WASHINGTON, Sept 4 (AFP) - US President George W. Bush on Saturday declared "a major disaster" in Florida after Hurricane Frances slammed the southern US state leaving more than two million people without power and causing widespread damage.
The declaration that covers five southern Florida counties -- Brevard, Indian River, Martin, Palm Beach, and St. Lucie -- will make their residents eligible to federal aid to rebuild after the storm.
"Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses, and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of the disaster," White House spokesman Scott McClellan said in a statement.
The measure also makes local governments eligible for assistance for debris removal and emergency protective measures for the first 72 hours after the hurricane, said the statement.
Frances slammed into south Florida earlier Saturday with pounding rain and fierce winds that downed power lines and uprooted trees, while the tail end of the huge storm still pounded the Bahamas.
The worst was yet to come for Florida once the eyewall of the huge storm hits the state's Atlantic coast by early Sunday.
Florida Governor Jeb Bush pointed out the furious storm would not only affect the east coast, but could move all the way to western Florida, which is still mopping up from the death and devastation wrought by Hurricane Charley last month.