- PUNTA GORDA, Fla.
(Reuters) - President Bush on Sunday toured the wreckage from Hurricane
Charley, which killed at least 13 people and sent thousands fleeing to
shelters in Florida, a state critical to his reelection.
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- Accompanied by his brother and Florida Gov. Jeb Bush
and Federal Emergency Management Agency director Mike Brown, Bush assessed
the devastation in hard-hit Port Charlotte and Punta Gorda along Florida's
Gulf coast.
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- Bush had already issued a disaster declaration for the
area, freeing up federal emergency funds for the state. Charley, a powerful
category 4 storm which bore down on Florida on Friday with 145 mph winds,
took many people in the southwestern part of the state by surprise because
of its intensity and its path of movement.
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- Bush traveled through areas where flipped mobile homes
lay next to broken trees and roofs had been shorn from many homes.
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- "A lot of people's lives have been turned upside
down," observed Bush, standing outside the home of Gary Nickols, a
57-year-old utility worker.
-
- Nickols had evacuated to a nearby church, but returned
to his home on Saturday without any water or electricity. He said he felt
fortunate because his home had been relatively unharmed compared to many
others in the area.
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- Bush praised the quick assistance from federal and state
officials, but cautioned recovery efforts would take some time. "There
is a lot of helping moving into this part of the world," he said.
-
- Hurricane Andrew, which slashed through Florida in 1992,
proved troublesome for Bush's father, George Bush, who lost his bid for
reelection. Delays in bringing in federal aid and equipment led to criticism
of the first President Bush.
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- "It's about time he (Bush) came to see us,"
said Ron Hill, a Bush supporter and contractor from neighboring Murdoch,
who had come to see the damage in Punta Gorda.
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- Florida was the site of a bitter and controversial 2000
recount vote. Bush was declared the winner there only after the intervention
of the Supreme Court.
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- Polls show a close race in Florida this year but with
sentiment leaning toward Democratic challenger Sen. John Kerry. Political
analysts believe Bush needs to carry the state to win the general election.
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- Kerry issued a statement on Saturday saying he does not
plan to visit Florida in the hurricane's aftermath because he did not want
his campaign entourage to disrupt relief work.
-
- But he asked his campaign staff in the state to help
out with food, clothing and other aid. He also offered support for Bush's
efforts and those of Gov. Jeb Bush.
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- The storm-struck area the president is visiting leans
Republican and widely supported Bush over Gore in the 2000 presidential
election.
- © Reuters 2004. All Rights Reserved.
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