Bush to visit storm-hit states

President George W Bush was today visiting hurricane-stricken Florida and Alabama – the third such visit to Florida – as Hurricane Ivan victims faced another day of digging through debris for their belongings and waiting hours in queues for food and water.

Bush planned a flight by Marine One helicopter over areas of Alabama’s Gulf Coast and Florida’s Panhandle hit hardest when Ivan tore ashore on Thursday with 130mph winds. The hurricane spawned deadly tornadoes and a huge storm surge that gutted homes and businesses, washed out roads and bridges and knocked out power.