Devastated Texans Struggle To Recover

Hurricane Ike Survivors Contend With Devastation, Shortages, Blackouts; Death Toll Rises

(CBS/AP)  For many Texans who made it through Hurricane Ike, whether in their own homes or in shelters, the disaster of the past few days is nowhere near over.

It could be weeks until the more than 2 million customers without power in the Houston area have their lights turned on again.

Galveston has no drinking water, electricity, gas or sewer. The bridge connecting the island is closed to anyone trying to get onto the island, and may remain closed for another week. The causeway also was damaged during the storm; engineers are still assessing its structural stability.

A massive effort is underway across the state to get food, water and ice to people who had no electricity - and efforts to distribute relief supplies are being criticized as slow.

Throughout the area, lines snaked for blocks at gas stations that had little if any gasoline to pump. People trying to run gas-powered generators came up short.

Thousands packed shelters looking for dry places to sleep.

"Quite frankly we are reaching a health crisis for the people who remain on the island," said Steve LeBlanc, the city manager in Galveston, where at least a third of the community's 60,000
residents remained in their homes.

With no services and flooded conditions hampering rescue crews from accessing residents, with gas connections being shut off to avoid fires, and with mosquitoes on the rise, Galvestonians who stayed are being urged to leave.

In Ike's aftermath, the first priority is still search and rescue, reports CBS News correspondent Mark Strassmann.

In Galveston, teams are going house to house, building to building in battered neighborhoods.

The victims, some stranded, were so relieved when help arrived. Elderly and disabled residents, surviving for three days without power or water, finally, they were leaving for San Antonio.

But Bee DeVaney was losing it, Strassmann reports. On the second floor, her husband Brian, in his wheelchair, was stuck.

"I'm scared," DeVaney said. "That's why I'm shaking. I've been crying all night. Just panicked about what I can do to help. I feel helpless."

With no electricity, the elevators weren't running. So the DeVaneys fretted.

Meanwhile, wherever Ike smashed Texas, for hundreds of miles, the essentials - power, water, gasoline and patience - are all in short supply.

In Houston, victims lined up for food. Many people here will have to do without power for weeks.

"I've been prepared for this," said David Garza. "But not for a month."

In most hard-hit areas, victims were told to stay away, Strassmann reports.

On Monday rescuers flew into Bolivar Peninsula, a hard-to-reach barrier island just east of Galveston, and uncovered a devastated landscape: Hurricane Ike had swamped entire subdivisons, and emergency crews feared they would find more victims than survivors.

Homes were splintered or completely washed away in the beachfront community that is home to about 30,000 people in the peak summer season.

"They had a lot of devastation over there," task force leader Chuck Jones said. "It took a direct hit."

Jones did not have information on whether anyone had died on the island, mainly because leaders still don't know how many people stayed through the storm that struck early Saturday.

Of particular concern is a resident who collects exotic animals who is now holed up in a Baptist church with his pet lion. "We're not going in there," Jones said. "We know where he (the lion) is on the food chain."

All along the Texas coast, rescue crews engaged in the biggest search and rescue operation in Texas history went houses-to-house for survivors. More than 2,000 people have been rescued since Ike roared ashore.

One 90-year-old woman was found alone in her apartment, badly dehydrated, her heart racing. Doctors said just one more day undiscovered, she would have died.

Emergency and search teams found five bodies on this island on Sunday. When they get into this island's low-lying West end, they are apprehensive they could find more bodies of people who defied a mandatory evacuation order.

After rampaging through Texas, Ike dumped as much as 6 to 8 inches of rain on parts of Indiana, Illinois and Missouri, spawned a tornado in Arkansas that damaged several buildings, and delivered hurricane-force wind to Ohio. Missouri had widespread flooding. More than a million homes in the Midwest are without power.


"I Have Nowhere To Go"

The death toll from Ike rose to 32, but many of those were far to the north of the Gulf Coast as the storm slogged across America's midsection, leaving a trail of flooding and destruction. Glass-strewn Houston was placed under a weeklong curfew, and millions of people in the storm's path remained in the dark.

Rescuers said they had saved nearly 2,000 people from waterlogged streets and splintered houses by Sunday afternoon. Many had ignored evacuation orders and tried to ride out the storm. Now they were boarding buses for indefinite stays at shelters in San Antonio and Austin.

"I have nowhere to go," said Ldyyan Jonjocque, 61, waiting for a bus while holding the leashes of her four Australian shepherd dogs. She said she had to leave two dogs behind in her home. She wept as she told of officers rescuing her in a dump truck.

(Left: Texans line up for supplies following the decimation of Hurricane Ike.)

