Californians Seek Fema Help

Thousands of Californians are seeking federal assistance to recover from flooding and other damage spawned by a series of destructive storms blamed on El Nino.

Nearly 9,000 people have sought aid, the Federal Emergency Management Agency said. More than $3.6 million has been distributed to 1,689 people, spokesman Eugene Brezany said.

Residents of San Mateo and Monterey County residents had filed the most applications as of Saturday, according to a FEMA report detailing the damage done in the 31 counties that had been declared disaster areas.