As of Monday, September 22nd, nearly 800,000 people are without power in South East Texas. This does not count customers who have lost their homes. Mosquitos are swarming, not just on the coast, but all over the disaster area. People without power have been forced to sleep with windows closed. Insect repellent is sold out in most stores. Pets and wildlife are also suffering with the intense insect invasion. Cities plan to spray for mosquitos, but notification to residents is a challenge where there is no power. A high rate of asthmatics in this neighborhood, the challenge of notification, and the stress of staying inside for the treatment, are causes for concern.

Some neighborhoods are still waiting for water to be restored. A lucky few finally got showers on Sunday. Many have yet to clean out toilets that are unable to flush, laundry that has been sitting for days, and the situation in general continues to take a lot of people’s time.

FEMA has stopped distributing ice and water in Harris county (Houston area) and PODs are now manned with city, state, and volunteer  organizations trying to fill in the gaps. FEMA is issuing hotel vouchers, but rooms are impossible to find within a 300 mile radius.

Evacuees are being bussed from remote shelters back to the disaster area. They are arriving to find damaged homes, closed employers, and limited services.

Food will continue to be a long term need for the region. Food left in the region has spoiled or was lost in the storm. Many residents living paycheck to paycheck have not been called back to work, nor been issued paychecks. Texas food banks are scrambling to help. FYI: cash donations to Texas Food Banks can be leveraged. Each dollar donated buys $5 of food. http://www.tashfb.org/

Ike has disappeared from the front pages of the national news.