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TALLAHASSEE — Tropical Storm Fay bid Florida a watery adieu over the weekend but not before claiming at least 11 lives and causing millions of dollars in damage.

Homeowners, businesses and the state’s agricultural industry all took their share of hits as Fay slowly crisscrossed the state over the course of more than a week. Now it’s time for the state to figure out how to recoup some of its losses.

In Fay’s watery wake, state officials are now pressing their federal partners to help bear the costs of clean-up while also calling on Washington to help create temporary jobs.

Last week, state and federal assessment teams fanned out, following the storm’s path with calculators in hand to determine how much damage had been wrought and who would help pay to clean it up.

On Thursday, President Bush issued an emergency declaration that allowed federal funds to be used to help local governments remove debris from public areas and pay for law enforcement and protective services needed to maintain order.

Gov. Charlie Crist requested even more aid Friday.

Speaking to reporters in Tallahassee, Crist said he sent a letter to Bush requesting a major disaster declaration be signed that would allow the Federal Emergency Management Agency to provide greater financial assistance as local governments and property owners recover from Fay.

On Sunday, Bush agreed. The declaration allows FEMA to provide funds to remove debris, demolish structures and reopen schools and other public buildings damaged by Fay.

The declaration will also provide individual assistance to residents of Brevard County, where historic rains and flooding have damaged or destroyed thousands of homes.

“Damage and loss of life that we have already seen from Fay is a reminder that a tropical storm can be devastating, dangerous and deadly,” Crist said.

Along with FEMA assistance, the state Agency for Workforce Innovation is asking for $20 million in emergency grants from the U.S. Department of Labor to provide temporary jobs and grants of up to $5,000 for businesses to recover.

“These funds will be critical in helping provide humanitarian relief for the millions of Floridians impacted by Tropical Storm Fay,” Monesia T. Brown, Director of the Agency for Workforce Innovation, said in a statement. “We will put this money to work immediately to help our citizens and to stimulate the local economies.”

And more aid may be on the way. Agriculture officials are still tallying up the damage Fay brought on to the state’s fruit and vegetable crops.

Excess rain and flooding is expected to cost the industry tens of millions in damaged and destroyed fruit.

St. Lucie County officials gave initial estimates of $20 million in crop damage. Southwest Florida is also expected to post major losses.

Homeowners are also beginning to file claims to their private and state-run insurers. By Sunday, Citizens Property Insurance Corp. had received nearly 1,800 claims from homeowners in affected areas. State

Farm reported more than 4,200 homeowner claims.

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Michael Peltier is the Daily News’ Tallahassee correspondent. E-mail him at mpeltier1234@comcast.net.