This is a killer storm," said Governor Charlie Crist. "The six deaths were confirmed as storm-related."

President George W Bush declared an emergency in the waterlogged, wind-battered state yesterday, opening the way for federal disaster assistance.

As of 11am (0100 AEST Saturday), Fay's centre was located about 70 km north-east of Cedar Key, in north-eastern Florida, the Miami-based National Hurricane Centre reported.

It was crawling west at a mere 7 km/h, "and this motion is expected to continue during the next 24 to 36 hours," the hurricane centre said.

At this rate, Fay's centre is expected to move over the far western Florida panhandle area tomorrow.

The storm packed maximum sustained winds of near 75 km/h, with higher gusts.

"Over the next 36 hours, Fay is expected to produce rainfall accumulations of four to six inches (10 to 15 cm) across northern Florida and the surrounding region, which includes southern Georgia and south-eastern Alabama, "with isolated maximum amounts of 12 inches (30cm) possible," the centre said.

The storm has dumped record amounts of rain, with water accumulations of 50 to 75cm seen in some parts of the state, causing widespread flooding.

One man died inhaling carbon monoxide as he tested an electricity generator, three others were killed in vehicle accidents on slick roads, and two more drowned, the governor's office said.

More than 1500 people have been evacuated and moved into 61 shelters across the state.

Fay also caused tornadoes that earlier ripped through seven counties in south Florida, destroying 10 homes and damaging 50 others, local emergency officials said. About 50,000 homes have been flooded, and it knocked out power to 100,000 people.

In the Fort Pierce and Port St Lucie area, overflowing rivers and canals forced residents to get around on boats and climb onto trees and on rooftops, local television reported.

The heavy flooding resulted in alligators, water snakes and large spiders being pushed into urban areas, officials said.

Since it powered up from the Caribbean just short of hurricane strength last weekend, Fay has crisscrossed the south-eastern US state, first blasting the tourist-heavy Keys, then ploughing up the west coast before making landfall on Tuesday and crossing very slowly to the north-east.

Earlier in the Caribbean, Fay left a trail of destruction and at least 40 deaths - particularly in Haiti, where a truck carrying about 60 passengers plunged into a swollen river during the storm.

Agencies