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The storm made landfall in Florida early Monday as a strong Category 3 hurricane. (Photo: Xinhua)

    WASHINGTON, Oct. 24 (Xinhuanet) -- At least three people were killed and as many as 3.2 million homes and businesses were knocked out of power in Florida when Hurricane Wilma hit the southeastern US state on Monday.

    The storm made landfall in Florida early Monday as a strong Category 3 hurricane, but weakened within hours into Category 2 before backing up again to Category 3 early in the afternoon. Wilma swirled out of Florida in the afternoon in the open Atlantic.

    A man was killed by a falling tree, another died when his roof collapsed on him and a third man was killed by wind-borne debris when he was trying to move his van, news reports said.

    Wilma, the eighth hurricane to hit Florida in 15 months, brought with it a storm surge flooding along the coast near and to the south of where the storm came ashore, and caused widespread damage.

    More than 33,000 people went to shelters across the state.

::::::	Stronger Wilma speeds towards Florida after lashing Mexico
::::::	Florida braces for Hurricane Wilma
::::::	Wilma kills 13 on way possibly to Mexico or US

    Over 3,000 National Guardsmen were mobilized for relief operations after the storm, and another 3,000 were on alert.

    State and federal officials had trucks of ice and food ready todeploy, with the Federal Emergency Management Agency poised to send in dozens of military helicopters and 13.2 million ready-to-eat meals if needed, the news reports said.

    President George W. Bush signed a disaster declaration for hurricane-damaged areas in the state, and promised prompt action to help victims.

    "We will work closely with local and state authorities to respond to this hurricane," he said. Enditem

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