Massive but weakened Irma lashes Florida with wind, rain

Irma continued its slog north along Florida's western coast having blazed a path of unknown destruction. With communication cut to some of the Florida Keys, where Irma made landfall Sunday, and rough conditions persisting across the peninsula, many held their breath for what daylight might reveal. [Source: AP]

See also:
» Daylight will reveal extent of Irma’s damage to South Florida and Keys
» Florida's economy poised to take a major hit from Hurricane Irma
» Trump grants major disaster declaration for Florida

» Tampa Bay area businesses brace for the wrath of Hurricane Irma
» Florida Keys have history of destructive, deadly hurricanes. Irma could rival them.
» Cruise lines are sending their ships on rescue missions in the Caribbean following Irma
» Hurricane Jose could loop back toward Florida, forecasters say
» Quick poll: How did your business fare during (or after) Hurricane Irma?

Meet the Cracker Navy, here to help rescue Floridians from Hurricane Irma

After volunteering with the "Cajun Navy" for rescue missions in Texas after Hurricane Harvey, John Steel created Florida's "Cracker Navy" in anticipation of Hurricane Irma. [Source: Tampa Bay Times]

Insurers beg customers not to sign over claims rights after Hurricane Irma

Number two on the list of what insurance companies are most afraid of right now — after billions of dollars in Hurricane Irma claims — are armies of contractors and attorneys swelling those claims by billions of dollars more. [Source: South Florida Sun-Sentinel]

See also:
» Hurricane Irma will hammer insurance industry — up to $65 billion in damage is projected

Wireless carriers waive talk, text and data overage charges for Florida customers facing Irma

Verizon, Sprint, AT&T and T-Mobile are waiving overage charges for calls, texts and data for its customers as Hurricane Irma threatens the state. Cell carriers already announced they were waiving overage charges for customers calling in the Bahamas and Caribbean and have been extending those coverage periods as well. [Source: Miami Herald]

Most FPL customers have lost power. This is when they’ll get it back

Category 4 Irma could cut the power to as many as 3 million Florida Power & Light customers across the state before the storm is done with Florida, FPL officials said Sunday in a 40-minute briefing meeting at the company's command center. More from the Miami Herald and the South Florida Sun-Sentinel.

ALSO AROUND FLORIDA:

› Florida tourism will take hit from Hurricane Irma [Florida Today]
With Hurricane Irma bearing down on Florida, not many people are contemplating a vacation to the Sunshine State these days. That could mean a temporary financial hit — or worse — to Florida's huge tourism industry that brought 112.4 million out-of-state and international visitors to the state last year.

› Registration for One Spark festival creators delayed due to Hurricane Irma [Florida Times-Union]
Because of the approach of Hurricane Irma, potential participants in Jacksonville’s One Spark entrepreneurial festival set for Oct. 5-6 have another week to register.

› Hurricane Irma offers test run for GOES-16 satellite built by Harris [Orlando Sentinel]
Tracking powerful storms and relaying data and information back to earth, the Geostationary Operational Environmental Satellite was built by Harris Corporation in Central Florida.

› With nowhere else to go, Pinellas County laundromat provides cover [Tampa Bay Times]
In a 24-hour laundromat on Roosevelt Boulevard in the unincorporated High Point area of Pinellas County, Augusta Yokam and Andrea Buell were sheltering in place in front of huge glass windows just before 10 a.m. Sunday.

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› Florida AG tells price gougers: 'I will be saying your name all over this country' [The Hill]
Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi (R) warned would-be price gougers ahead of Hurricane Irma on Saturday, saying she would say their name "all over" the U.S. if they did not stop.

› Allegiant’s Sunseeker plan has some risks [Sarasota Herald-Tribune]
After 18 years flying as an airline for the price conscious, Allegiant Travel Co. wants to add real estate development to its list of corporate activities. But the company’s audacious plan for a 22-acre resort compound in Port Charlotte carries some risks.

› Can't find that house in public records? It could have a protected address [Tampa Bay Times]
Thousands of homes have all but disappeared from the public record because their owners are eligible under Florida law to have their addresses kept confidential.

› Clay County trying to become destination for tourists [Florida Times-Union]
Rusty Gardner’s Boat Florida Rentals business on Doctors Lake in Clay County brings in fairly steady customers. But if Clay County’s tourism profile was better, Gardner said he’d probably easily expand.