Many waited about 5 1/2 hours before the water and ice arrived. The food won't get there until today.

Hillsborough County set up 11 comfort stations that were to start handing out supplies to hurricane victims Tuesday. But the stations have been hampered by delayed shipments, and others have closed because few showed up.

Only six of the 11 centers were open Wednesday.

Marie Bostick was among the first to arrive at the Ruskin station Tuesday and Wednesday. She spent eight hours in line over the two days. By Wednesday afternoon, the only supplies she had received were ice and dog food.

``This is ridiculous, but I have to keep coming back because you can't find ice anywhere else in Ruskin,'' said Bostick, who has been without power since Sunday.

While Bostick kept her place in line, others decided they couldn't wait. Sulema Gonzalez came to the center while on break from her job as a Hillsborough County school bus driver. After waiting for more than an hour, Gonzalez went back to work empty-handed.

``I needed these supplies,'' Gonzalez said. ``My paycheck is going to be short because I missed workdays when school was closed.''

At 1:30 p.m., Lourdes Romero, acting manager of the Ruskin center, addressed the crowd.

``I just got off the phone with EOC,'' she said, referring to the Emergency Operations Center. ``And they just got the water and ice. It's going to be about two more hours before that truck gets here.''

Romero's next announcement also angered the crowd. The truck carrying food that was part of the federal relief effort broke down in Ocala and wouldn't arrive Wednesday.

``Who's going to feed their kids ice?'' asked Sheryl Peacock, who had waited in line for hours.

``It's better than the dog food they gave me yesterday,'' Bostick said.

Hillsborough EOC Emergency Coordinator Pete Dabrowski said other agencies are stepping in to replace the delayed federal supplies.

Red Cross plans to send extra meals and water to Ruskin today, and the Salvation Army is bringing food to the comfort station at the Wimauma Civic Center.

Comfort stations also have $75 food vouchers provided by the county health and social services division. The voucher application asked for income, checking account and tax information. Families were interviewed by officials before given vouchers. The complicated process added to the frustrations.

``Who brings this kind of information to get ice?'' Peacock asked.

Social Services Director Bart Banks said the information was necessary for procedural reasons but would not be used to determine who qualified.

``We're waiving the income requirement, but we have to have it on record,'' Banks said.

Banks said the six stations will stay open as long as there is a need and supplies are available. Those stations are: Wimauma Civic Center, 5705 Hillsboro St.; Ruskin's center, 201 14th Ave. S.E.; Metropolitan Ministries, 2002 N. Florida Ave.; Plant City Neighborhood Service Center, 702 N. Alsobrook St.; Bealsville Recreation Center, 5009 Nesmith Road; and Lutz Community Civic Center, 98 First Ave. N.W.

Reporter Julie Pace can be reached at (813) 259-7203.