(Columbia-AP) Feb. 12, 2004 - Governor Mark Sanford has asked President Bush to declare a major disaster for South Carolina after last month's severe ice storm.

The storm froze much of the state January 26th and 27th with ice and sleet that damaged power lines and trees. More than 260,000 customers were left without electricity, some for up to a week.

The Lexington Sheriff had 190 calls and 35 vehicles wreck. Orangeburg was hit with $5.5 million in damages.

The Federal Emergency Management Agency estimated the total state and local government expenditures at more than $28 million. Orangeburg County Council Chairman John Rickenbacker is concerned about the financial hit to taxpayers, "Local governments have to go into their limited funds. Problems for taxpayers in the next budget year."

Getting the funding involves several steps. State and federal groups like FEMA assess the damage and the governor then sends a letter to the president asking him to declare it a federal disaster area. A letter went out this week from South Carolina. Sanford wrote in a letter that supplementary federal assistance is necessary. Read letter here>>

In it he says, "I have determiend that this incident is of such severity ad magnitude that effective response is beyond the capabilities of the State and the affected local governments and that supplementary Federal assistance is necessary."

The governor specifically asks for help for Aiken, Bamberg, Barnwell, Calhoun, Clarendon, Edgefield, Florence, Horry, Kershaw, Lexington, Marion, McCormick, Newberry, Orangeburg, Richland, Sumter and Williamsburg Counties.

Counties/Agencies	Debris Removal	Emergency Protective Measures	Roads & Bridges	Building & Equipment	Utilities	Other	Totals
Aiken County	1,167,450	136,031	-	2,000	2,235,840	-	3,541,321
Bamberg County	8,900	41,613	-	-	32,200	-	82,713
Barnwell County	415,754	44,859	-	-	230,000	-	690,613
Calhoun County	403,624	98,550	-	-	525,000	3,700	1,030,874
Clarendon County	1,025,160	233,592	-	2,000	1,220,305	-	2,481,057
Edgefield County	43,000	18,200	-	-	441,920	-	503,120
Florence County	1,339,000	208,399	2,000	-	1,008,343	-	2,557,742
Horry County	280,037	12,054	-	665	842,000	1,000	1,135,756
Kershaw County	35,000	129,357	-	-	258,000	-	422,357
Lexington County	261,000	235,943	1,500	-	876,200	-	1,374,643
Marion County	1,344,000	141,972	-	5,000	618,000	5,000	2,113,972
McCormick County	15,000	2,000	-	-	142,880	-	159,880
Newberry County	66,000	110,661	-	-	338,600	-	515,261
Orangeburg County	3,605,509	460,853	-	3,500	2,235,000	-	6,305,862
Richland County	709,500	324,643	-	5,400	620,300	-	1,659,843
Sumter County	1,533,466	199,449	-	10,000	536,027	1,500	2,280,340
Williamsburg County	599,681	192,449	-	-	900.140	800	1,693,070
State OTAG	-	2,300	-	-	-	-	2,300
Totals	12,853,081	2,592,823	3,500	28,565	13,060,755	12,000	28,550,724

(Estimates reflect total eligible costs before any cost sharing)

If confirmed, the federal government usually pays 75% and the state legislature will have to come up with 25%. Rickenbacker is already worried that along with the cleanup, local governments will also have to come up with the 25%, "We know the state is in a crucial budget time, but this is a disaster."

The governor's spokesperson says until the president makes that designation, it's premature to speculate where that 25% will come from, whether its state or local governments. The spokesman did say they have about $4 million left in an emergency reserve account from Hurricane Hugo and the ice storm of 2000.

Sanford designated Ronald Osborne as South Carolina's coordinating officer for the disaster assistance request.

By Megan Hughes
updated 8:01am by Chris Rees