St. Lucie County firefighters, from left, Saundra Maher, Tim Sessoms and Teddy Willems examine the Hutchison Island, Fla., home of Dick Jackson Tuesday that was damaged by Hurricane Frances.

Volunteers and friends of Mark Thoe, second from left, work to free his sailboat from the Indian River in Malabar, Fla., Tuesday.

Thousands of Floridians struck by the violent storm have begun the recovery process, while Congress approved a $2 billion disaster relief package.