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Texas begins mass post-Ike rescue Texas begins mass post-Ike rescue
(about 7 hours later)
Texas has begun what is being described as the biggest search and rescue effort in its history following Hurricane Ike.Texas has begun what is being described as the biggest search and rescue effort in its history following Hurricane Ike.
At least 2,000 people have been rescued but many thousands more are believed to have ignored the mandatory order to evacuate before Saturday's storm.At least 2,000 people have been rescued but many thousands more are believed to have ignored the mandatory order to evacuate before Saturday's storm.
The death toll rose to 30 as Ike swept on from Texas into the mid-US, with heavy rain causing flooding.The death toll rose to 30 as Ike swept on from Texas into the mid-US, with heavy rain causing flooding.
Millions of people are without power and Houston is under a week-long curfew as work continues to restore services.Millions of people are without power and Houston is under a week-long curfew as work continues to restore services.
By Sunday evening, three out of four households in the fourth-largest US city were still without electricity. While many schools remained shut, there were signs of a return to normality on Monday, as the city's two airports resumed limited services and some shops and restaurants opened for business.
Although many schools remained shut, there were some signs of a return to normality on Monday. The city's two airports resumed a limited service, roads into the city were open and some shops and restaurants were back in business. Five people died in Galveston Bay, an island city south-east of Houston which bore the brunt of the storm as Ike swept ashore on Saturday, bringing 13ft (4m) waves and 110mph (175km/h) winds.
'Stay away''Stay away'
The same could not be said for Galveston Bay, which bore the brunt of Hurricane Ike's arrival early on Saturday. Rescuers feared the toll could rise as they searched areas awash with sewage for those who did not leave before the hurricane hit.
I'll never stay again. I don't care what the weatherman says - a Category 1, a Category 2. I thought I was going to die Michael GemlGalveston resident class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7615028.stm">In pictures: Ike damage class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/7613741.stm">Eyewitness: 'People are in shock' class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/7613851.stm">'One million homeless' in Haiti As many as 140,000 people - some 10,000 in Galveston alone - failed to heed the order to evacuate.
At least five people were killed and rescuers feared the toll could rise as they continued searching for those who did not leave before the hurricane hit. Across Texas, 50 helicopters, 1,500 federal, state and local search teams were looking for stranded survivors, and a US navy ship carrying engineers was heading to Galveston to help with rebuilding operations.
Galveston resident Michael Geml, 51, had decided to stay put, looking after family pets in his bay-front neighbourhood, as he had for previous hurricanes. We'll work as hard and fast as we can to help you get your lives back up to normal US President George W Bush class="" href="/1/hi/in_pictures/7615028.stm">In pictures: Ike damage class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/7613741.stm">Eyewitness: 'People are in shock' class="" href="/1/hi/world/americas/7613851.stm">'One million homeless' in Haiti
"I'll never stay again," he was quoted by the Associated Press as saying. "I don't care what the weatherman says - a Category 1, a Category 2. I thought I was going to die." Nearly 40,000 evacuees were being housed in 250 shelters across Texas - some with little money and no idea how long they would have to stay.
The centre of Galveston, which was pummelled by 13ft high waves and 110mph (175km/h) winds, was said to be awash with foul-smelling mud and sewage. Galveston Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas urged residents to stay away until it was safe to return to their homes.
Galveston Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas urged residents to stay away. "Do not come back... You cannot live here at this time." "There's nothing to come here for," she said. "Please leave."
Homeless shelters Warning that residents of Texas and Louisiana were in for "tough times", David Paulison, administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (Fema), said some people would "be out of their homes for not only weeks, but months".
Across Texas, more than 50 helicopters, 1,500 federal, state and local search teams were looking for those who had not evacuated the area before the storm came. Fema has said it will deliver 7.5m meals as well as 5m gallons (20m litres) of water over the next few days.
As well as carrying out door-to-door searches by boat and high-wheeled trucks, many people were plucked to safety by air. By Sunday afternoon, around 1,984 people had been rescued. President George W Bush, who is due to survey the damage on Tuesday, told those affected by the storm: "We'll work as hard and fast as we can to help you get your lives back up to normal".
But there are fears that many more thousands are still at risk, with reports that as many as 140,000 people - some 10,000 in Galveston alone - failed to heed the order to evacuate. Although Ike weakened to a tropical depression as it headed beyond Texas, the storm's US death-toll rose to 30 as torrential rain caused severe flooding and power outages in parts of Louisiana, Kansas, Missouri and Illinois.
Nearly 40,000 evacuees have now been housed in more than 250 shelters across Texas - some with little money and no idea how long they would have to stay. Ike killed more than 80 people when it tore through the Caribbean late last week.
"I don't know what I'll be coming back to. I have nothing," Arma Eaglin, 52, told the AP as she waited for a bus to take her to a shelter in San Antonio.
Although Hurricane Ike weakened to a tropical depression as it headed beyond Texas, torrential rain led to severe flooding and power outages in parts of Louisiana, Kansas, Missouri and Illinois.
At least two other people were killed in Texas and six in Louisiana. Six people were killed in Indiana, three in Missouri, one in Arkansas, one in Tennessee and three in Ohio.
Ike killed 80 people when it passed through the Caribbean earlier.
Have you been affected by Hurricane Ike? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below.Have you been affected by Hurricane Ike? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below.
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