In hard-hit towns like Orange, Bridge City and Galveston, authorities searched door-to-door into the night, hoping to reach an untold number of people still in their homes, many without power or supplies.

A line of at least 30 cars formed early Monday at a strip mall in Orange, a Texas town on the Louisiana state line east of Beaumont, a day after food and water were distributed there by the National Guard. But the line dispersed after state troopers told the gathering that supplies would be passed out elsewhere.

Wanda Hamor, 49, of Orange, had been fifth in line with her 21-year-old son William. They were trapped in their house by floodwaters until Monday morning before they could venture out.

They had run out of food Sunday night. They left for Gustav and say they couldn't afford to leave for Ike or buy any more than $60 in food.

"He's diabetic and he has to eat four times a day," she said of her son.

Many of those who did make it to safety boarded buses without knowing where they were going or when they could return to what might remain of their homes. Shelters across Texas scurried to find enough cots, and some evacuees arrived with little cash and no idea of what the coming days held.

Only one out of four Houstonians has power. As of 8 p.m. last night, according to CenterPoint Energy, electricity has been restored to 380,000 customers, meaning 1.72 million customers were still in the dark.

In Houston, tensions were rising among more than 1,000 who had spent several nights at the George R. Brown Convention Center. They complained that they couldn't get information about how to get food and clean clothes. The city's mayor said only 1,300 people were inside, but those sleeping on cots said it felt like thousands.

Lines snaked down side streets at gas stations that had little fuel to sell. Some looked like parking lots. At sites distributing water, ice and prepackaged meals, people stood on foot for hours waiting for anything they could take home.

Michael Stevenson, 37, had wandered from shelter to shelter since the storm struck before ending up at the convention center. At one shelter, he said, he barely ate.

"They give you a little cup of water every four hours. They feed us one peanut butter and jelly sandwich. We were in there for about 18 hours before we could go outside and get some air," he said.

Steve McCraw, the state homeland security director, said there were at least 284 mass shelters in Texas. He said there were more than 37,000 evacuees but noted that number "fluctuates from day to day."

"A very major operational priority is taking care of them, including moving water, food (and) ice as quickly as we can into those areas," said McCraw.

In Austin, more than half of the evacuees who had sought shelter from Ike have since left, but authorities can't say for sure where they are now.

Sara Hartley, emergency operations spokeswoman for the city of Austin, said there were 6,200 evacuees at the peak of sheltering operations that began before Ike hit. Now there are only 2,700, prompting authorities to begin consolidating shelters. There are currently eight shelters open in the city, down from 23, she said.

But as some caregivers begin to see evacuees leaving their safe havens, Gov. Rick Perry is warning residents not to return to the devastation in the hard-hit areas of southeast Texas. He said first responders and emergency workers are too busy to deal with returning evacuees.

"Do not come back into the impacted area until the officials ... have given that all-clear," Perry said at a news conference in Orange. "Stay where you are."

Most area schools are closed through Tuesday or Wednesday at the least; some, including school districts in Goose Creek, La Porte, Pasadena, Hitchcock and Texas City, are closed "indefinitely."


The Finger-Pointing Starts

Despite television images over the weekend of trucks carrying supplies heading toward the Texas coast, there have been complaints of a lack of food and water, not just for hurricane survivors and evacuees but for rescue crews.

Hundreds of first responders at two Texas staging areas for Hurricane Ike have run out of food and water.

Rep. John Culberson (R- Tex.) said Sunday that 300 National Guardsmen, state troopers and other emergency workers are going hungry at a high-school football stadium - and at another staging area on Houston's west side.

Culberson blamed FEMA for the gaffe and says he tried to contact Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, who is touring flood-stricken areas of Texas.

Culberson says several buses full of gas are sitting idle at the stadium while crews await instructions. He called on area residents to take food and water to the crews at the stadium - despite official warnings for people to stay off Houston roads.

Federal officials were on the defensive Sunday when asked about delays in getting aid to those in need, and those trying to help.

Part of the problem was the establishment of distribution areas.

Rep. Nick Lampson (D-Tex.) told the Houston Chronicle that he had been told by FEMA officials before Ike made landfall that food and water were already staged ay Ellington Air National Guard base in Houston.

"Now it's 'on the way'? That doesn't make any sense to me," Lampson told the Chornicle. "The storm's been over for 30 hours."

Lampson later expressed the frustration of residents in his district who struggle in the storm's aftermath. "For them not to have the ability to recover from that, to find a tarp in the town in which they live or anywhere around it, I don't understand, and I'm just as frustrated as the many people who have called my office or talked to me as I've traveled this Congressional District; I'm angry about and there truly needs to be some change."

He said he'd asked Chertoff to "please see that somebody's head rolls in these decisions."

