Some of Ike's missing may have washed away

The death toll from Hurricane Ike is remarkably low so far, considering that legions of people stayed behind as the storm obliterated row after row of homes along the Texas coast. But officials suspect there are more victims out there and say some might simply have been swept out to sea.

Islamic Organizations Offer Shelter for Those 'Riding Out' Ike

The Islamic Circle of North America Houston Chapter Relief Department and the Islamic Society of Greater Houston said in a news release early Friday morning that they would provide the basic services of food, water and shelter at three centers which will be open on a 24-hour basis.

Insurers face Ike claims of up to $25bn

A man walks amid debris from Hurricane Ike that was cleared from the road in Galveston, Texas September 13, 2008. Hurricane Ike slammed the Texas and Lousiana coast on Saturday with ferocious winds and a wall of water that flooded hundreds of miles, cut power to millions and caused billions of dollars in damage. REUTERS/Jessica Rinaldi

Insurers were bracing themselves on Friday for the most severe hurricane losses since Katrina in 2005, as Ike bore down on the US. Deloitte said Ike could inflict claims of up to $25bn (€18bn, £14bn) on insurers and reinsurers, depending on its strength and where it made landfall. At $25bn it would be the biggest insured loss from a hurricane since Katrina generated about $40bn of claims.

Rescue crews wait for Ike to pass to find victims

Homes and businesses on the Clear Creek Channel in Seabrook are surrounded by rising water from Galveston Bay on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2008 after Hurricane Ike passed through overnight as a Category 2 storm. (AP Photo/The Galveston County Daily News, Kevin M. Cox)

With roads still unpassable, it was unclear how many may have perished, and authorities mobilized for a huge search-and-rescue operation to reach the more than 100,000 people who ignored warnings that attempting to ride the storm out could bring "certain death." Crews were waiting for the storm to pass to make rescues.

Devastating Ike roars ashore in Galveston, Texas

Fire destroys homes along the beach on Galveston Island, Texas as Hurricane Ike approaches Friday, Sept. 12, 2008. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)

A massive Hurricane Ike ravaged southeast Texas early Saturday, battering the coast with driving rain and ferocious wind gusts as residents who decided too late they should have heeded calls to evacuate made futile calls for rescue.

Galveston Seawall Under Attack

The storm surge has already reached the Texas coast. A massive surge as high as 20 feet above normal tides will slam the coast with locally higher amounts possible in some of the bays, pushed by hurricane-strength winds. The surge will threaten the seawall on Galveston Island, which is as high as 17 feet.

Ike is on the way and he AIN'T joking...

Texas braces for Hurricane Ike

Onolookers pose for pictures as waves generated by Hurricane Ike crash against the sea wall in Galveston, Texas. The main body of the storm, now rated as Category2 with winds above 100 mph, was expected to hit Galveston late today.

As Hurricane Ike roared through the Gulf of Mexico toward the Texas coastline this morning, authorities issued more urgent warnings to people in low-lying areas along the coast who have not heeded evacuation orders." You don't play with 6- to 20-foot walls of water coming at you," Houston Mayor Pro Tem Adrian Garcia said.

Updated: Hurricane Ike prompts evacuation orders for the Florida Keys

"Given this is currently a Cat. 4 hurricane and a slight shift in the track to the north could bring very dangerous conditions to the Keys, we believe it’s prudent to continue the resident evacuation as planned. We do understand the inconvenience of evacuations for Keys residents and visitors, but their safety is our top priority. It’s just too close to not react to it.”

Ike strikes fear from Caribbean to Gulf Coast

A diner at the Antojitos Mexicanos restaurant watches the progress of Hurricane Ike on the Weather Channel on Saturday in Homestead, Fla.

"The U.S. National Hurricane Center said Ike's eye was passing over the Turks and Caicos early Sunday. The center's Web site showed hurricane force winds from Ike battering the island. It was moving west about 15 mph with winds near 135 mph. Its path would take it by the southeastern Bahamas early Sunday and near eastern Cuba Sunday night or early Monday."

Powerful storm Ike raises fears from Caribbean to Gulf

Hurricane Ike is seen moving across the Atlantic Ocean as Tropical Storm Hanna bears down on the US

"The National Hurricane Center in Miami said Ike's eye was passing over the Turks and Caicos early Sunday. It was moving west about 15 mph on a path that would take it by the southeastern Bahamas later Sunday and near eastern Cuba Sunday night or early Monday."