After Ike, Texas survivors clamor for gas, food

Rescuers flew into a hard-to-reach area of the swamped Gulf Coast on Monday and uncovered a devastated landscape: Hurricane Ike had swamped entire subdivision, and emergency crews feared they would find more victims than survivors.

It was the first time anyone had gotten a look at the damaged resort barrier island of Bolivar Peninsula, just east of hard-hit Galveston. Homes were splintered or completely washed away in the beachfront community that is home to about 30,000 people in the peak summer season.

“They had a lot of devastation over there,” task force leader Chuck Jones said. “It took a direct hit.”