CAMERON, La., Sept. 26 (UPI) -- Military search and rescue missions in Louisiana were completed Monday with no deaths reported after Hurricane Rita swept the U.S. Gulf Coast Saturday.
The top U.S. military commander for hurricane relief in the state, Lt. Gen. Russel Honore said the next step would be to set up a military-style tent city in Lake Charles, La., so local government can reestablish operations.
So far, just two deaths have been linked directly to the 120 mph winds from the category 3 storm. A Rita-spawned tornado killed one person in Mississippi, and a Texas man was killed by a falling tree, CNN said.
Rita came ashore early Saturday near the Louisiana-Texas state line, which is lightly populated, and which had already been almost completely evacuated, officials said.
Meanwhile, New Orleans Mayor Ray Nagin Monday stood by his decision to allow some people back into the city. New Orleans was partially flooded a second time by Rita, after Hurricane Katrina damaged levees and flooded much of the Crescent City Aug. 29.
