CLEANUP BEGINS AFTER HURRICANE JEANNE:

At least six people were killed by the fourth hurricane to hit the state in six weeks. After Hurricane Jeanne came ashore in Fort Pierce, the east coast was pummeled with 120 mph winds, while by the time she crossed over to the west coast Jeanne had calmed down to a tropical storm, with gusts of 80 to 85 mph. Many residents lost electricity for days after Hurricane Jeanne passed through. The worst damage occurred where Jeanne came ashore at Fort Pierce; but on the west coast, from Clearwater north, thousands of Floridians went without electricity for from several days to as long as a week. Residents closely monitored local radio stations that broadcast information about where they could obtain bags of ice or a hot meal — and found long lines at the emergency areas — subsequently jamming call-in lines to complain about the storm’s aftermath and lack of services. With temperatures in the high 80s, massive power outages occurred across the state, and storm victims went without water, ice, or air-conditioning. Patience was in demand at staging areas across the state, as volunteers from the Salvation Army and the American Red Cross passed out bags of ice, containers of water, and provided cookedmeals to victims unable to cook. The havoc caused by hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne prompted the largest relief effort ever undertaken by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. President Bush asked Congress for more than $7.1 billion to help Florida and other southeastern states recover from the lashing. His third request for additional storm aid brings total possible funding to at least $12.2 billion.