ATLANTA – March 7 – Eight more Georgia counties were declared eligible Tuesday for federal disaster funds to repair devastation from last week's tornadoes that killed nine in the state.

On Sunday President Bush declared Sumter County eligible for the funds after he visited the county seat of Americus on Saturday.

Two were killed in Americus when a tornado ripped a 1-mile-by-6-mile gash through the city.

The counties added on Tuesday were Baker, Clay, Crawford, McDuffie, Mitchell, Muscogee, Stewart and Taylor. The money will go toward offsetting emergency response to the storms, debris removal and restoration. Six people were killed in Baker County, and one was killed in Taylor County.

Baker, Crawford, McDuffie, Mitchell and Taylor also qualify for federal funds to individuals for temporary housing and repairs not covered by insurance.