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FEMA still working on storm damage from 2004
By Times Staff
Published June 21, 2005
ORLANDO - The Federal Emergency Management Agency will keep a long-term presence in Florida mainly to help with the recovery of roads, schools and other public infrastructure damaged by the four hurricanes that struck the state last year, an official said Monday.
The agency, which has committed more than $5-billion to its Florida relief effort, will maintain its state headquarters in Orlando and an office in Port Charlotte, both set up after Hurricane Charley, and another branch in Pensacola, established after Hurricane Ivan, for at least a year.
"FEMA will be here for as long as it takes," said Scott Morris, the agency's long-term recovery director for Florida.
He said in a teleconference with reporters that FEMA has about wrapped up its assistance to individuals and debris removal.
Morris also offered assurance that FEMA will not force victims to leave government-provided travel trailers and mobile homes before their 18-month limit expires if they have nowhere else to go, but he said the agency has not decided what to do if people remain homeless after the deadline.
Morris acknowledged that housing is a tough issue because of a tight rental market and shortages in supplies, labor and contractors to get damaged homes repaired or rebuilt.
Body in pond identified as FAMU student, 20
TALLAHASSEE - Police said a man found dead in a retention pond over the weekend was a 20-year-old student at Florida A&M University who had been shot, but they had little other information on the apparent murder.
Willie James Davis of Jacksonville was found in the pond Sunday afternoon, said Tallahassee police spokesman John Newland. An autopsy Monday revealed that Davis died from a gunshot wound.
Newland said Davis' father had contacted the school to express concern about his son and have someone check on him, but it wasn't clear how long it had been since anyone had heard from him.
Monday, Newland said.
The body was found in a pond near an apartment complex, but police didn't say whether Davis lived at the complex.
[Last modified June 21, 2005, 04:57:32]
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