No disaster declaration or government aid -- yet

[steve2470]

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/12488486.htm

The Federal Emergency Management Agency said it will wait at least a day before deciding whether to recommend declaring a major disaster.

BY NOAH BIERMAN

[e-mail]

Last year, President Bush declared major disasters the minute four hurricanes touched Florida's coasts. Hurricane Katrina did not rate that kind of swift action.

Federal emergency inspectors will begin checking damage today before making a recommendation to the president on the designation, which permits the federal government to reimburse local governments and private property owners for some storm damage, said Nicol Andrews, spokeswoman for the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

Gov. Jeb Bush, the president's brother, made the formal request for help Friday. Early insurance industry estimates say Katrina may have inflicted $600 million to $2 billion in damage.


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[kliljedahl]

1. Of course not, not an election year, you silly goose

[DawnneOBTS]

2. It only hit Blue Counties...

Miami-Dade, Monroe, Broward, and Palm Beach. They all voted for Kerry.