100,000 Britons in hurricane danger zone

British nationals along the Texas coast were told to "take very seriously" the advice given by authorities and to join the nearly three-million-strong exodus of people fleeing the storm and its 165mph winds.

But some were adamant that they would stay put. Wendy Fraser, 43, had decided to avoid the traffic jams and was staying at her home on the outskirts of Houston with her husband and three young children, according to her mother, Irene Scott .

Mrs Scott, 68, from Turriff in Aberdeenshire, said: "They have boarded up their house and have stored as much water as possible. "They have a large walk-in cupboard and two walk-in wardrobes where they can take shelter if need be, although I am hoping it will not come to that."

People in Britain with relatives or friends living along the coast were also advised to telephone them immediately, before phone networks went down, to find out what their plans were.

Following criticisms of the inadequate help it gave Britons trapped by Hurricane Katrina, a Foreign Office team has flown out from London to help the evacuation and deal with the aftermath.

Staff from the British embassy in Washington, the British consulate general in Houston and other offices across the US were also being sent to the region to help.

* Anyone in Britain with concerns about family or friends in the US can contact the Foreign Office on 020 7008 0000.