Cuba says Hurricane Ike damaged 200,000 homes. Hurricane Ike damaged at least 200,000 homes, including 30,000 that were destroyed, as its high winds and torrential rains wreaked havoc on the full length of Cuba, the country's top housing official said on Wednesday. [News Source]

Hurricane threats: Time to batten down the hatches. With Tropical Storm Hanna having bruised much of the U.S. East Coast--and the far more dangerous Hurricane Ike hot on her heels--federal officials are offering checklists of advice for people living in the paths of violent Atlantic storms. [News Source]

Food runs low as Haiti aid effort struggles. Food and fresh water ran dangerously low for thousands in the flood-stricken Haitian city of Gonaives and surrounding villages on Wednesday, as governments and aid groups struggled to get aid to people stranded at shelters. [News Source]

Hurricane Ike could pound Houston as major hurricane. The warm waters and current "soft and stable" upper atmosphere in the Gulf of Mexico could transform Hurricane Ike into a major hurricane as it heads toward Houston. [News Source]

Hurricane Ike may hit Texas with 15-foot storm surge. Shallow waters on the Gulf of Mexico's continental shelf could worsen Hurricane Ike's impact as it heads for the coast of Texas later this week. [News Source]

Hurricane Ike ploughs towards US. The US is bracing itself for the arrival of Hurricane Ike, which has strengthened to a category two storm as it travels over the Gulf of Mexico. [News Source]

Texas braces for Ike’s arrival. Texas authorities began the evacuation of some coastal towns and urged the residents of others to be prepared to leave quickly as Hurricane Ike lumbered across the Gulf of Mexico Wednesday, gathering strength from the warm waters. [News Source]

Those in Ike’s path watch, wait. Early Thursday, Ike was a Category 2 hurricane with maximum sustained winds near 100 mph. But the National Hurricane Center said Ike was expected to get stronger and could become a Category 3 hurricane later Thursday or on Friday. [News Source]

‘Lucky’ Louisiana unprepared for Gustav. The third major hurricane to hit Louisiana's fragile wetlands in three years has made it clear that, although coastal recovery is high on the state's agenda, little has been done on the ground since 2005. [News Source]

Cuba reels from battering by two storms. Strong winds and rain threatened to unleash deadly floods and mudslides in Cuba Wednesday a day after Hurricane Ike spread devastation across the island before heading towards the US Gulf Coast. [News Source]

In wake of storm damage, calls to ease Cuba embargo. With Cuba in trouble, ravaged by Hurricanes Ike and Gustav, Miami is again debating its relationship with the island. [News Source]