Frustration mounts over return to hurricane stricken Texas city

Terra Daily, via Agence France-Presse: Frustration mounted Wednesday over delays in returning to Galveston, the Texas coastal city hard-hit by powerful Hurricane Ike over the weekend, as the death toll caused by the storm continued to rise. Ike killed at least 50 people in the 11 southern and midwestern states, CBS News reported. Of those, at least 30 were killed in Texas, according to local news media.

As of late Wednesday nearly two million people in the areas affected by Ike were in the dark, though power had been restored to more than a million households, Texas Governor Rick Perry said. "Restoring power is a top priority now that search and rescue efforts are concluding," said Perry.

Search and rescue efforts along the Texas coast are nearly complete, Perry said, adding that more than 3,500 residents were rescued and some 28,600 structures searched. Also Wednesday the US Coast Guard re-opened portions of the Houston Ship Channel to commercial traffic, with restrictions.

Galveston Mayor Lyn Ada Thomas on Wednesday urged people who chose to remain in the island-city when Ike struck to leave. Some 15,000 are believed to still be in Galveston. "The medical and health concerns on Galveston Island are becoming more and more serious," she said….

Galveston, TX, September 12, 2008 -- This neighborhood is beginning to flood as waters rise in areas throughout the city as Hurricane Ike approaches the east coast of Texas. Shot by Jocelyn Augustino, apparently under FEMA's authority. Wikimedia Commons