poon cho tang SG Hurricane Rita lashed the southern coast of the US when she made landfall on the Texas-Louisiana border on Saturday. The Texas town of Abbeville was one of the worst affected.
poon cho tang SG Residents in the Louisiana town of Lake Charles have been told they cannot yet return home. Some, like Debra Simmons, braved the storm in hotels and shelters.
poon cho tang SG In New Orleans, already battered by Hurricane Katrina a month ago, the work to repair breached levees continues.
poon cho tang SG When Rita roared ashore near Sabine Pass, Texas, she pushed fishing vessels and shrimp boats out of the water.
poon cho tang SG The energy industry had feared Rita would damage the oil and natural gas platforms that line the Gulf Coast and the refineries inland. In the event, they were mostly unscathed.
poon cho tang SG With many homes without power, clean water and sanitation, people are coping as best they can. In Lake Charles, the Malone family are living in an abandoned nightclub.
kenlim81 SG so when looking 4 home make sure far alway from sea or end up homeless when mrs storm vist u.
poon cho tang SG The rising water levels even disturbed the dead in some areas, lifting coffins from graveyards.
poon cho tang SG Many farmers in the Texas beef counties managed to get their livestock to higher ground before the storm struck. But not all.
poon cho tang SG Salvation Army steps in to help after Rita Residents fled north as Hurricane Rita approached Houston, leaving the fourth largest city in the US like a ghost town.
poon cho tang SG For the workers and volunteers of the Salvation Army evacuation was the cue go in. Feeding trucks full of supplies arrived from states as far away as California and Massachusetts.
poon cho tang SG Their primary task is to support the first responders and emergency workers - keeping them fed and watered as they work around the clock in a disaster zone.
poon cho tang SG Water tops the list of vital supplies. When Hurricane Katrina hit, the brewers of Budweiser helped the victims by filling cans with water instead of beer. Just weeks later their help was needed again.
poon cho tang SG The founder of the Salvation Army said they were set up to provide "soap, soup and salvation". Before the teams head out to help, those in need are led in prayer by a group pastor.
poon cho tang SG Once loaded up the canteens fan out across Texas and Louisiana to areas where Fema, the US emergency relief agency, has told them they are most needed.
poon cho tang SG The team heading north have a clear run towards town. But the south-bound lane of traffic is not even moving. Passengers sit for hours in blistering heat as millions try to return home.
poon cho tang SG Once in place the volunteers set about cooking enough food for local, state and federal emergency workers. Today's menu - mashed potato, chicken and green beans, followed by fruit cocktail.
poon cho tang SG For these tired Texas state troopers their encounter with the Salvation Army is the first real break and hot meal they have had in 30 hours.
