More People Returning to Galveston

GALVESTON, Texas (AP) _ More residents of Hurricane Ike-swamped Galveston have opted to return home as rebuilding continues.

CenterPoint Energy reports the number of electric customers has reached 85 percent of pre-storm levels. Texas Gas Service reports 78 percent of pre-Ike customers have reconnected.

The Galveston County Daily News reports city officials feared only about two-thirds of the residents would return after Ike hit on Sept. 13.

Galveston had about 57,000 residents prior to Ike. City Manager Steve LeBlanc puts the current population at about 40,000.

LeBlanc last week told the Galveston City Council that the figures are a good indication of the number of people who plan to return.

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