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| Rescuers search storm-hit Texas | Rescuers search storm-hit Texas |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| A huge search and relief operation is under way in Texas, after the US state was hit by powerful Hurricane Ike. | A huge search and relief operation is under way in Texas, after the US state was hit by powerful Hurricane Ike. |
| Rescuers are using boats, high-wheel lorries and helicopters to bring to safety thousands of people who ignored a mandatory evacuation order. | Rescuers are using boats, high-wheel lorries and helicopters to bring to safety thousands of people who ignored a mandatory evacuation order. |
| Ike killed at least two people in Texas and Louisiana, flooding many areas, destroying houses and cutting power. | Ike killed at least two people in Texas and Louisiana, flooding many areas, destroying houses and cutting power. |
| It made landfall in Galveston early on Saturday with 110mph (175km/h) winds, but later weakened to a tropical storm. | It made landfall in Galveston early on Saturday with 110mph (175km/h) winds, but later weakened to a tropical storm. |
| US President George W Bush later declared Texas a federal disaster zone, freeing up millions of dollars in federal aid to those affected by the storm. | US President George W Bush later declared Texas a federal disaster zone, freeing up millions of dollars in federal aid to those affected by the storm. |
| Ike also hit a large stretch of coastline in neighbouring Louisiana. | Ike also hit a large stretch of coastline in neighbouring Louisiana. |
| 'Not worst-case scenario' | 'Not worst-case scenario' |
| Texas Governor Rick Perry said: "We pre-positioned the largest search and rescue operation in the history of the state of Texas in advance of this storm. | Texas Governor Rick Perry said: "We pre-positioned the largest search and rescue operation in the history of the state of Texas in advance of this storm. |
| Now a few hours after the storm has passed the hotel is surrounded by water on three sides Rajesh Mirchandani BBC News correspondent, Houston 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 | |
| "There are thousands of personnel and vehicles that were very close in to where the storm struck the coast." | "There are thousands of personnel and vehicles that were very close in to where the storm struck the coast." |
| He said rescuers were moving into Galveston by air, by boat, and by ground. | He said rescuers were moving into Galveston by air, by boat, and by ground. |
| About 140,000 people in the town and other low-lying areas chose to stay despite warning they could die, officials say. | About 140,000 people in the town and other low-lying areas chose to stay despite warning they could die, officials say. |
| The hurricane left Galveston flooded and without water or electricity. | The hurricane left Galveston flooded and without water or electricity. |
| But officials were encouraged by the fact that that the storm surge turned out to be much lower than forecast - 13.5ft (4m) after predictions of 20 to 25ft foot (6 to 7.5m). | But officials were encouraged by the fact that that the storm surge turned out to be much lower than forecast - 13.5ft (4m) after predictions of 20 to 25ft foot (6 to 7.5m). |
| Sedonia Owen, 75, and her son were among those residents who decided to stay in Galveston to protect their neighbourhood from possible looters. | Sedonia Owen, 75, and her son were among those residents who decided to stay in Galveston to protect their neighbourhood from possible looters. |
| "My neighbours told me, 'You've got my permission. Anybody who goes into my house, you can shoot them," Mrs Owen was quoted as saying by the Associated Press news agency. | "My neighbours told me, 'You've got my permission. Anybody who goes into my house, you can shoot them," Mrs Owen was quoted as saying by the Associated Press news agency. |
| See the likely path of Hurricane Ike through the USEnlarge Map | See the likely path of Hurricane Ike through the USEnlarge Map |
| Ike also damaged Houston, the fourth-largest city in the US. | Ike also damaged Houston, the fourth-largest city in the US. |
| A BBC correspondent who weathered the storm there described how ferocious winds ripped the glass from many of the city's skyscrapers. | A BBC correspondent who weathered the storm there described how ferocious winds ripped the glass from many of the city's skyscrapers. |
| The two people known to have been killed by the storm are a woman in Pinehurst, Texas, and a teenage boy in Louisiana's Bayou Dularge, according to the Associated Press. | The two people known to have been killed by the storm are a woman in Pinehurst, Texas, and a teenage boy in Louisiana's Bayou Dularge, according to the Associated Press. |
| Ike also left millions of people in Texas and Louisiana without power. | Ike also left millions of people in Texas and Louisiana without power. |
| Production was suspended at 14 oil refineries and 28 natural gas processing plants that were in the storm's path. | Production was suspended at 14 oil refineries and 28 natural gas processing plants that were in the storm's path. |
| However, US Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff later said that overall "the impact... was not quite as bad as the worst-case scenario, it was still substantial". | However, US Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff later said that overall "the impact... was not quite as bad as the worst-case scenario, it was still substantial". |
| Ike was downgraded to a tropical storm by the US National Hurricane Center at 1900 GMT, as it moved inland with top sustained winds of nearly 60mph (95km/h). | Ike was downgraded to a tropical storm by the US National Hurricane Center at 1900 GMT, as it moved inland with top sustained winds of nearly 60mph (95km/h). |
| It is moving towards north-east Texas and is expected to reach western Arkansas in the coming hours. | It is moving towards north-east Texas and is expected to reach western Arkansas in the coming hours. |
| Earlier, Ike caused devastation in Cuba and Haiti, where hundreds of people have died in several tropical storms over the last month. | Earlier, Ike caused devastation in Cuba and Haiti, where hundreds of people have died in several tropical storms over the last month. |
| Are you in the areas affected? Are preparing to evacuate or are you staying in your home? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. | Are you in the areas affected? Are preparing to evacuate or are you staying in your home? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. |
| Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here.Read the terms and conditions | Send your pictures to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to +44 7725 100 100. If you have a large file you can upload here.Read the terms and conditions |
| At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |
| In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. | In most cases a selection of your comments will be published, displaying your name and location unless you state otherwise in the box below. |