FEMA readies Ike generators, food, water

HOUSTON, Sept. 13 (UPI) -- U.S. emergency management officials said Saturday they are planning to move large electrical generators into areas of Texas ravaged by Hurricane Ike.

Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator David Paulison said the biggest impediment to assisting those affected by the storm will be widespread power outages in the Houston area, so generators will be moved next to hospitals and water plants, CNN reported.

CenterPoint Energy reported 1.8 million of its 2 million Houston-area customers were without power Saturday, the broadcaster said. FEMA estimates Hurricane Ike will affect at least 140 electric power substations, 48 non-nuclear power plants and 10 big chemical and oil industrial facilities.

By Saturday morning, FEMA said it had moved 5 million liters of water, 5 million meals and 270,000 cots into Texas, where an estimated 572,000 people live within the storm surge area.