Nearly the entire region was without power and communications were down in many areas following the storm, which swept across Florida with heavy rain and winds touching 195 kilometers (120 miles) per hour before moving off over the Atlantic Monday.

Hundreds of buildings were damaged and the region's airports remained closed, according to authorities in affected counties stretching northward from Miami Beach to Palm Beach.

With at least 30,000 people rendered homeless by the storm, operations to distribute food, ice and other necessities began in several counties Tuesday.

Several cities and counties remained under nighttime curfews to forestall looting and to prevent accidents, as roads remained blocked by fallen trees, lamp posts and sections of wrecked boats.