Gov. Bush: Wilma response will 'be better'
Florida governor takes blame for distribution troubles
POMPANO BEACH, Florida (CNN) -- Florida Gov. Jeb Bush said relief agency response to Hurricane Wilma will "be better" Thursday after residents waited for hours the day before for basic supplies such as water, ice and gasoline.
"Today is going to be better, tomorrow is going to be better than today, and the day after tomorrow will be even better," Bush said during a Wednesday news conference.
As the governor accepted blame for distribution troubles that have forced many to wait in long lines for free government water and ice, he also suggested that some residents failed to stock up adequately in advance of Monday's Category 3 hurricane.
"People had ample time to prepare," Bush said. "And it isn't that hard to get 72 hours' worth of food and water ... just to do the simple things that we ask people to do."
President Bush, the governor's brother, was scheduled to tour the region later Thursday.The Bush administration was criticized for its response to Hurricane Katrina in August.
Florida's governor tried to take some of the blame off the Federal Emergency Management Agency, which many critics faulted for a slow response in the earlier hurricane.
"If anybody wants to blame anybody, blame me," the governor said. "Don't blame FEMA. This is our responsibility, and we are doing a good job."
Broward County Mayor Kristin Jacobs said that authorities would lift the region's boil water order later Thursday, allowing residents to drink tap water.
"That should eliminate a lot of the problems with lines," said Jacobs, whose county includes Fort Lauderdale.
She said many local grocery stores would be getting electricity and making and selling ice to residents -- which also will reduce some of the lines.
Florida Power & Light Co., the state's largest electricity supplier, said it had restored power to 689,000 customers as of Wednesday evening. The company said it hoped to restore power to a majority of its customers by November 8.
Also Wednesday, Wilma's death toll in Florida had doubled -- to 10 people -- said a spokeswoman for the Florida Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee. The hurricane also was blamed for four deaths in Mexico and at least seven in Haiti.
In Sunny Isles Beach north of Miami Beach, 90 cars at one point Wednesday waited in line for fuel at a gas station, while a separate line almost as long formed a block away at another station.
Many of those in line had about half a tank of gas but were determined to fill up in case of fuel shortages.
North of Fort Lauderdale, Oakland Park resident Marcia Jenkins said Wednesday she had tried in vain for two days to get ice.
"Yesterday we stood in line from 12 to about 4, and we didn't get any ice. I gave up and I left," Jenkins said. "So I figured I'd come today and I got to the end of the line and ... no more ice; they said, 'Wait till the next truck.' " (Watch residents express their anger -- 1:19)
Florida's governor said there were 71 distribution points as of Wednesday and that there would be 78 Thursday.
As many as 586 trucks were ferrying supplies to the sites, and 3,700 National Guard members were helping to distribute materials and provide security.
Bush said he had expected the distribution points to be set up within 24 hours after the storm.
"We didn't meet those expectations," he said.
Acting FEMA Director David Paulison, a Miami native, vowed: "We're going to make sure everyone's taken care of."
Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff visited South Florida on Wednesday, acknowledging that "everybody's patience has been taxed."
"We are in the process of doing everything within our power to get resources down to the state of Florida," Chertoff said, requesting "everybody's patience and forbearance."
He also said companies that provide fuel and "able-bodied people" with resources have a duty to prepare for predictable disasters such as Wilma so FEMA can concentrate initially on those needing help the most.
Meanwhile, Miami International Airport was phasing in more flights daily as crews surveyed the facility and made needed repairs. (Full story)
Flights head to Mexico
Airline and State Department officials said at least nine U.S. commercial flights were flying to Mexico on Wednesday to rescue some of the 10,000 American tourists who've been stranded since Wilma hit the Yucatan Peninsula last week.
American Airlines was sending five flights, Continental Airlines four and United Airlines one, said spokesmen for the airlines. (Full story)
"We are hoping to continue that through the weekend," American spokesman John Hotard said. (Watch thousands of tourists stranded in Mexico -- 1:15)
A cruise ship also was sent to Cozumel to pick up Americans and take them to Fort Lauderdale free of charge, State Department officials said.
State Department officials estimate at least 8,000 Americans remain in hotels and shelters in Cancun, and another 2,000 are in Merida and 650 on Cozumel.
CNN's Allan Chernoff, Elise Labott and Miles O'Brien contributed to this report.
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