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Rescuers Struggle to Reach Ike Survivors
4 dead, 140,000 need help
By Matt Cantor
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Posted Sep 14, 08 7:25 AM CDT
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(Newser)
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Hurricane Ike has weakened to a tropical depression over Arkansas, but rescuers are struggling to reach survivors in the furious storm's path of destruction in Texas, reports CNN. Some 140,000 who stayed home despite evacuation orders are now dealing with massive flooding, wrecked homes and power outages. Nearly 1,000 people have been saved so far in what Texas Gov. Rick Perry describes as the biggest search-and-rescue operation in state history, the Dallas Morning News notes. Four deaths have been confirmed.
Dozens of rescue helicopters and 1,500 ground workers were deployed yesterday. Rescuers are going door-to-door in Galveston today. Key Houston refineries escaped the worst, though they may not be fully functional for weeks. As many as 3 million Texans may be without power for as long.