Bermuda: Hurricane Nicole pummels Bermuda with wind, then spins away

Hurricane Nicole roared across Bermuda on Thursday, pummeling the resort island with winds up to 115 mph that snapped trees and peeled off roofs before the storm spun away into open water. The Category 3 system also flooded homes, damaged boats that broke away from their moorings and knocked out power to more than 27,000 customers who live in the British territory, which has sturdy infrastructure and is accustomed to heavy weather. By late Thursday afternoon, crews were clearing roads, and many islanders were posting pictures of calmer seas and clearer skies. "Nicole is now racing away," said James Dodgson, deputy director at the Bermuda Weather Service. In Nicole's aftermath, government officials inspected bridges and other structures. The Royal Bermuda Regiment removed uprooted trees and other debris from roads. Cleanup efforts were expected to continue until early Friday, and the island's airport planned to reopen by then. Schools were scheduled to stay closed until Monday. American Airlines, Air Canada and other carriers cancelled flights to the island. <br/>