Same Storm, Different Ledes

Is South Florida's water bottle half full or half empty? They report, you decide:

Broward County Sun Sentinel :

Three days after Hurricane Wilma stomped through the region, essential supplies remained scarce Wednesday, government officials apologized for the slow response, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency offered financial relief to individuals.

Ft. Myers News-Press:

Signs of recovery abounded Wednesday in Southwest Florida, three days after Hurricane Wilma ripped through the region and across the state.

Lakeland Ledger:

Frustration mounted on the third day of recovery from Hurricane Wilma, with the scramble for gas, water, ice and food causing long lines and traffic snarls, which prompted renewed criticism of storm planning and response.

Palm Beach Daily News:

Palm Beach showed signs of a slow recovery from Hurricane Wilma Wednesday with the restoration of water service by West Palm Beach and isolated reports of power returning, though electricity is still out throughout most of the area.

Naples News:

Taking flak for shortages of aid in Southwest Florida and elsewhere, federal officials and Gov. Jeb Bush acknowledged Wednesday there were glitches in Hurricane Wilma response efforts.

Tallahassee Democrat:

Declaring the state a "no-criticize zone" for the recovery from Hurricane Wilma, Gov. Jeb Bush said Wednesday that frustrated residents should blame him - not the Federal Emergency Management Agency - for shortages of ice, water and food at besieged distribution centers in southeast Florida.

St. Petersburg Times:

Complaints about the slow pace of recovery after Hurricane Wilma have exposed two problems: The state wasn't as prepared as it thought and neither were residents of South Florida.

Miami Herald:

It was another day of tedium and anxiety Wednesday for the millions still without power. Phones remained largely inoperable, and panic set in as gas stations went empty. The statewide death toll climbed to 10.

Orlando Sentinel:

Frustrated victims of Hurricane Wilma lined up again Wednesday for gas, water, ice and food, as Gov. Jeb Bush admitted that the state should have done a better job of funneling supplies to South Florida.

Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Alvarez called the relief process "flawed," adding that he was "frustrated, disappointed, angered" with the delivery of supplies.

Associated Press (Lara Jakes Jordan):

Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff on Wednesday asked victims of Hurricane Wilma to have patience for relief efforts as he surveyed crumpled boats, shattered mobile homes and snaking lines of cars at fuel stations along the storm's path.

Palm Beach Post:

For residents with gaping roofs from Hurricane Wilma, officials Wednesday offered a partial fix, but less than during prior storms.

FEMA reactivated Operation Blue Roof, assigning the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers crews the mission of sealing storm-strafed roofs in Palm Beach County with plastic tarps. But the emergency management agency has not said whether it also will distribute self-help tarps, a key relief measure that it took in years past.

Associated Press (Erik Shelzig):

With many Floridians still struggling to find food, water, ice and gas in the wake of Hurricane Wilma, Gov. Jeb Bush took responsibility for frustrating relief delays in a state all too familiar with powerful storms.

Key News:

Waves of Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach county residents began rolling into the Upper Keys on Wednesday to buy gasoline, food and other provisions in short supply after Hurricane Wilma left most of South Florida without power.