At a press conference Sunday, Chertoff said city and county officials in the Houston area asked FEMA to take over responsibility of establishing distribution points for supplies, "so that was somewhat of an unexpected challenge."

"I'm not blaming anybody, I understand, you know things come up, is that we were asked to take on the responsibility of actually getting them to the points of distribution and manning the points of distribution.

"This is not about a screw-up."


Disabled Elderly Abandoned During Storm

An investigation is planned into why staff at a public housing complex in Houston apparently left elderly residents without care overnight during Hurricane Ike.

Gov. Perry says many of the residents of the federally subsidized Independence Hall complex have medical problems and needed help.

After residents complained, a FEMA task force showed up at 2 o'clock Sunday morning and checked on them. The agency says they checked again during daylight hours and that residents who wanted to leave were taken to a shelter at a convention centre.

Even for those who still have a home to go to, Ike's 110 mph winds and battering waves left thousands in coastal areas without electricity, gas and basic communications - and officials estimated it may not be restored for a month.

"We want our citizens to stay where they are," said a weary Galveston Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas. "Do not come back to Galveston. You cannot live here at this time."

[vhub-2009]

It is amazing to me that no matter what FEMA does people say they dropped the ball. How many people have they fed and gave water to in the last week? Some people did not get everything they need, but thousands did. There are alot of people misplaced right now and FEMA is handling it. At some point we need to start taking care of ourselves and quit waiting on the government to do everything for us. How many people knew the storm was coming and prepared for it? More people need to do that and stop waiting on the goverment to fix the problem after they screw up.

[hissteps4u]

Having survived Camille, Fredrick, Allen, Andrew to simplky name a Few direct Hits I have suffered. While I feel for Galvaston they had it rather light in comparison to those iz have mentioned and suffefed through. Their plight is far less grave and lest devestative than those I also mentioned and suffered through for months on end.

With Camille i lOst everythiing was unemployed for a year, was without Electricity for 6 months and toughed it out with a wife and 4 children.

In Fredrick I lost my Home cars and all belongings once again rode the storm out in the Home which came down around us roof flew off and destroyed everything in my community in Dauphin Island No power or amenities for mOnths once again.

galvaston can be releived tghat it was not the Major storm it could have been yet they have suffered in the past 1900''s and 1906 through the 1950''s suffered Major devistation at the hands of a number of storms.

It is a cycle many wish to forget and often do not prepair for so they like all such communities suffer for their last of prepairation.

The governmentr is always slow to get in and take care of residents who stayed I think they do their best most of the time for those like me who have ridden out some of the most Major hurricans in the past half century

I left the Gulf coast and headed west.. No Hurricans but now subject to Earth Quakes far less occurances of those than the yearly Hurricans LOL

[jackiean1]

Since the Dems keep telling us how Jesus was a "community organizer" and Pontius Pilate was only a Governor.

Why are we only seeing interviews with the Governors and Mayors from the disaster areas?

When will we be hearing from those miracle working "community organizers" ?

Who needs FEMA when we have them?

[lewiston14]

People are dead or dying and all you can do is worry about a nintendo game. Go help unload a truck, do something usefull

[lewiston14]

angry Sorry about the spelling. The keyboard batts are getting getting low time to recharge them using my space. And yes I got to you because you responded. Truth hurts dont it.

[lewiston14]

"lewiston14, let me guess-you just like to sound stupid. You wasted your time trying to make me angry.

Posted by whatisit21

No actually I could care less. If I make you angey tough. Sure would like to know where you work so I phone them about your actions.

[whatisit21]

lewiston14, let me guess-you just like to sound stupid. You wasted your time trying to make me angry.

[lewiston14]

God forbid your kids go without nintendo for a week. So your using company assets for personal reasons. I would fire you on the spot. Are they going to dry up and blow away without their nintendo games. They should get a life as yours seems to be gone ME FIRST

[whatisit21]

Galveston is messed up but it will be back and the first thing open will be a Chinese Restaurant. I never understood why they called Galveston an Island when it is really a sandbar. Jamaica is an Island. Galveston is a sandbar. Most of Houston is without power. Grocery stores are slowly coming back and there isn''t really any gas. But in spots around town there are places to eat, stores that are selling food, and neighbors that do help out. Ike went north and caused more destruction and deaths and that is the real tragedy because those people were caught off guard. When Ike hit, it blew a tree onto the roof of my bedroom and crashed into my bed. Me and the family were in the living room. I closed the bedroom door and went back to my kids to stand watch while they slept. When the storm passed, I slept. The power is still out and we are eating canned food and drinking water. I am posting this from work because that is the only place I know that has power and they deliver food to us during work hours. When I go home, the house will be hot but those days will pass. When I get the day off, I''ll take the family to a place where we can shop and just relax until the power comes back. I even take my kids nintendo ds to work with me to charge it because that is the only way to charge it for them and that is the only form of entertainment they have right now.

