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'Catastrophic' storm nears Texas 'Catastrophic' storm nears Texas
(40 minutes later)
Hurricane Ike is nearing the Gulf coast of Texas and is expected to hit land within hours, causing "potentially catastrophic" flooding and damage.Hurricane Ike is nearing the Gulf coast of Texas and is expected to hit land within hours, causing "potentially catastrophic" flooding and damage.
US disaster officials warned that as many as 100,000 homes could be affected by flooding. US officials warned as many as 100,000 homes could be affected by flooding.
There are fears the hurricane could cause a high storm surge, leaving miles of low-lying coast underwater. Officials in Galveston, which is on the track of the storm, fear for the safety of 23,000 residents who have ignored a mandatory evacuation order.
Some residents of coastal Galveston face "certain death" if they stay, the National Weather Service has warned. Much of the city, on a small island off the coast of Texas, is already under water after a 12ft (3.7m) storm surge.
Hurricane Ike could have 'catastrophic effects'Hurricane Ike could have 'catastrophic effects'
At 0500 GMT on Saturday, the "very large" hurricane was about 35 miles (55km) south-east of Galveston, with winds of around 110 mph (175km/h). Galveston was also the scene of the country's deadliest hurricane, in 1900, which killed at least 6,000 people.
As Hurricane Ike approached, the authorities imposed a curfew until dawn, the city had lost power and a number of houses were on fire.
Residents of low-lying homes were told they risked "certain death" if they stayed.
Calls for rescue will be ignored until daybreak because emergency workers have been pulled off the streets, the Houston Chronicle newspaper reported.
"We don't know what we are going to find. We hope we will find the people who are left here alive and well," Galveston mayor Lynda Ann Thomas said.
Emory Sallie, 44, was one of those who chose to stay behind despite warnings of a 20ft-25ft (6m-7.6m) storm surge.
"If it ain't your time you ain't going anywhere," he told AP news agency, while walking and drinking a beer near his home.
The Texas authorities have laid on more than 1,000 buses to facilitate the mass evacuation.
In Galveston, 75 buses took residents to the state capital, Austin.
Weak and chronically ill hospital patients were also being moved.
'Very large'
More than a million people in Texas have been advised to leave their homes before Ike hits.
At 0700 GMT on Saturday, the "very large" hurricane was about 10 miles (15km) south-east of Galveston, with winds of around 110 mph (175km/h).
The US National Hurricane Center said Ike could grow from a Category Two to a Category Three storm - a "major hurricane" - by the time it reaches the coast.The US National Hurricane Center said Ike could grow from a Category Two to a Category Three storm - a "major hurricane" - by the time it reaches the coast.
RECENT MAJOR STORMS Hurricane Ike: SeptemberTropical Storm Hanna: SeptemberHurricane Gustav: August, SeptemberTropical Storm Fay: August Ike eyewitness: 'I am afraid'Flashback: Galevston's great storm
Already its tropical storm force winds extend up to 275 miles (443km) - the length of the Texas coastline - from its centre.Already its tropical storm force winds extend up to 275 miles (443km) - the length of the Texas coastline - from its centre.
The massive system is buffeting Texas and causing flooding along the Louisiana coast, still recovering from Hurricane Gustav earlier this month.The massive system is buffeting Texas and causing flooding along the Louisiana coast, still recovering from Hurricane Gustav earlier this month.
More than a million people in Texas have been advised to leave their homes before Ike hits.
In Houston, where the winds are threatening to shake skyscrapers, people have been told to shelter at home, board up their properties and stockpile supplies.In Houston, where the winds are threatening to shake skyscrapers, people have been told to shelter at home, board up their properties and stockpile supplies.
Authorities are trying to avoid a repeat of 2005, when some 110 people died in Houston during a chaotic evacuation in the face of Hurricane Rita.Authorities are trying to avoid a repeat of 2005, when some 110 people died in Houston during a chaotic evacuation in the face of Hurricane Rita.
Ike has already caused devastation in Cuba and Haiti, where hundreds of people have died in several tropical storms over the last month.Ike has already caused devastation in Cuba and Haiti, where hundreds of people have died in several tropical storms over the last month.
The hurricane's predicted path will take it past Galveston and on to Houston, home to America's biggest oil refinery and Nasa's Johnson Space Center.The hurricane's predicted path will take it past Galveston and on to Houston, home to America's biggest oil refinery and Nasa's Johnson Space Center.
Latest Hurricane Ike weather forecast
"Our nation is facing what is by any means a potentially catastrophic hurricane," said US Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff."Our nation is facing what is by any means a potentially catastrophic hurricane," said US Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff.
RECENT MAJOR STORMS Hurricane Ike: SeptemberTropical Storm Hanna: SeptemberHurricane Gustav: August, SeptemberTropical Storm Fay: August Ike eyewitness: 'I am afraid'Flashback: Galevston's great storm
He added: "This storm is so big in fact that its impact is already being felt all along the Gulf Coast."He added: "This storm is so big in fact that its impact is already being felt all along the Gulf Coast."
The Texas authorities have laid on more than 1,000 buses to facilitate the mass evacuation.
In Galveston - scene of the country's deadliest hurricane in 1900, which killed at least 6,000 people - 75 buses took residents to the state capital, Austin. Weak and chronically ill hospital patients were also being moved.
The power is out and the authorities have imposed a curfew until dawn on Monday.
But some residents were ignoring the dire warnings in Galveston, where Ike threatens to bring a 20ft (7m) high storm surge.
"If it ain't your time you ain't going anywhere," Emory Sallie, 44, told AP news agency, while walking and drinking a beer near his home.
Latest Hurricane Ike weather forecast
Fire crews have already rescued more than 300 people there who were walking through flooded streets, clutching clothes and other belongings as they tried to wade to safety.
In the Gulf of Mexico, ports are shut and almost all energy production has been suspended as a precaution, although Ike was expected to miss most of the installations.In the Gulf of Mexico, ports are shut and almost all energy production has been suspended as a precaution, although Ike was expected to miss most of the installations.
The storm would be the first major hurricane to hit a US metropolitan area since Katrina devastated New Orleans three years ago.The storm would be the first major hurricane to hit a US metropolitan area since Katrina devastated New Orleans three years ago.
President George W Bush has declared a federal emergency in Texas, allowing funds to be freed to help the state deal with the storm.President George W Bush has declared a federal emergency in Texas, allowing funds to be freed to help the state deal with the storm.


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