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After the Storm

Flattened homes, scattered debris and long lines at gas stations greeted Gulf Coast residents last week. Hurricane Ike left a wide path of destruction. The Category 2 storm crashed ashore on September 13, with 110-mile-per-hour winds and 13-foot-high waves. Ike left millions of people from Texas to Indiana without power. By September 17, the storm had claimed 50 lives.

Galveston and Bolivar Peninsula, Texas, were hit the hardest. Entire neighborhoods were destroyed. Tens of thousands of people sought refuge in shelters.

Some Texans never left their homes. They chose to ride out the storm even after officials warned them of the dangers. "I am not leaving, because we were in traffic for about 16 hours when Hurricane Rita (hit in 2005)," Rose Mary Martinez, of Pasadena, Texas, told TFK Kid Reporter Nabor Mireles.

President George W. Bush toured the devastated area last week. He advised residents who had moved out to let cleanup crews do their jobs before returning home. "I know a lot of people are anxious to get back in," he said. "I urge you to listen to state and local authorities before you come back."

Recovery was slow in many parts of Texas. Much of Houston, the nation's fourth largest city, remained without power five days after the storm hit. Thousands of residents were still waiting for food and water. "Nobody came to see if we needed ice or water," said Myrle Smith. "It's not fair!" She lives in Scott Terrace, a neighborhood in Houston.

Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) director R. David Paulison assured Houston residents that they would soon have power. He added that recovery would be slower for Galveston. Many residents had attempted to return to their homes a few days after the storm. "That's heavy devastation there," he said. "It's going to be a longer-term fix."

Next: A Roaring Recovery