COLUMBIA, S.C. - Two South Carolina counties have qualified for federal aid after officials said the state suffered more than $5.1 million in damage from Hurricane Charley.

Georgetown and Horry counties can get federal disaster relief money, the White House said Wednesday in a release.

The president declared a major disaster exists because of the storm and ordered the aid to help state and local recovery efforts, the release said. The aid is for governments and certain private nonprofit organizations.

Charley's winds toppled trees and left thousands without power in South Carolina when it skirted the northern part of the coast as a minimal hurricane Aug. 14.

The storm caused more than $7 billion in Florida when it struck the state the day before with 145 mph winds.

Gov. Mark Sanford's spokesman Will Folks said the state was expecting the approval.

Utility damages in South Carolina were estimated at $2.3 million and state and local debris removal expenses topped $1.6 million, Sanford's office has said.

Folks said Sanford also will likely ask for similar aid after Tropical Storm Gaston flooded homes, toppled trees in soil already saturated by Charley and cut power to 172,000 electric customers.

And state officials are carefully watching Hurricane Frances as it approaches the southeastern United States.

"Hopefully, we'll be fortunate with Frances," and not have to ask for federal aid, Folks said.