(RALEIGH) -- During her Monday evening storm briefing, Gov. Bev Perdue said she has already contacted the federal government to try and secure federal dollars for storm recovery.

"I have requested a Presidential Disaster Declaration for seven counties: Beaufort, Carteret, Craven, Dare, Hyde, Pamlico, and Tyrrell.  We will add other counties as the data becomes available for their disaster losses," said Perdue.

Perdue spent a second day Monday touring damage in the eastern part of the state. She will be joined on Tuesday by Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano, Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack and N.C. Commissioner of Agriculture Steve Troxler for an aerial tour of damage from Hurricane Irene along the Outer Banks.

The governor said it is her hope that the damage assessments for all counties will be complete by the end of this week.