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Many Rita victims still wait for relief
(AP)
Updated: 2005-09-28 19:57

Nearly four days after Hurricane Rita hit, many of the storm's sweltering victims are still waiting for electricity, gasoline, water and other relief. The situation prompted one top emergency official to complain that people are "living like cavemen."


C. Ray Bergeron, 69, salvages his tire inventory as he cleans out the flood-damaged office of his service station in the lakeside area of New Orleans Tuesday, Sept. 27, 2005. Bergeron's business was under eight feet of floodwater after Hurricane Katrina hit nearly a month ago. Bergeron managed to salvage a bout $15,000 worth of tires but the rest of his business was a total loss. [AP]

In the hard-hit refinery towns of Port Arthur and Beaumont, crews struggled 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.

Hurricane Rita victims along the rural Texas Gulf Coast are waiting to see whether their complaints about sluggish federal and state aid result in speedier action in the coming days.

Mayor Oscar Ortiz expressed cautious optimism after meeting with Gov. Rick Perry on Tuesday, but said he's still relying more on private companies and individuals than the government as the city struggles to recover.

"I'm just hoping (the government) comes through," Ortiz said. "It seems like the larger towns in the news are the ones getting the help."
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