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First Florida death reported as Hurricane Matthew batters coast
Though much inland Central Florida and South Florida were spared significant damage, more than a dozen homes, apartments in and vehicles were destroyed in Volusia County and a St. Lucie County woman died from a heart attack because rescuers couldn't get to her because of dangerous conditions brought on by Hurricane Matthew.
It's the first storm-related death known in the state since hurricane-level winds gripped the east coast beginning Thursday night.
The emergency call came in at 1:20 a.m., but crews could not respond due to winds reaching 60 mph, said fire district spokeswoman Catherine Chaney. Crews could only make it to the woman, who was in her late 50s, by 6:30 a.m.
Jessie Smith of the National Weather Service in Melbourne said the agency would count the fatality as an indirect storm-related death since it wasn't caused by flooding or a falling tree.
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/weather/hurricane/os-hurricane-matthew-florida-story.html