Graham praises governor, urges federal aid for drained nonprofits

[Freddie Stubbs]

By Brian Crowley

Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Friday, September 17, 2004

WEST PALM BEACH — U.S. Sen. Bob Graham on Thursday praised Gov. Jeb Bush's handling of Hurricanes Charley, Frances and Ivan, calling his leadership "exemplary," even as Graham promised to do what he could to help speed the flow of federal dollars to Florida.

Graham met with officials from West Palm Beach and the Federal Emergency Management Agency to discuss the recovery process. He then toured the hard-hit Pineapple Park and Heritage Village communities, where he talked to several victims of Hurricane Frances.

William Austin, living in a Pineapple Park home his family has owned since 1956, is a 38-year-old single father of a 16-year-old girl. He lost many of the tools he uses to make a living as a machinist. But what bothers him most is the drenching of a wallet that belonged to his father before he died.

"It's really hard," he told Graham, who jotted notes in a small blue notebook. Austin said he is angry with the city for its failure to open a drainage gate that made the flooding of the neighborhood worse.

more: http://www.palmbeachpost.com/storm/content/local_news/epaper/2004/09/17/a4c_GRAHAM_0917.html