FACTOID # 154: Women make up more than 10% of the prison population in only six countries: Thailand, , Qatar, Paraguay, Costa Rica, and Singapore.
 
 Home   Encyclopedia   Statistics   Countries A-Z   Flags   Maps   Education   Forum   FAQ   About 
 
WHAT'S NEW
RECENT ARTICLES
More Recent Articles »
 

FACTS & STATISTICS    Simple view

  1. Select countries to view: (hold down Control key and click to select several)

     

     

    Compare:

     

     
  1. Select fact or statistic: (* = graphable)

     

     

     

  2. (OPTIONAL) Compare to statistic: (both need to be graphable)

     

     

     

  3. View result as:

     

       
(OR) SEARCH ALL encyclopedia, stats & forums:   

Encyclopedia > Hurricane Rita
Hurricane Rita
Category 5 hurricane (SSHS)
Hurricane Rita in the Gulf of Mexico on September 21, 2005.

Hurricane Rita in the Gulf of Mexico on September 21, 2005.
Formed September 17, 2005
Dissipated September 26, 2005
Highest
winds
180 mph (290 km/h)[1] (1-minute sustained)
{{{highest gusts}}} (gusts)
{{{highest 10-min winds}}} (10-minute sustained)
{{{current winds}}} (current)
Lowest pressure 895 mbar (hPa)[1]
Damages $10 billion (2005 USD)[1]
Fatalities 7 direct, 113 indirect
Areas
affected		 Bahamas, Florida, Cuba, Yucatán Peninsula, Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, Arkansas
Part of the
2005 Atlantic hurricane season

Hurricane Rita is the fourth-most intense Atlantic hurricane ever recorded and the most intense tropical cyclone observed in the Gulf of Mexico. Rita caused $10 billion in damage on the U.S. Gulf Coast in September 2005. Rita was the seventeenth named storm, tenth hurricane, fifth major hurricane, and third Category 5 hurricane of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season. The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale is a scale classifying most Western Hemisphere tropical cyclones that exceed the levels of tropical depression and tropical storm and thereby become hurricanes. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (3200x4000, 3331 KB) Summary Hurricane Rita was building up to an extremely dangerous Category 5 hurricane when the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) on NASA’s Terra satellite captured this image at 12:10 p. ... September 17 is the 260th day of the year (261st in leap years). ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... September 26 is the 269th day of the year (270th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 96 days remaining. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... A millibar (mbar, also mb) is 1/1000th of a bar, a unit for measurement of pressure. ... HPA means Physiology Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal axis: The hypothalamus, pituitary and adrenal glands work together to regulate hormone levels and maintain homeostasis. ... The United States dollar is the official currency of the United States. ... Official language(s) English Capital Tallahassee Largest city Jacksonville Area  Ranked 22nd  - Total 65,794 sq mi (170,451 km²)  - Width 162 miles (260 km)  - Length 497 miles (800 km)  - % water 17. ... The Yucatán peninsula as seen from space The Yucatán Peninsula separates the Caribbean Sea from the Gulf of Mexico. ... Official language(s) English and French Capital Baton Rouge Largest city New Orleans at last census; probably Baton Rouge since Hurricane Katrina Area  Ranked 31st  - Total 51,885 sq mi (134,382 km²)  - Width 130 miles (210 km)  - Length 379 miles (610 km)  - % water 16  - Latitude 29°N to 33... Official language(s) See: Languages of Texas Capital Austin Largest city Houston Area  Ranked 2nd  - Total 268,581 sq mi (695,622 km²)  - Width 773 miles (1,244 km)  - Length 790 miles (1,270 km)  - % water 2. ... Official language(s) English Capital Jackson Largest city Jackson Area  Ranked 32nd  - Total 48,434 sq mi (125,443 km²)  - Width 170 miles (275 km)  - Length 340 miles (545 km)  - % water 3  - Latitude 30°13N to 35°N  - Longitude 88°7W to 91°41W Population  Ranked 31st... Official language(s) English Capital Little Rock Largest city Little Rock Area  Ranked 29th  - Total 53,179 sq mi (137,732 km²)  - Width 239 miles (385 km)  - Length 261 miles (420 km)  - % water 2. ... The 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was the most active Atlantic hurricane season in recorded history, shattering previous records on repeated occasions. ... Atlantic hurricane refers to a tropical cyclone that forms in the Atlantic Ocean north of the equator, usually in the Northern Hemisphere summer or autumn. ... Cyclone Catarina, a rare South Atlantic tropical cyclone viewed from the International Space Station on March 26, 2004. ... Gulf of Mexico in 3D perspective. ... States that border the Gulf of Mexico are shown in red The Gulf Coast region of the United States comprises the coasts of states which border the Gulf of Mexico. ... The 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was the most active Atlantic hurricane season in recorded history, shattering previous records on repeated occasions. ...


