Bobby Taylor uses a kayak to evacuate as his neighborhood was overtaken by water in Surfside Beach, Texas, Friday, Sept. 12, 2008. Taylor had planned to remain at his home despite Hurricane Ike, but later changed his mind. The massive hurricane sent waves crashing over a seawall and tossed a disabled freighter in rough water as it steamed toward Texas Friday, threatening to devastate coastal towns and batter Houston.
Fire destroys homes along the beach on Galveston Island, Texas as Hurricane Ike approaches Friday, Sept. 12, 2008.
Surfside police and firefighters help evacuate David and Dondi Fields with a kayak and large truck as Hurricane Ike causes flooding in their neighborhood, in Surfside Beach, Texas, Friday, Sept. 12, 2008.
Sylvia Renteria, of Houston, watches a big wave caused by approaching Hurricane Ike crash into the seawall, Friday, Sept. 12, 2008, in Galveston, Texas.
Debris brought ashore by waves created by Hurricane Ike lay on the road atop the sea wall in Galveston, Texas, Friday, Sept. 12, 2008. Ike's eye was forecast to strike somewhere near Galveston late Friday or early Saturday then head inland for Houston.
The storm surge from Hurricane Ike litters a street with debris, Friday, Sept 12, 2008, in Seabrook Texas.
Floodwaters cover the Texas City dike Friday, Sept. 12, 2008, in Texas City, Texas. The storm surge from Hurricane Ike caused widespread flooding in the area.
Marty Wagner holds her daughter Tatum, 2, as they are splashed by a wave that hits the Kemah seawall, Friday, Sept. 12, 2008, in Kemah,Texas.
People gather in front of their boathouses in the Orleans Marina on the shore of Lake Pontchartrain in New Orleans, Friday, Sept. 12, 2008. This area is outside of the levee protection system and the high water from the lake is flooding the marina. The high lake level is caused by the passage of Hurricane Ike in the Gulf of Mexico.
A Surfside Beach Police officer, right, arrives to encourage residents to evacuate Surfside Beach, Texas, Friday, Sept. 12, 2008, in preparation for Hurricane Ike.
Traffic drives through debris along the seawall as waves crash in from Hurricane Ike, Friday, Sept. 12, 2008, in Galveston, Texas.
Debra Schmid, right, and her fianc
Surfside Beach Police Chief Randy Smith, center, talks with Bobby Taylor, encouraging him to evacuate Surfside Beach, Texas, Friday, Sept. 12, 2008, in preparation for Hurricane Ike.