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 . NEW : Coast Guard helicopters airlift stranded residents from Galveston area . The U.S. Navy is also sending a ship to the area. Many of those rescued were motorists stranded on flooded roads . Coast Guard , Air Force unable to rescue 22 people stranded on freighter . Active-duty military has 42 search-and-rescue helicopters on standby .
NEW : Coast Guard helicopters airlift stranded residents from Galveston area . The U.S. Navy is also sending a ship to the area. Many of those rescued were motorists stranded on flooded roads . Coast Guard , Air Force unable to rescue 22 people stranded on freighter . Active-duty military has 42 search-and-rescue helicopters on standby .