Angry Ivan menacing U.S. coast

MOBILE, Ala. — Hurricane Ivan and its 135-mph winds churned toward the Gulf Coast with frightening intensity Wednesday, spawning monster waves that toppled beach houses and spinning off tornadoes that killed at least two people.

The storm was expected to make landfall early today near Mobile and could swamp the coastline with a 16-foot storm surge and up to 15 inches of rain. As Ivan finished its menacing advance, it offered a daylong preview of its destruction: sheets of rain across the coast, a series of tornadoes, and escalating winds that knocked out power and made traffic lights whipsaw.

In the Florida Panhandle near Panama City, tornadoes spawned by the storm killed two people and trapped others in the rubble of their damaged homes.

"We have a report from a deputy that it looks like a war zone," said sheriff's spokeswoman Ruth Sasser.

Hurricane-force winds extended out 105 miles from the Category 4 storm, threatening widespread damage no matter where it strikes. After reaching land, Ivan threatened to stall over the Southeast and southern Appalachians, with a potential for as much as 20 inches of rain.

Meanwhile, in Puerto Rico, Tropical Storm Jeanne slammed into the U.S. territory Wednesday, flooding neighborhoods, knocking out power and stranding thousands of tourists. At least two people were killed.

Jeanne became the 10th named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season Tuesday and was moving west-northwest near 9 mph. The National Hurricane Center said Jeanne could strengthen as it moved into the Atlantic and could become a hurricane by today.

At 8 p.m. EDT Wednesday, Ivan was centered about 105 miles south of the Alabama coast and was moving north at 14 mph. The storm, which plowed through the Caribbean, has now killed at least 70 people.

Ivan's waves — some up to 25 feet — were already destroying homes along the Florida coast Wednesday. Twelve-foot waves boomed ashore at Gulf Shores, Ala., eroding the beach. A buoy about 300 miles south of Panama City registered waves over 34 feet high.

In Mobile, majestic live oaks that line the streets swayed in gusting winds as the port city of some 200,000 braced for a hurricane expected to be even more destructive than Frederic, which killed five people 25 years ago.

Mobile bar owner Lori Hunter said her business would remain closed "until the landlord takes the boards down off the windows."

"We're staying," she said. "I'm from New York. This is my first one. Terrorists scare me but not a hurricane."

As the storm drew near, streets along Mississippi's Gulf Coast were all but deserted, and miles of homes and businesses, including its 12 floating casinos, were boarded up.

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