PORT ST. LUCIE, Florida -- Tropical Storm Fay churned off the coast of east Florida Thursday a day after dumping heavy rain on the state and causing Florida's governor to ask for federal aid.
The storm was moving slowly but could make landfall again Thursday morning in northern Florida, possibly in the Jacksonville-Daytona Beach area, forecasters said.
It would be the fourth time the storm makes landfall. Fay has come ashore in Florida twice after making landfall in Cuba.
NASA reported receiving 21 inches of rain from the storm Wednesday, said Craig Fugate, Florida's emergency management director. Forecasters said they received an unofficial report of 22 inches northwest of Melbourne, Florida.
As of 2 a.m. ET Thursday, the storm was just off the coast of central Florida about 20 miles east-southeast of Daytona Beach, the National Hurricane Center said.
Florida Gov. Charlie Crist has asked President Bush to declare an emergency in the state to free up federal funding.
The storm "is producing historic flooding across a large portion of Brevard County," Crist wrote in a letter to Bush. "Fay has and will continue to produce copious amounts of rain over a large portion of northeast Florida as the storm turns westward on August 21.
"Fay remains a significant threat," Crist continued, noting that tornadoes have touched down in seven counties.
The governor pre-emptively declared a state of emergency last week.
As of 2 a.m. ET Thursday, the storm had maximum sustained winds near 60 mph, and it was expected to move northwest overnight, according to a hurricane center advisory.
"The storm continues to be a threat to this community," Jacksonville Mayor John Peyton said. "Looks like the worst is still ahead."
Peyton said Jacksonville had set up shelters should people need them.
Storm tides of 1 to 3 feet above normal are possible along the Florida's east coast, to the north of the center of Fay, the hurricane center said, adding that isolated tornadoes are possible over portions of northeastern Florida and southeast Georgia.
The U.S. Navy announced Wednesday afternoon that it was moving several ships and aircraft in anticipation of Fay's arrival in northeast Florida. Naval Air Station Jacksonville has evacuated 24 P-3 Orion aircraft to bases in Maine and Ohio.
On the southeast coast of Florida, Fay flooded hundreds of homes in St. Lucie County, authorities said. Rescuers were using airboats and other means Wednesday to pick up stranded residents.
Earlier in the day, the county's Public Safety Department said that as many as 8,000 homes might be affected in two low-lying areas but later scaled the number back.
The severe flooding in St. Lucie County took authorities by surprise.
Meg Defore said that the first floor of her home was 14 feet above ground but that water had reached the top of her doors. She left in a small boat.
Near the north fork of the St. Lucie River, water gushed down streets and lapped at the doors of parked cars.
"They sent a warning to everyone not to leave [their homes] because the snakes are coming out of their holes and there's fish everywhere," she said.
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