Guy Carpenter's Instrat unit, which provides updates on majorcatastrophes that are likely to incur a significant loss to theinsurance industry, said that at least 20 people were killed and anumber of homes and businesses were damaged after powerful stormsstruck central Florida late last week. The Associated Press saidearly estimates showed at least $68 million in property losses.

The storms hit while most people were sleeping, damaging morethan 1,000 homes and leaving more than 20,000 people without power,according to reports. Ripped-off roofs and walls torn from homeswere reported, as well as mobile homes thrown off theirfoundations.

President Bush declared federal disasters in four Floridacounties hit by the storms (Lake, Volusia, Sumter, and Seminole).Reports said it was the deadliest combination of thunderstorms andtornados to hit Florida in nearly a decade. The National WeatherService (NWS) said around seven tornadoes touched down in the area,with some packing winds of up to 165 mph. The NWS added that around17 instances of straight-line winds were also recorded.