Hugo Threatens U.S.; Islands Left Ravaged

MIAMI--Hurricane Hugo quickened its pace toward the Eastern Seaboard yesterday as residents gathered supplies and made evacuation plans, while violence and looting broke out on the shattered islands in the storm's wake.

President Bush ordered Army troops to St. Croix of the U.S. Virgin Islands after National Guards members and police reportedly joined prison escapees and others in wild looting. Armed Coast Guard crewmen also went ashore to help restore order.

At 9 p.m. EDT, Hugo's center was 550 miles southeast of Savannah, Ga., at 27.4 degrees north latitude and 73.6 west longitude and it was moving northwest at 17 mph, up from 12 mph earlier in the day.

Hugo's wind speed also rose from 105 to 110 mph yesterday, but forecasters said little further strengthening was likely.

Attorney General Richard L. Thornburgh ordered 100 U.S. marshals and FBI agents to the island, and Coast Guard cutters evacuated frightened tourists and residents. Bush also authorized troops to help hurricane-damaged Puerto Rico.

Forecasters issued a hurricane watch from St. Augustine, Fla., to Cape Hatteras, N.C. urging coastal residents to begin taking precautions. Hugo picked up speed over open water and could come ashore late today or early tomorrow.

"I think they're looking at this one with a bit of respect," city spokesperson Pat Dowling said in Myrtle Beach, S.C., as radio and TV advisories warned: "Remember the people of Puerto Rico."

Since Sunday, Hugo has killed at least 25 people, left thousands homeless and caused hundreds of millions of dollars in damage as it slashed through the northeastern Caribbean with wind of 125 to 150 mph.

Chaos reigned on St. Croix, as police and National Guard soldiers joined machete-armed mobs on a post-Hugo looting spree. Gunshots were fired, and ham radio operators heard reports that inmates had either escaped or been released because of prison damage and were looting.

Tourists pleaded with reporters landing on the island to take them off.

"They said, `Please get food! Please get water!Please help us! They're looting. We've seen policelooting. We've seen National Guard looting.There's no law and order here," said GaryWilliams, a reporter for the San Juan daily ElNuevo Dia.

The U.S. Coast Guard had six ships in the areaand sent armed crew members from the cutter Bearashore to help restore order.

"Initial reports from the Bear indicate thatthe situation ashore is serious. Looting and civildisturbances are continuing," Coast Guardofficials said in Miami.

The crew was evacuating "all people from theisland who fear for their safety," the Coast Guardsaid in a statement. A cargo ship was ready tosupplement the evacuation if needed.

Alexander Farrelly, governor of the U.S. VirginIslands, asked Bush to authorize use of troops torestore order on St. Croix, said White Housespokesperson Roman Popadiuk.

Bush yesterday declared the U.S. Virgin Islandsa disaster area and a White House spokespersonsaid a similar declaration was expected soon forPuerto Rico, which suffered widespread damage.

The Coast Guard sent cutters to St. Thomas topick up personnel and their families whose homeswere destroyed. It also was evacuating 200American medical students at Montserrat, a Britishcolony where Hugo damaged nearly 90 percent of thehomes.

Federal relief shipments laden with suppliesand rescue workers from Florida, South Carolina,West Virginia and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, went toPuerto Rico, while British and French forceshelped Montserrat and Guadeloupe.

At 6 p.m. EDT, Hugo's center was 600 milessoutheast of Savannah, Ga. Its coordinates were27.0 north latitude and 73.0 west longitude and itwas moving northwest at 17 mph, up from 12 mphearlier in the day.

Little strengthening was expected for Hugo,whose wind speed had at one time dropped to 105mph.

"Even at 105 mph it can do quite a bit ofdamage," said Bob Sheets, director of the NationalHurricane Center.

Forecasters said Hugo's path made residentsfrom Savannah, Ga., to Charleston, S.C., mostlikely to be in harm's way, but they were delayingissuing hurricane warnings until they could makebetter projections.

Officials said coastal residents seemed to betaking the right steps, such as storing emergencysupplies and buying materials for boarding up.

"I see a lot of people buying water and cannedgoods like pork and beans. It's been prettysteady," said Bryan Raleigh, manager of the MarketStreet Food Lion in Wilmington, N.C., where nearbyCarolina Beach suffered $90 million in damageswhen hit by Hurricane Diana in 1984.

The Navy sent its Charleston-based ships to seato avoid Hugo, while crews were called yesterdayto their ships at Mayport Naval Station nearJacksonville for a possible move out.

"Like the Boy Scouts, we're prepared," saidChief Petty Officer Art Riccio