the impact area ,' said Frank Lepore, public affairs officer of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. 'While the storm is a category five at the moment, what really matters is if it hits you as a category five.'
According to the Associated Press, Florida sustained about $9.8 billion in damages and 42 deaths from Charley and Frances alone. President Bush provided $2 billion in federal aid Wednesday for hurricane recovery.
For the American Red Cross, Charley and Frances aid rank among the largest in the history of the organization, and they are already organizing relief efforts for Ivan.
The Red Cross brought in approximately 2,000 emergency vehicles in Florida and housed over 57,000 people in shelters after both hurricanes, said Randy Frank, emergency services director for the Utah Mountain Valley chapter of the Red Cross.
The local chapter of Red Cross has already sent one volunteer to Florida and has 32 volunteers on standby to aid if Hurricane Ivan hits.
'It's unbelievable three of these storms hitting the same place in one year,' Frank said.
Despite the present precautions of Hurricane Ivan, Lepore remained confident the storm's strength will eventually decrease if it strikes.
'The big picture essentially is not as grim as a category five would suggest,' Lepore said. 'An outstanding issue is if it does hit the Florida Keys.'
As hurricanes continue to victimize Florida, BYU students from the state struggle daily with concerns for their families and homes.
'Not being at home is scary because I worry about my family,' said Laura Castillo, 19, a sophomore from Fort Lauderdale, Fla., majoring in microbiology. 'When the hurricane hit by my home I kept checking the news and calling my family.'
Storm-weathered residents in the Florida Keys know how to react to the possible arrival of Ivan. They are also equipped to deal with the aftermath.
One Florida resident said it is important to take these hurricanes seriously, but even more important to be ready for these situations.
'I will be leaving the Keys, but not in a panic because I've prepared with water, batteries, canned goods, a tent and a generator,' said Bonnie Macks, a resident of Key Largo. 'So, if my home is not there when I come back, I still have supplies.'
Michael Smith, 23, a senior from Clearwater, Fla., majoring in computer science, said his parents were in Hurricane Charley's path before it turned. Smith said he continually monitored the hurricane's progress through the news.
He said a source of comfort for him came from knowing his family organized supplies beforehand for this type of crisis.
He attributed his parents' preparedness to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saint's counsel that all members be ready for emergencies with supplies and food storage.