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Millions of Floridians Wait for Hurricane Relief
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(http://enews.voanews.com/t?ctl=F8AF85:3919ACA

Almost three million people still without electrical power Residents
of the southern state of Florida stood in line for gasoline, ice and
water on Wednesday, two days after hurricane Wilma swept through the
state, causing 10 deaths. Almost three million customers are still
without electrical power.







Damage caused by Hurricane Wilma is seen at apartment complex in Fort
Lauderdale, FloridaPower crews, including about 6,000 electric utility
workers from other states, are working overtime to get the lights back
on for millions of people who lost power because of Hurricane Wilma.
There were long lines and traffic jams as Floridians waited for
gasoline or went to distribution centers for food and water. Most
service stations could not pump gas because they did not have
electricity.

Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Alvarez said he was frustrated and
disappointed at the relief efforts. He warned that the 12 distribution
centers in the Miami area were running out of supplies.

Florida Governor Jeb Bush said he took full responsibility for the
problems. But he said residents had been told before the hurricane
arrived that they should have stocked three days of provisions.







Jeb Bush"People had ample time to prepare and it isn't that hard to
get 72 hours worth of food and water, just to do the simple things
that we ask people to do," said Governor Bush.

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, who oversees the Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), visited southeast Florida on
Wednesday to view the relief efforts. FEMA was widely criticized for
its response after Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast in September.

Mr. Chertoff said his agency was working around the clock to bring
supplies to Florida from across the country.

"I understand there are frustrations here," he said.  "As the governor
has acknowledged, we can't always get to people as quickly as we hope
to do it. But I will tell you that people here are working 24-7 to
make sure that we do live up to a very high standard the governor has
set for us to respond here."

Miami's International Airport reopened on Wednesday, but the airport
in Fort Lauderdale, where 95 percent of residents had no electricity,
remained closed.

President Bush, the brother of Florida's governor, plans to come to
the state on Thursday to assess the damage.


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