Simpson scale by Monday -- a potentially catastrophic hurricane with 131 mph-plus (210 kph-plus) winds capable of causing widespread damage. Meteorologists have warned this hurricane season could be unusually active. Florida Gov. Jeb Bush said residents in the Florida Panhandle would be ready, even though many had not yet been able to fully repair their homes after being hit by Hurricane Dennis last month or Hurricane Ivan last September. Insured losses from Katrina's first strike were estimated at $600 million to $2 billion by independent forecasting firms -- little compared to the estimated $45 billion in total damages caused in 2004 by four powerful hurricanes that struck Florida in a six-week period. But Katrina, which came ashore just south of Fort Lauderdale late on Thursday, left entire south Florida neighborhoods thigh-deep in water and toppled thousands of trees. --More 2152 Local Time 1852 GMT