[petro49l]

Hey birdie (brdlikbilsss), take your Mellaril and Thorazine. Ask your doctor for a full frontal lobotomy. The surgery will restore your sanity.

[petro49l]

FEMA fumbled the ball again. The federal agency did not supply the disaster area with food and water. FEMA is a corrupt, senile organization. The Department of Homeland Security should dismantle FEMA and hire new senior managers.

[andrew_693]

why donate anything? I donated things for katrina and a few months ago they found entire warehouses full of supplies the survivors never were given. Fema and bush will keep half of what people donate and the rest resell it to keep the billions pouring into iraq.

[lewiston14]

I hope when I posted that I like Dallas no one thought I did not like other places. I have never been to Houston so I can not make a comment about it. What I was saying to that jerk poster was I have no issues with Texas or its people.

[airboatboy1]

Well then, whatisit21, if it''s just the media makin'' things look bad, why don''t you grab the little wife, hop in your car and go to Galveston for a nice day at the beach? Oh, and you might want to pack a lunch. The media says the Chinese restaurants are really busy this time of year.

[whatisit21]

Live and work in Houston. Watched the hurricane saturday morning. Went to work Sunday and monday. No power for 3 days but when I was a kid, it went out for no reason and stayed out for a week or more. The media makes it sound real bad but people in the area are going to work. Some restaurants and bars are even open. Sunday afternoon me and the wife had lunch in a Chinese restaurant after buying a camp stove. People in Texas do know how to get by and not sniffle about it. There wouldn''t even be a curfew if it wasn''t for those criminals trying to break into a business.

[oneworldusa]

I''m just glad so many people did/could evacuate. But today near many hurricane-prone areas, 3 days of food/water is not enough. You need at least a week of unperishable food/water and fuel for vehicles and generators in advance of a storm like this.

[s7139405151]

What sad as I read these comments is that most of it is trash. I just got power on and had to experience this tragedy. For those in galveston that stayed some had no choice. FEMA who indicated that they would help people to evacuate didn''t and alot of people were lefted behind. Some told that their was not enough time to evacuate everyone. Secondly not only was galveston effected as Houston and all surronding metro-areas were affected as well. These people were told NOT to evacauate so other in galveston can. This affected some many others and to call them IDOITS and talk trash about these people that are suffering . Instead and talking about what city weather is better or worst in Texas, talk about what you are going to do to help those that are affected as one day you might have to experience the same thing or worst. And as for BUSH, OBAMA and JACKSON I have not seen or heard from Bush, McCain, or Palin but I have seen and heard from Obama, and Jackson. And whats crazy is BUSH lived in Texas. So for the rest of the world that is sitting and watching this happen on television stop and think about those that are living it.

[txgrouch2006]

I happen to like Dallas
Posted by lewiston14 at 08:53 PM : Sep 15, 2008

I spent 2 months in Dallas once. I''ve got news for you. The weather in Dallas is WORSE than Houston.

It''s hotter, colder, windier, wetter, dryer, the thunderclouds are darker, and there are WAY more tornadoes. There was at least one almost every week I was there.

You know you''re in Dallas when ALL of the flags are sticking STRAIGHT out, ALL DAY.

The only thing worse about Houston is the humidity. AND THAT''S WHAT EVERYBODY FROM DALLAS COMPLAINS ABOUT as soon as they arrive in Houston. They say "Getting out of the plane was like stepping into a SAUNA! How do you guys STAND this humidity?"

When I go to Dallas someday, I want to say "Getting out of the plane was like stepping into an oven, a freezer, a blender, a giant hair dryer..." But they wouldn''t listen, they''re too busy getting drunk and hitting on the girl next to them. Which is ALL anyone in Dallas ever does, besides go to work.

Then sometime I''ll tell you about Austin - the California of Texas.

[txgrouch2006]

**** Texas.
Posted by cdfoxtrot3 at 08:48 PM : Sep 15, 2008

Same back at you, partner. God bless you, and may the big storms pass you by.

[txgrouch2006]

60 mph winds and 50,000 with no power but I got luck to. nothing more then a few leaves off the trees.
Posted by lewiston14 at 08:40 PM : Sep 15, 2008

Sorry! :-) I guess NO PLACE is safe to live.

What do these "no pity for Texas" posters think? Should we just ABANDON EVERYPLACE because there might be a thunderstorm??? LOL!

Guess what, sissy boys. LIFE IS HARD. Get over it.