Crowds gather at a food-distribution point in Florida City

National Guardsmen stand guard as crowds gather at a food-distribution point in Florida City. Much of the city was destroyed by Hurricane Andrew, and many of its 8,000 residents were left without water, food or shelter. The Bush administration had been accused by local people of being too slow in providing relief. Clearly stung by these claims, President Bush called a hasty news conference on the hurricane relief efforts and said he he had ordered the military to help 'within hours' of a formal request by Florida's Governor, Lawton Chiles. The airlift of army troops and equipment began yesterday to the hurricane-stricken region.

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