Rita made landfall on September 24 near the Texas-Louisiana border as a Category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale. It continued on through parts of southeast Texas. The storm surge caused extensive damage along the Louisiana and extreme southeastern Texas coasts and completely destroyed some coastal communities. The storm killed seven people directly; many others died in evacuations and from indirect effects. September 24 is the 267th day of the year (268th in leap years). ... Official language(s) See: Languages of Texas Capital Austin Largest city Houston Area  Ranked 2nd  - Total 268,581 sq mi (695,622 km²)  - Width 773 miles (1,244 km)  - Length 790 miles (1,270 km)  - % water 2. ... Official language(s) English and French Capital Baton Rouge Largest city New Orleans at last census; probably Baton Rouge since Hurricane Katrina Area  Ranked 31st  - Total 51,885 sq mi (134,382 km²)  - Width 130 miles (210 km)  - Length 379 miles (610 km)  - % water 16  - Latitude 29°N to 33... The Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale is a scale classifying most Western Hemisphere tropical cyclones that exceed the levels of tropical depression and tropical storm and thereby become hurricanes. ... ... Official language(s) See: Languages of Texas Capital Austin Largest city Houston Area  Ranked 2nd  - Total 268,581 sq mi (695,622 km²)  - Width 773 miles (1,244 km)  - Length 790 miles (1,270 km)  - % water 2. ...

Contents


Storm history

Storm path
Enlarge
Storm path

The storm system that became Rita formed at the tail of an old frontal boundary, where convection and low-level circulation around an upper-level low developed steadily for over two days. A surface low formed near the disturbance, and the season's 18th tropical depression soon formed east of the Turks and Caicos. Less than a day after forming, the depression became the 17th tropical storm of the season on September 18 and was named Rita. A mandatory evacuation was ordered for the entire Florida Keys. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x662, 711 KB) Summary Hurricane Rita (2005) track. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x662, 711 KB) Summary Hurricane Rita (2005) track. ... A large low-pressure system swirls off the southeastern coast of Iceland, illustrating the maxim that nature abhors a vacuum. ... The Turks and Caicos Islands is an overseas territory of the United Kingdom consisting of two groups of tropical islands in the Caribbean, southeast of the Bahamas, at 21°45N, 71°35W. The thirty islands total 166 sq. ... September 18 is the 261st day of the year (262nd in leap years). ... Palm trees in Islamorada The Florida Keys are an archipelago, a string of about 1700 islands in the southeast United States. ...

Hurricane Rita at its peak.
Enlarge
Hurricane Rita at its peak.

Rita was slow to become a hurricane; National Hurricane Center (NHC) reports early on September 20 estimated the storm's sustained surface winds at hurricane force (75 mph or 120 km/h). However, Rita lacked a complete eyewall; forecasters identified Rita as a tropical storm with 70 mph (110 km/h) winds overnight. Aircraft observations released at 9:45 a.m. EDT showed a closed eyewall and winds clearly at hurricane strength. Four hours later, the NHC reported that Rita had reached Category 2 hurricane strength, with 100 mph (160 km/h) maximum sustained winds. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1920x1200, 1156 KB) Hurricane Rita as a Category 5 hurricane Summary Hurricane Rita as a Category 5 hurricane. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1920x1200, 1156 KB) Hurricane Rita as a Category 5 hurricane Summary Hurricane Rita as a Category 5 hurricane. ... The U.S. National Hurricane Center is the division of National Weather Services Tropical Prediction Center responsible for tracking and predicting the likely behavior of tropical depressions, tropical storms and hurricanes. ... September 20 is the 263rd day of the year (264th in leap years). ... Eye of Typhoon Odessa, Pacific Ocean, August 1985 The eyewall is the region of a tropical cyclone with the strongest winds, the tallest clouds, and the heaviest rain. ...

