Bush Back in Florida With More Emergency Relief

President Bush toured storm-ravaged Florida on Wednesday for the third time in four weeks, as he vowed to seek additional disaster aid for the state and briefly hoisted emergency supplies into cars at a relief staging area in Fort Pierce.

Bush’s visit to Florida came hours after he signed emergency legislation that allocated $2 billion in disaster funds to the state, still reeling from two hurricanes, Charley and Frances. A third, Ivan, is now wreaking havoc in the Caribbean.

“I want the people of Florida and other affected areas to know that the federal government is doing everything we can to help you,” Bush said later in the day, during a visit to the National Hurricane Center in Miami.

“As the damage is assessed,” Bush said, “I will ask Congress for additional resources for infrastructure repair and disaster loan assistance to businesses and homeowners.”

From West Palm Beach, Bush flew by helicopter to Port St. Lucie. En route, he passed countless downed trees and a landscape covered by debris.

Events in Florida are significant for the White House because the state provided Bush with his narrow margin of victory in the presidential election four years ago. Florida’s governor, Jeb Bush, is the president’s younger brother. The state’s 27 electoral votes are considered up for grabs once again.

Wednesday was Bush’s 27th visit to Florida as president. He also made storm-related visits to the state on Aug. 15 and 27. Bush spoke as well at a reelection rally in Pensacola on Aug. 10.

At the Lawnwood Recreation Area in Fort Pierce, the president and Gov. Bush loaded water, food and bags of ice into cars. The president at one point leaned into one vehicle and asked: “What can we help you with? Ice? Water? A little food?”

Later in the day, he flew to Miami to visit the National Hurricane Center for an update on Hurricane Ivan.

Bush returned to the White House on Wednesday evening. He is scheduled to resume campaigning today in Pennsylvania.

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Material from Associated Press was used in this report.