At a special meeting today, state emergency workers revealed to local officials that Lake City is not eligible for help from FEMA. The area had just over fifty homes damaged or destroyed. That's not extensive enough.

"Generally they look at a rule if there's not 100 homes that have major disasters or have been destroyed they don't really consider it a presidential declaration," said Florida Emergency Management Deputy Director Ruben Almaguer.

But state emergency workers will be staying in Lake City. They'll join local leaders and volunteer workers at the Richardson Community Center to help victims.

County leaders say they're also trying to secure grant money to help.

Anne Imanuel, WCJB TV20 News