Florida Gov. Rick Scott: Flood damage worse than Hurricane Ivan

(CNN) – After storms and flooding pounded the state, Florida Governor Rick Scott declared a state of emergency for 26 counties.

"There's about 18,000 homes without power right now," Scott said in an interview with CNN's "The Lead with Jake Tapper. "I brought in the National Guard, we've brought in 24 high water vehicles. We brought in boats from fish and wildlife, vehicles from fish and wildlife."

Florida periodically endures hurricanes, but Pensacola residents tell CNN this is worse than previous disasters.

"We didn't have this sort of flooding with (Hurricane) Ivan, and their homes weren't flooded, their businesses weren't flooded. didn't have that much water," said Scott.

"The water came up so fast when you talked to the families. You saw cars just thrown down a road, just pushed upside down, and people have lost everything. And they didn't buy flood insurance because they didn't think they were in a flood area," said Scott.

The state has been talking with Federal Emergency Management Agency, says Scott, "and if we meet federal standards we'll ask for assistance."