DAYTONA BEACH, Fla. -- Gov. Charlie Crist has declared a state of emergency for several Central Florida counties.

Brevard, Flagler, Lake, Orange, Seminole and Volusia counties are all in a state of emergency.

The declaration is another step in the process for flood victims to receive federal relief money.

This announcement comes hours after Daytona Beach Mayor Glenn Ritchie declared a state of emergency for the city and asked residents to keep an eye on their neighbors and be wary of people trying to take advantage of storm victims.

Severe weather, including massive flooding, has affected nearly 1,000 Volusia County homes or buildings, causing an estimated $52 million in damage.

Rain has fallen for five straight days, dropping more than 25 inches in some areas. Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach, Ormond Beach, Holly Hill and Port Orange have suffered the most severe flooding. Homes were also flooded in Deltona and Edgewater.

Rep. John Mica toured the damage in Daytona Beach on Friday, the same day Daytona Beach city officials declared a state of emergency.

"Right now we're trying to assess the damage…we're going to try to coordinate every effort we can to help people get back in their homes," Mica said.

Single mother Temple Bailey said she hopes the assistance comes through in her low-income area.

Bailey lost nearly everything in her home, except electronics, when a foot of water flooded into her house in less than an hour. She said she has not left her home in four days.

"We didn’t have anywhere to go. All my family is in Texas," Bailey said.

Mica said Daytona Beach stands a good chance of qualifying for federal disaster relief.

Parts of the Daytona Beach International Speedway are under water, although a spokesman for the speedway said that there is no significant damage.

Daytona Beach Police Chief Mike Chitwood said he would have extra officers on patrol throughout the night to keep an eye out for looters.

Volusia County was under a flash flood warning as another 4 inches of rain was expected to fall Friday.

More than 250 people trapped by floodwaters in Volusia County were rescued on Thursday by workers using brush fire trucks.

"My legs are sore from walking in the water. I'm freezing," said stranded resident Victoria Polzin.

The head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency also toured Volusia County on Friday. Craig Fugate and his crew will determine if the damage has reached the level to warrant federal assistance.

"This is a disaster area. There's no questions about this. I don't know why the help is so slow about coming. Somebody needs to do something real fast," said Cynthia Slater, whose Daytona Beach home is flooded.

It could take weeks or months to receive federal assistance if the city qualifies.

Resident Robert Patten was forced to navigate the streets of the Holly Forest community in Holly Hill with an inflatable raft.

"This is about the only way you can travel through here anymore. The side road is really bad," Patten said.

More than 60 homes in the Pine Street area in Ormond Beach have suffered water damage. More than a foot of water has flooded the area.

Shelter Information

The Red Cross shelter at Westside Baptist Church in Daytona Beach reached its capacity of 50 people Friday afternoon. Another shelter was opened at Sica Hall, which is located at 1065 Daytona Avenue in Holly Hill.

Another Red Cross shelter, located at the Flagler Beach United Methodist Church on 1520 South Daytona Avenue, is also open.