On the trail of hurricane Ike : From Haiti to Texas

Nasa images show hurricane Ike. Thousands of people fled the Texas gulf coast as the hurricane bore down, growing in power after ravaging Cuba and the Caribbean Photograph: NASA/AFP

Gonaives, Haiti: This aerial view shows discoloured brown flood water encroaching upon the normal blue of the Caribbean Sea, off the shore of the devastated city of Gonaives Photograph: Yuri Cortez/AFP

Port de Paix, Haiti: A Haitian unloads corn flour from France donated by the World Food Programme. Four major storms, two of them hurricanes, have struck Haiti in less than four weeks Photograph: Yuri Cortez/AFP

Praville, Haiti: Haitian women struggle to stay in line while a members of the United Nations Stabilisation Mission In Haiti (Minustah) try to keep order during food distribution Photograph: Orlando Barria/EPA

Praville, Haiti: Haitian women receive oil delivered by aid workers Photograph: Orlando Barria/EPA

Pinar del Rio province, Cuba: A bridge is half submerged in water in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike Photograph: Claudia Daut/Reuters

Pinar del Rio province, Cuba: Aerial view of a devastated village Photograph: Claudia Daut/Reuters

Las Palmas, Cuba: Residents gather in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike in the western province of Pinar del Rio Photograph: Claudia Daut/Reuters

Batabano, Cuba: A man collects water from a flooded street Photograph: Fernando Llano/AP

Havana, Cuba: Luis Pedroso, 10, (c) and neighbours stand in the darkness following the passing of Hurricane Ike in the Jesus del Monte hill Photograph: Sven Creutzmann/Mambo Photo/Getty

A small patch of the Gulf of Mexico can be seen as the hurricane hunters' C-130J, flown by the 53rd Weather Reconnaissance Squadron, out of Keesler air force base in Biloxi, Mississippi, enters hurricane Ike Photograph: Rogelio V. Solis/AP

Austin, USA: Workers at the Texas emergency operations centre watch the progress of hurricane Ike before a news briefing Photograph: Harry Cabluck/AP

Beaumont, USA: Texas residents stock up on pre-cooked items, canned goods, water, ice and other items in advance of Hurricane Ike's arrival at a grocery store Photograph: Dave Tryan/AP

Portland, USA: Guy McKinzey (left) and Justin Barker, both of Corpus Christi, Texas, climb up the ladder to install a set of hurricane shutters Photograph: Michael Zamora/AP

Galveston Island, USA: Evacuees line up to register for an evacuation bus Photograph: David J. Phillip/AP

Galveston Island, USA: Residents of Edgewater retirement home line up to board an evacuation bus Photograph: Kim Christensen/AP

Conroe, USA: Traffic lines Interstate 45 leaving Houston as hurricane Ike approaches the Texas gulf coast Photograph: David J. Phillip/AP

Texas City, USA: Marathon Oil Co's refinery begins to halt operations as Ike closes in Photograph: David J. Phillip/AP

Austin, USA: Texas governor Rick Perry speaks on a telephone shortly before a news briefing on hurricane Ike Photograph: Peter Franklin/AP

This Nasa image shows hurricane Ike in the Gulf of Mexico, closing in on the Texas coast Photograph: NASA/AP

Galveston, USA: Alex Trinidad checks out the water as waves crash against the sea wall before hurricane Ike hits land Photograph: Larry W. Smith/EPA

Galveston, USA: Tourists and local residents watch as waves crash against the seawall on the waterfront Photograph: Bob Pearson/EPA

Surfside Beach, USA: Resident Diane Hall evacuates as hurricane Ike approaches Photograph: Eric Gay/AP