'Refugee emergency' in Florida

President Carter declared a state of emergency Tuesday in parts of Florida severely affected by the influx of thousands of Cuban refugees and allocated up to $10 million in federal funds to the state.

"The large number of undocumented aliens arriving in Florida has seriously impacted the state and local governments," a White House statement said.

"Gov. Bob Graham, in addition to requesting federal aid, mobilized the Florida National Guard to assist with the problem. As of this morning, refugee arrivals totaled 17,636, with as many as 3,600 arriving in a single day."

The declaration authorizes the federal government to reimburse state and local governments for extraordinary costs incurred in responding to the emergency. More than 1,300 civilian employees from more than a dozen federal agencies are taking part in the effort.