HOUSTON, Texas (CNN) -- Even with Hurricane Ike more than 100 miles away, authorities began rescue efforts Friday, picking up more than 120 people stranded by rising seas along the southeast Texas coast. The U.S. Coast Guard rescues a person trapped in a car on Friday as Hurricane Ike hits Texas. Most of the rescues occurred in Galveston County, where rising water and other effects of the storm began hours before expected landfall early Saturday. Stranded residents have been airlifted from Crystal Beach, Bolivar Peninsula and other communities in the Galveston area. Many of those rescued were motorists stranded on flooded roads.
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NEW: Coast Guard helicopters airlift stranded residents from Galveston area
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NEW: Many of those rescued were motorists stranded on flooded roads
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Coast Guard, Air Force unable to rescue 22 people stranded on freighter
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Active-duty military has 42 search-and-rescue helicopters on standby
He said the @placeholder is keeping radio communications with the freighter, and its news release said the Coast Guard is in hourly contact with the crew.