CAMERON, Louisiana (CNN) -- Search and rescue operations have been completed in the hard-hit southwestern part of Louisiana, said the top U.S. military commander for hurricane relief in the state.

Lt. Gen. Russel Honore said the next step in the disaster relief operation would be to set up a military-style tent city in Lake Charles, Louisiana, so the local government could reestablish its operations.

Though less destructive than Hurricane Katrina, Rita caused extensive damage when it roared ashore Saturday morning near the Texas-Louisiana border with 120 mph winds. (Watch latest video of Louisiana devastation -- 2:35)

Much of the hurricane-hit areas had been evacuated ahead of the storm, preventing a high death toll, although a Rita-spawned tornado killed one person in Mississippi, and a Texas man died from a falling tree. (City-by-city impact)

New insured losses estimates range from $2.5 billion to $7 billion. (Full story)

The area near Houston, Texas, which is home to facilities that process a quarter of the U.S. fuel supply suffered "a glancing blow at worst," from Rita, Gov. Rick Perry said.

New Orleans repopulation to begin
In New Orleans, residents and business owners in certain neighborhoods will be allowed back into the city starting Monday morning "to inspect and begin cleanup of their properties," Mayor Ray Nagin announced.

Rita pushed water over city levees by about 2 feet -- levees that had been provisionally repaired by sandbags after Katrina's damage.

Worst hit was the Lower 9th Ward, the first section of New Orleans inundated by Katrina. (Watch: '9th Ward will be dry again within a week' -- 3:32)

Residents and business proprietors of the Algiers neighborhood will be allowed to return Monday, Nagin said in a written statement. Business proprietors also will be allowed back to the French Quarter, Uptown and the Central Business District.

Other areas of the city remain off limits "until further notice."

"With Hurricane Rita behind us, the task at hand is to bring New Orleans back," Nagin said. "We want people to return and help us rebuild the city. However, we want everyone to assess the risks and make an informed decision about re-entry plans."

"You are entering the City of New Orleans at your own risk," Nagin said. Returnees were told to be self-sufficient, to bring in sufficient water and food.

Bush focuses on energy
After visiting the hurricane-hit region during the weekend, President Bush was scheduled to be briefed Monday on the nation's fuel status at the Energy Department. Bush is scheduled to make remarks after the briefing, at 10:55 a.m. ET. (Full story)

Coast Guard Vice Adm. Thad Allen said no deaths related to Rita had been reported in Louisiana, and Perry reported no direct, storm-related deaths in his state.

But a Rita-spawned tornado killed one person in Mississippi, and 24 people died Friday when a bus carrying nursing home residents caught fire and was riddled by explosions on Interstate 45 south of Dallas.

More than 925,000 customers in Texas, Louisiana and Mississippi are without electricity as a result of Hurricanes Rita and Katrina, officials said.

Cameron, Creole and Lake Charles, Louisiana, all were hard-hit by Rita. (Watch Gen. Russel Honore tour damage in Cameron, Louisiana -- 2:36)

In the parish seat of Cameron, 90 percent of homes were destroyed, Richard said. (See video on Cameron residents' resilience -- 2:18)

In Creole, 70 percent of residences were destroyed, with little more than the courthouse and an elementary school still standing, according to Richard.

Water in Lake Charles was receding Sunday, revealing buildings smashed to bits.

"The lake has risen higher than I've ever seen in my lifetime," said Lake Charles Mayor Randy Roach. But, he added, "Everyone who wanted to got out." (See video of hard-hit area in Rita's aftermath -- 2:29)

Farther west, in Port Arthur and Sabine Pass, Texas, officials were conducting house-to-house searches for victims or survivors, Port Arthur Mayor Oscar Ortiz said. He said two refineries appeared to be leaking gasoline. Boats and ships were tossed onto roadways by Rita's storm surge, and oil rigs ripped loose from their moorings had drifted ashore, he said.

Steady return to Texas
Rita's approach prompted the evacuation of more than 3 million people from the Louisiana coast westward to the Texas cities of Houston and Galveston, triggering 15- to 20-hour traffic jams on some Texas roads.

But residents of the Texas Gulf Coast made a steady return to their homes Sunday, with authorities encouraging workers in key industries -- such as oil refineries and gasoline stations -- to return as quickly as possible. (Watch Houston residents begin to return -- 1:20)

But Perry said others who are safe and have food should "stay put."

"Don't come back into southeast Texas today," said Perry, who went on a helicopter tour of damaged areas on Sunday.

In Houston, officials divided the city into quadrants and asked residents to return to each section one at a time, beginning with the northwest. But there is no penalty for ignoring that request.

The top elected official in Brazoria County rejected that plan.

"I am not going to wait for our neighbors to the north to get home and take a nap before I ask our good people to come home," Judge John Willy said in a statement.