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Damage to Houston Becoming Clearer HOUSTON, TX (KERA) - The recovery effort in the greater Houston and Galveston area is just beginning following Hurricane Ike. Officials don't know how many rescues have taken place. Neither do they know how many died. Capella Tucker reports from KUHF-Houston Public Radio.


Emergency officials have just begun to survey the damage. Search and rescue efforts are also under way. A handful of deaths have been reported, but Homeland Security Secretary Micheal Chertoff says officials have no idea what they will find as they move into the most heavily damaged areas.

At the peak, more than two million people in the greater Houston area were without power. Dr. Hermina Palacios, Harris County's public health director, is concerned how residents are going to get by in the meantime using things like portable generators.

Officials say it could be as long as four weeks before all the lights are back on. © Copyright 2009, KERA