ALBANY - President Bush on Saturday declared a disaster in eight upstate counties struck hard by recent flooding.

In an immediate statement, Gov. George Pataki called the federal response “disappointing.”

“While we appreciate the complexity and magnitude of the enormous task at hand, some determinations are simply self-evident,” his statement said. “I will continue to press FEMA for a swift, complete and full disaster declaration that meets not only the needs of local government, but also the needs of individual hard-pressed New Yorkers.”

Pataki on Friday announced a $35 million state emergency relief package to boost recovery efforts in 13 upstate counties and asked Bush to declare the region a federal disaster area.

Saturday's declaration made federal aid available to state and eligible local governments in Broome, Chenango, Delaware, Herkimer, Montgomery, Otsego, Sullivan, and Ulster counties.

Eight counties in Pennsylvania were declared disaster areas Friday.

The aid, including direct federal aid, will help in debris removal and emergency protective measures after torrential rain caused floods to sweep through parts of central New York and the Southern Tier on June 26 and afterward. A statement from the Federal Emergency Management Agency on Saturday said damage surveys are continuing in other flood-hit areas, and more counties could be named disaster areas as well.

A FEMA spokesman, James McIntyre, did not say which counties are being evaluated.

There is no cap on federal reimbursement, as long as FEMA determines the expenses are eligible, McIntyre said.

The timing of aid depends on how quickly the application process goes, he said. The state will review local applications and send them to FEMA.

AP-ES-07-01-06 1629EDT