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As Florida Preps for Storm That Was Erika, Caribbean Tallies Damage

Florida was preparing for remnants of the tropical storm that killed at least 20 people in the Caribbean and led to a state of emergency.
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Only remnants of the tropical storm that used to be Erika barreled toward Florida on Sunday night, but the state was still preparing for what the National Weather Service described as strong winds and heavy rain, and the governor was still urging vigilance.

Erika began weakening Saturday after it killed at least 20 people in the Caribbean last week and caused Florida Gov. Rick Scott to issue a state of emergency Friday. Flood watches were in effect from southern Georgia to Miami, The Weather Channel reported, and rip currents were expected all the way to the Carolinas.

In the Caribbean, hard-hit countries were still tallying the damage.

In Dominica, where nearly 13 inches of rain fell in as many hours, according to The Weather Channel, Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit recounted Erika's "monumental" destruction in an emotional televised address: Bridges had been washed away, he said. Highways and roads were destroyed. At least 20 people were dead, and more were missing.

"This is a period of national tragedy," he said, adding that the storm had damaged "nearly every community" on the island.

"We have, in essence, to rebuild Dominica," he said.

Image: Dominica goverment orders suspencion of activities due to tropical Storm Erika
Streets are flooded Friday after Tropical Storm Erika passed through Roseau, Dominica.Robert Tonge / EPA

In Puerto Rico, 200,000 people lost power and million of dollars in crops were destroyed. In Haiti, mudslides blocked roads, a prison was evacuated and rain appeared to have caused firey truck crash killed four people and injured 11 others.

NBC Miami: Erika Dissipates Over Hispanola; Remnants to Affect South Florida

In the Pacific, meanwhile, Hurricane Ignacio was churning toward Hawaii. The storm — once a Category 4 system — had begun weakening by late Sunday morning, a trend that was expected to continue in the coming days, The Weather Channel reported.

Tropical storm watches were in effect for the islands of Maui, Molokai, Lanai and Kahoolawe, according to the National Weather Service, and the storm's center is expected to pass by the state to the north on Monday and Tuesday, according to The Weather Channel.