The death toll in the wake of Hurricane Ike rose to 30 in Texas as officials in Galveston warned of a growing health threat on the island city that took a direct hit from the huge storm.
Monster waves and howling winds from Ike damaged several offshore oil platforms in the Gulf of Mexico, a sign that the full recovery of oil and natural gas production in the region could be delayed. There was some refinery damage as well but not as much as feared.
President George W. Bush surveyed the damage from the air and pledged swift federal aid to the millions of people living around the energy hub of Houston who are facing their fourth day without electricity or clean water.
"It's a tough situation on the coast," Mr Bush said at a Houston airfield before viewing the storm-damaged areas. The federal government will pay for debris removal and other recovery efforts, he said.
Local TV station KTRK said officials cited 20 deaths in Galveston and Brazoria counties where Ike hit on Saturday. There were previously five confirmed dead in Galveston, a city of 60,000 left without functioning toilets and running water after it was smashed by the storm.
In Harris County, which includes greater Houston, the medical examiner confirmed 10 deaths from storm-related causes, including carbon monoxide poisoning from indoor generators.
US media reported dozens of deaths including many in Ohio as Ike's remnants moved inland.
Houston was slowly getting back on its feet though it remained a long way from "business as usual" with many gas stations still shut because of a lack of power or fuel. Mayor Bill White asked residents not to "hoard" supplies.