Many of the thousands of utility workers sent to Southeast Texas to help restore power after Hurricane Rita are having to live in tent cities.

That's something they say makes their already arduous task more difficult.

Contract utility worker Terry Snyder of South Bend, Ind. says he can't sleep in a tent so he's sleeping in his truck until he can find a hotel room.

Entergy Texas officials say about 3,500 workers are living in tent cities in Beaumont, and another thousand are were staying in tents in Port Arthur.

Some tents are equipped with air conditioning, but others aren't.

Workers eat inside a center cooled by large fans and shower in two large trailers with 24 stalls connected to a fire hydrant.

Tent city residents have access to water, ice, gas and food, but those provisions are closely guarded because companies are worried about looting.

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