Three years after Katrina, residents of New Orleans are still buried in a blizzard of government paperwork. But for thousands of storm victims seeking federal aid, the challenge is made more difficult by a little-known obstacle: More than 40 percent of the city’s adults lack the literacy skills to comprehend basic government forms. And recovery programs have done little to ease the burden.

Hurricane Gustav barreled into Haiti on Tuesday, toppling trees, dumping rain and sending global fuel prices soaring on fears the storm could become “extremely dangerous” when it reaches the Gulf of Mexico.

Flooding left behind by Tropical Storm Fay forced residents in parts of northern Florida out of their homes Sunday.

President Bush declared Sunday that four Florida counties hit hardest by Tropical Storm Fay are major disaster areas, making them eligible for federal aid.

According to officials at the Jackson County Emergency Operations Center,  the biggest problem brought on by Fay appeared to be roadways being blocked by fallen trees.

While frozen foods might have been a little harder to come by in some areas of Jackson County, no roads had been closed and severe no flooding had been reported by emergency officials as of Saturday afternoon.

National Weather Service in Tallahassee’s 11 a.m. Tropical Storm Fay update.

As Tropical Storm Fay finally got on track Friday to leave Florida behind, flood-stricken homeowners got an encouraging sign: Muddy brown water lines began appearing on the sides of homes, a clue that flood waters were receding.

The Jackson County Emergency Management Agency warns residents of heavy rains, potential flooding and heavy wind gusts.

As if heavy rain from Tropical Storm Fay wasn’t enough, weary residents are now dealing with quintessentially Floridian fallout: alligators, snakes and other critters.

Anticipating possible flooding in the wake of the storm Fay, Jackson County Commissioners declared a local state of emergency Tuesday.

Attorney General Bill McCollum today announced the activation of the Attorney General’s Price Gouging Hotline for Tropical Storm Fay.

Florida Keys officials closed schools, opened shelters and urged visitors to leave as Tropical Storm Fay threatened to strengthen into a hurricane Sunday, but residents and some tourists seemed in no hurry to evacuate.

State and local officials are urging residents to pay attention to a tropical storm that’s currently south of Cuba.