Rita victims 'like cavemen'
2005-09-28 11:48
Abe Levy
Texas - Nearly four days after Hurricane Rita hit, many of the storm's sweltering victims along the Texas Gulf Coast were still waiting for electricity, gasoline, water and other relief, prompting one top emergency official to complain that people are "living like cavemen."
In the hard-hit refinery towns of Port Arthur and Beaumont, crews struggled on Tuesday to cross debris-clogged streets to deliver generators and water to people stranded by Rita. They predicted it could be a month before power is restored, and said water and sewer systems could not function until more generators arrived.
Red tape was also blamed for the delays.
Port Arthur Mayor Oscar Ortiz, whose own home was destroyed by fire after the hurricane, said "we've had 101 promises" for aid, "but it's all bureaucracy." He and other officials gathered at a hotel-turned-command centre, where a dirty American flag found among hurricane debris was hung on the wall.
People can't go home
John Owens, emergency management co-ordinator and deputy police chief in the town of 57 000, said pleas for state and federal relief were met with requests for paperwork.
"We have been living like cavemen, sleeping in cars, doing bodily functions outside," he said.
Temperatures climbed into the upper 30°C and officials worried that swarms of mosquitoes might spread disease.
The White House on Tuesday said President George W Bush had extended complete federal funding for debris removal and other government assistance through October 27.
In Beaumont, state officials briefed Bush and Texas Governor Rick Perry on relief efforts. Perry later visited Port Arthur, where local officials said it could be up to three to five days before people could return and three to five weeks before power is restored.
"There's always going to be those discombobulations, but the fact is, everyone is doing everything possible to restore power back to this area," Perry said.
About 476 000 people remained without electricity in Texas, in addition to around 285 000 in Louisiana. About 15 000 out-of-state utility workers were being brought to the region to help restore power.
Residents of some hard-hit towns were allowed to check on their homes but were not allowed to stay because of a lack of generators and ice.
About 2 000 Port Arthur residents who stayed through the storm were advised to find other places to live until utilities are restored. Ortiz said it could be two weeks before people are allowed back into Port Arthur.
In Louisiana, Calcasieu Parish Police Jury President Hal McMillin said residents who come back would be without air conditioning, and risk insect bites and the mosquito-borne West Nile virus. A mandatory evacuation remained in effect for 10 southwestern Louisiana parishes.
- AP