Texas Battles Ike Blackouts, Floods, Looting

FEMA struggles to keep Houston, Galveston supplied

By Peter Fearon, Newser Staff

Posted Sep 15, 2008 4:33 AM CDT

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Texas Battles Ike Blackouts, Floods, Looting — Motorists push a vehicle from high water in Houston in the aftermath of heavy rains after Hurricane Ike passed through the area. (AP Photo/Smiley N. Pool, Pool)

Federal officials were working yesterday to move emergency supplies and fresh water to distribution centers in beleaguered Houston, where residents were struggling to cope with continued flooding, blackouts and looting. Millions are still without power and a curfew is in force, reports the Houston Chronicle. Officials in Galveston, meanwhile, appealed for evacuated resident to stay out of the devastated city.

"Do not come back to Galveston. You cannot live here right now," said the city's mayor. "We have no power. We have no gas. We have no communications." Rescue workers continued to search for bodies and survivors who need emergency help in hard-hit areas. The storm has claimed at least 21 lives in nine states.
(More FEMA stories.)

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