After Rita, Another Exodus

Heat, Humidity and Lack of Basic Services Drive Out Residents

BEAUMONT, Tex., Sept. 27 -- The threat of Hurricane Rita prompted a mass evacuation of the southeast corner of Texas. Now the post-Rita evacuation has started.

If the storm's ferocious winds and rain didn't destroy the spirit of the hardiest souls here, the unrelenting 100-degree heat and high humidity -- coupled with the lack of electrical power and nonfunctional water and sewer systems -- have.

"I can't take it anymore," said a sweaty Herb Rhoades, 47, of Nederland, who arrived Tuesday at the disaster relief staging area with a suitcase in hand and his Jack Russell terrier, Harley, in tow. "I thought maybe I could at first."

The latest exodus of evacuees came on a day when President Bush made his second visit to this oil-producing region battered by Rita. He met with local officials including Texas Gov. Rick Perry (R), who briefed him on recovery efforts. After a meeting here, the president said, "Obviously, this area is hurting. The governor knows that. I know firsthand how it's hurt."

With the hurricane further crimping the nation's already-tight energy supply, Bush urged Americans to conserve gasoline, and ordered federal agencies to curtail nonessential travel and otherwise save energy by encouraging car pooling and the use of mass transit. At the White House, officials are asking employees to turn down air conditioning and to shut off office equipment at the end of the workday.

Bush tried to set an example Tuesday by reducing his motorcade, eliminating some vans reserved for the press corps, staff and guests. Still, one of the biggest costs of a presidential trip is the $6,029-an-hour cost of flying Air Force One.

Stung by criticism that the federal government was slow to respond in the early aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, which coincided with his approval ratings hitting new lows, Bush has made seven trips to areas hit by Katrina and Rita in less than four weeks.

White House spokesman Scott McClellan defended the trips as essential. "The president believes that it's important to get a firsthand account of the operations that are ongoing to provide relief to the people in need, as well as to hear firsthand from state and local officials about the cooperation and the response from the federal government in terms of meeting those needs," he said.

Bush later traveled to Lake Charles, La., where he told reporters that officials have decided to make $2,000 federal payments to victims of Rita, just as they have to those affected by Katrina.

Bush also urged residents not to return to their homes until workers have restored utilities damaged by the storm. "It's very important for them to understand that now is not the time to come back," he said.

Many of those who stayed -- or came back before police roadblocks would have kept them away -- have decided to leave after all.

Their only place to go for public shelter: 266 miles away in San Antonio to join the last of the Hurricane Katrina evacuees from Louisiana at Kelly Air Force Base.