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Federal emergency workers are in Florida assessing the damage left by Tropical Storm Fay. Thursday President Bush declared the state a federal emergency area. The declaration allows state and local governments to claim a 75 percent reimbursement on money spent cleaning up debris and saving lives. Today Governor Charlie Crist asked President Bush to make a disaster declaration on the state’s behalf.

“The President has been very gracious to us and very responsive to us, and again we are very grateful for the first declaration and hopeful for the second,” said Crist.

A major disaster declaration would allow the state to receive more money and personnel from the federal government to assist with cleanup efforts. So far the state has spent more than a million dollars just to activate the Emergency Operations Center.