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State and local governments in Florida will receive federal funds to help cleanup the mess left by Tropical Storm Fay. Thursday President George Bush declared the state a federal emergency area. The federal government will reimburse first responders and clean up crews 75 cents on every dollars spent protecting citizens and picking up debris. FEMA Coordinating Officer Tom Davies said federal disaster crews are working with state agents to survey the damage.

“We have public damage assessment teams out in the field, that’s a state and federal team combined through partnership, assessing the damage. They started in Key West and will move north as weather permits them,” said Davies.

More help is out there. If President Bush signs a major disaster declaration more federal funds and personnel would be dispatched to the state to help with the clean up.