US/Emergency: Hurricane Rita is expected to destroy almost 5,700 homes and affect more than five million Texans when it slams into the US coast, officials said.
Jack Colley, the state's emergency management co-ordinator, predicted that the city of Port Arthur would be submerged in 20ft of water and at least 16,000 people made homeless across Texas.
"We could expect probably sustained hurricane winds, beginning at midnight tonight, for 16 hours, an incredible storm," he said.
As Rita headed towards land, water again began gushing into the Louisiana city of New Orleans, swamping its Lower Ninth Ward - an area devastated by Hurricane Katrina less than four weeks ago.
"Our worst fears came true," said Major Barry Guidry of the Georgia National Guard which is assisting with relief efforts. "We have three significant breaches in the levee and the water is rising rapidly."
Port Arthur Mayor Oscar Ortiz said the winds were starting to pick up heavily but that 95 per cent of the city had been evacuated. A mandatory curfew was called for the few remaining in the city of 58,000.
Rita weakened to a Category 3 storm as it edged towards land, packing winds of 125mph.
Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco warned residents to get to the highest places they could.
"We are ready to respond with helicopters and heavy equipment," she said.
The damage is expected to top $8.2 billion.
After announcing plans to visit his home state of Texas yesterday to get a first-hand look at emergency preparations, President George Bush abruptly cancelled the trip to avoid interfering with search-and-rescue operations. He still planned to monitor the storm from the US Northern Command in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where the White House said he would personally oversee the federal government response.
"Our job is to prepare for and assist state and local people to save lives and help these people get back on their feet," he said at the Pentagon.
David Paulison, acting head of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) said 400 medical personnel were on stand-by in Texas with lorry-loads of food, water and ice.
At least 17 urban search and rescue teams are on the ground along with 50,000 regular and national guard troops.
"I hope everyone's listening to the warnings," he said. "It's going to be a few days before the first respondents can get in there.
"Don't return to your homes, stay away from power lines, stay in place until we tell you it's safe. We are going to make sure that you get taken care of."
Tragedy struck earlier today when a bus carrying around 45 elderly evacuees out of Houston to Dallas exploded, killing at least 24 people.
Early reports suggested mechanical problems sparked a fire causing passengers' oxygen tanks to explode.
The vehicle was engulfed in flames, causing a 17-mile tailback on the busy interstate highway.
The driver reportedly survived the blast and repeatedly got back on the bus to try and rescue passengers. - PA