Federal emergency officials are urging Texans who fled their homes ahead of hurricane Ike to stay away, keeping roads passable for rescue workers and limiting additional burdens on shelter, food, petrol and water in heavily affected areas.

Concerns remained on Sunday that the widespread destruction could put upward pressure on oil and petrol prices, given that 20 per cent of US oil and gas production and almost 20 per cent of the US oil refining capacity was shut before the storm, and it could take several days to weeks to restore production.