Supplies scarce in Florida 3 days after Wilma.

Publication: South Florida Sun-Sentinel (via Knight-Ridder/Tribune News Service)

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COPYRIGHT 2005 South Florida Sun-Sentinal

Byline: Robert Nolin, Linda Kleindienst and Brittany Wallman

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. _ Three days after Hurricane Wilma stomped through the region, essential supplies remained scarce Wednesday, government officials offered apologies for a slow response, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency promised financial relief.

Fuel was also in desperate need, as fuel companies took matters into their own hands, using generators to pump fuel to trucks so they could deliver the cargo to area gas stations.

State and federal officials conceded Wednesday that they could have been better prepared, and FEMA declared South Florida residents eligible for individual assistance. That did little to quell growing frustration among residents impatient with the slow recovery efforts.

"We can't get food, water, power," said a worried Gail McDonald of Coral Springs. "It's going to be a mess like this for months. This is a national disaster and FEMA should help us."

Government officials reminded the public that highly publicized disaster plans recommend people stockpile enough food and water for at least three days.

"People had ample time to prepare, and it isn't that hard to get 72 hours worth of food and water, to do the simple things we ask...

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