FEMA reopens Florida storm disaster centers

WASHINGTON -- The Federal Emergency Management Agency is reopening disaster recovery centers on Florida's Atlantic and Gulf coasts to resume assisting victims of the parade of storms over recent weeks.

President Bush asked Congress on Monday for an additional $7.1 billion in disaster funds. Congress has approved Bush's first request of $2 billion and is considering his second, a $3.1 billion proposal. The latest request includes $4.5 billion for FEMA, which provides assistance to individuals and to state and local governments.

As of yesterday, more than 754,025 applications from several states had been received and more than $424 million in assistance was approved, FEMA reported.

FEMA said it has inspected 255,907 damaged homes in Florida, installed plastic sheeting on 26,943 houses and provided 151,365 waterproof tarps.

The agency said it has 4,035 workers deployed in Florida's disaster areas. The agency also said the Small Business Administration has lent $94.6 million to victims of Charley, Frances and Ivan.

States with declared disasters because of the hurricanes include:

Alabama: Ivan, 64,995 applications for aid, $38,898,706 approved.

Florida: Bonnie/Charley, 220,458 applications for aid, $138,233,233 approved; Frances, 300,671 applications for aid, $184,697,275 approved; Ivan, 69,756 applications, $25,589,664 approved; and Jeanne, 20,364 applications, nothing approved yet.

Georgia: Ivan, 1,541 applications, $1,068,881 approved.

Louisiana: Ivan, 3,665 applications, $1,672,444 approved.

Mississippi: Ivan, 5,975 applications, $2,414,114 approved.

North Carolina: Frances, 5,254 applications, $4,556,527 approved; and Ivan, 3,346 applications, $1,651,399 approved.

Ohio: Ivan, 4,225 applications, $4,998,189 approved.

Pennsylvania: Frances, 742 applications, $297,080 approved; and Ivan, 12,970 applications, $6,805,261 approved.

Puerto Rico: Jeanne, 32,444 applications, $5,546,998 approved.

Virginia: Gaston, 3,968 applications, $5,804,758 approved.

West Virginia: Ivan, 3,651 applications, $1,880,762 approved.