Hurricane Ike Damage

Hurricane Ike made landfall as a Category 2 hurricane in the early morning hours of September 13, 2008. The storm battered the coastal areas of Texas with heavy winds, rains and a storm surge of as much as 13 feet of water. President George W. Bush declared 29 counties in Texas as disaster areas.The New York Times: Hurricane Damage is Extensive in Texas (September 14, 2008)

Authorities reported that as many as 140,000 people ignored evacuation orders. Governor Rick Perry said that Texas will have to conduct what is probably the "largest search and rescue operation that's ever been conducted int the state of Texas."Times Online: Pleas for Help From Those Who Ignored Ike's... (September 13, 2008)

At least three million people lost power after heavy winds and rains knocked down power lines.CNN: Hurricane Ike Floods Galveston's Historic District (September 13, 2008) In Houston, glass windows shattered as the winds tore through the metropolitan area with greater speeds around skyscrapers than at ground level.Guardian Unlimited: Hurricane Ike Batters Texan Coast (September 13, 2008)

Angelina, Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Cherokee, Fort Bend, Galveston, Grimes, Hardin, Harris, Houston, Jasper, Jefferson, Liberty, Madison, Matagorda, Montgomery, Nacogdoches, Newton, Orange, Polk, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, Trinity, Tyler, Walker, Waller, and WashingtonFEMA: Designated Counties for Texas Hurricane Ike (September 13, 2008)