GEORGES CUTS THROUGH KEYS; HEAVY DAMAGE REPORTED.

Byline: Amy Driscoll, Phil Long and Martin Merzer The Miami Herald

A maelstrom with a magnetic and sinister attraction to land, Hurricane Georges buzz-sawed the Lower Keys and returned to sea Friday, nourishing itself for another attack. Next stop: the upper Gulf Coast, possibly Pensacola.

Early reports spoke of no fatalities in the Keys, but they raised the specter of significant damage in some areas. Power failures darkened nearly the entire, 110-mile string of islands. At least 25,000 people were without water.

Authorities imposed an around-the-clock curfew until 6 a.m. Sunday. More than 700 National Guard troops prepared to move into the area; 200 reinforcements were en route from northern Florida.

But brackish gray sea water and huge chunks of debris blocked the Overseas Highway, the only access route from the mainland. Relief crews were compelled to bulldoze their way in.

In Key West, sea water stood knee-high two blocks from the ocean. Some people paddled kayaks down historic Duval Street.

``It's now Duval River,'' Alice Weingarten said.

Dade and Broward counties received a reprieve: No damaging wind, but black curtains of rain that rolled from ocean to Everglades. Virtually no structural damage, but numerous trees splintered and there was a brief, benign appearance of one tornado in Miami Lakes.

It was quite another story in the Keys - the unique archipelago of islands connected by bridges, a place punctuated by mangroves, convenience stores, diving shops and roadside beaches.

The hurricane's 105 mph winds and towering waves whipped and smashed these islands and the wet, shaken, brave and foolhardy people who defied suggestions, orders and ultimately pleas to flee.

Georges inflicted structural damage on some homes and businesses, authorities said. The hurricane shifted some structures off their foundations, blew the roofs off others.

Roiling seas battered docks and fractured boats. The storm surge - the sudden rising of the tide - swamped homes, businesses and vehicles. Broken trees crushed portions of some buildings.

Local authorities said thousands of structures might have been damaged by wind or water.

``We're looking at a pretty serious situation,'' said Bill Surina, Monroe County Emergency Management incident commander.

Said Billy Wagner Jr., the Keys' director of emergency management:

``We have not had a major storm in 25 years. This one will open people's eyes.''

Many palm and pine trees collapsed, many concrete poles toppled - blocking roads, cutting power lines.

A main line was severed in at least two places, said Chuck Weitzel, spokesman for City Electric. Hundreds of smaller distribution lines failed.

When power is restored, it will be slowly. In some cases, it could take a week, experts said.

All 80,000 residents, some of whom evacuated ahead of the storm and might not be able to return until Sunday, will be asked to refrain from using air conditioning and other major appliances.

As Georges roamed northward through the Gulf of Mexico and toward the Panhandle, schools were closed in 22 counties and state officials ordered the mandatory evacuation of 1.3 million residents in mobile homes and low-lying areas in 12 counties along the Gulf Coast.

When it next hits land, Georges could be a Category 3 hurricane, carrying winds of 115 mph, capable of causing extensive damage, almost certain to inundate more coastal areas.

Rarely, if ever, have so many Floridians been so dislocated.

Gov. Lawton Chiles asked President Clinton to declare a disaster, an action that would free federal funds for the cleanup. The president rapidly approved the request and said he might visit the area early next week.

An official damage estimate based on computer modeling will be released Monday or Tuesday by the Insurance Information Institute.

Though its eye moved into the gulf, Georges' trailing bands of rain and wind were expected to linger deep into today.

Residents of Dade (including Miami) and Broward, fearing much worse, endured only modest wind and about three inches of rain. Forecaster Jim Lushine said the rain should end this morning.

``Prospects of flooding aren't nearly as high as we first thought,'' Lushine said. ``The storm didn't track quite as north as we thought.''

No one in Dade and Broward complained, though the high alert certainly disrupted normal life:

Miami International Airport and Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport reopened Friday, but operations weren't expected to return to normal until at least today. Passengers were advised to call airlines before leaving home.

Mail deliveries were canceled in the area Friday. The Postal Service said all South Florida post offices except those in the Keys will open today and mail will be delivered on regular schedules.

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2 Photos

PHOTO (1--Color) From left, Key West residents Brian Goss, George Wallace and Michael Mooney battle 90-mph winds as they flee Hurricane Georges on Friday.

Dave Martin/Associated Press

(2) Kevin Bonoyer looks over damage Friday to his Marathon, Fla., residence after the passage of Hurricane Georges.

John Bazemore/Associated Press