An estimated 10.2 million residents across southern Florida — from the cities of Sarasota on the West Coast to Titusville on the East Coast and all areas southward — are feeling the effects of Hurricane Wilma, the U.S. Census Bureau reported today.

     Among the affected counties in southern Florida are four of the nation’s 100 largest (according to 2004 population estimates): Miami-Dade (2,363,600), Broward (1,754,900), Palm Beach (1,243,200) and Hillsborough (1,101,300). Four counties also are among the 100 fastest growing in the nation: Osceola (219,500), Collier (296,700), St. Lucie (226,800) and Lee (514,300).

     For many of these areas, American Community Survey 2004 demographic and socioeconomic profiles can be found at <http://www.factfinder.census.gov>. Be sure to click on the “2004” tab after entering the state, county or city name.

     According to the National Hurricane Center, at 11:00 a.m. EDT, the Category 3 hurricane was centered about 15 miles northeast of West Palm Beach, Fla., and was packing maximum sustained winds of 105 miles per hour. Hurricane Wilma is expected to cross into the Atlantic Ocean later today.

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Note: The above calculations are based on projections of the storm’s path from the National Hurricane Center, a part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) National Weather Service, and Census Bureau population estimates as of July 1, 2004. These data do not present a full picture of the seasonal population increases of coastal or other tourist areas.