(10/03/1998) SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) _ It plowed over and past 17 Caribbean islands, crashing into the lives of more than 30 million people. (10/20/1998) For 11 days last month, Hurricane Georges plowed across the Caribbean, killing at least 500 people and inflicting property damage estimated at more than $5 billion as it weaved through nearly a dozen countries before expiring as an early fall rainstorm over Georgia. (10/26/1998) SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico _ In many ways, the capital of Puerto Rico does not look strikingly different from cities in the 50 states like Miami, Houston and parts of New York.