Enlarge
Hurricane Rita making its final landfall

Warm water in the Gulf of Mexico, 1° F (0.5 °C) above average, favored storm intensification. As Rita entered the Gulf, rapid intensification began. National Hurricane Center advisories issued every three hours each showed strengthening from 5 p.m. EDT on September 20 to 11 a.m. EDT on September 21, when Rita's maximum sustained winds increased to 140 mph (225 km/h). Rita continued to gain strength unabated. An update at 2:15 p.m. CDT (1815 UTC) said maximum winds had increased to 150 mph (240 km/h) and Rita's minimum pressure was 920 mbar (hPa). Less than two hours later, at 3:55 p.m. CDT, another update reported that Rita had strengthened to a Category 5 hurricane, with maximum wind speeds of 165 mph (265 km/h). At 6:50 p.m. CDT, a reconnaissance aircraft recorded pressure of 899 mbar (hPa) away from the storm's center; the actual central pressure was thought to be lower still. At 10 p.m. CDT, Rita reached its maximum intensity, with sustained winds of 180 mph (290 km/h) and an estimated minimum pressure of 895 mbar (hPa), (26.43 in Hg). Image File history File links Hurr-rita-irloop. ... Image File history File links Hurr-rita-irloop. ... September 20 is the 263rd day of the year (264th in leap years). ... September 21 is the 264th day of the year (265th in leap years). ... The pascal (symbol: Pa) is the SI unit of pressure. ... Mixed reconnaissance patrol of the Polish Home Army and the Soviet Red Army during Operation Tempest, 1944 Reconnaissance is the military term for the active gathering of information about an enemy, or other conditions, by physical observation. ... The pascal (symbol: Pa) is the SI unit of pressure. ... The pascal (symbol: Pa) is the SI unit of pressure. ...

Hurricane Rita encountering the Gulf Loop Current and Eddy Vortex.
Enlarge
Hurricane Rita encountering the Gulf Loop Current and Eddy Vortex.

Hurricane Rita's rapid intensification may in part be attributed to its passage over the Gulf Loop Current and Eddy Vortex. (NASA animation showing the storm track before landfall) Image File history File links Download high resolution version (825x638, 174 KB) Summary This sea surface height map of the Gulf of Mexico, with the Florida peninsula on the right and the Texas-Mexico Gulf Coast on the left, is based on altimeter data from four satellites including NASA’s... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (825x638, 174 KB) Summary This sea surface height map of the Gulf of Mexico, with the Florida peninsula on the right and the Texas-Mexico Gulf Coast on the left, is based on altimeter data from four satellites including NASA’s... Gulf Stream currents (1943 map). ... Gulf Stream currents (1943 map). ...


Lt. Col. Warren Madden, a Hurricane Hunter and meteorologist for The Weather Channel, recorded a peak wind gust of 235 mph (380 km/h) while flying in the eye of the storm, and called Rita "the strongest storm that I've ever been in." Rita's intense winds destroyed or disabled several buoy-based weather stations. Warren Madden is an On-Camera Meteorologist with The Weather Channel. ... The name Hurricane Hunters is the nickname for two groups that fly instrumented aircraft into Atlantic hurricanes for the purpose of data collection. ... Meteorology is the scientific study of the atmosphere that focuses on weather processes and forecasting. ... The Weather Channel (TWC) is a cable and satellite television network that reports national weather and weather-related news 24 hours a day. ... A sea lion on navigational buoy #14 in San Diego Harbor A buoy is a floating device that can have various purposes, which determine whether the buoy is anchored (stationary) or allowed to drift: The word is derived from the Dutch boei. In North American English it is pronounced as...


Rita made landfall between Sabine Pass, Texas, and Johnson's Bayou, Louisiana, at 02:38 CDT (07:38 UTC) on September 24, 2005 as a category 3 Hurricane with winds at 115mph. Rita lost both hurricane and tropical storm status the day of landfall. Rita's remnants — technically an extensive low pressure area — moved quickly out of the lower Mississippi Valley and were absorbed by a cold front. The Hydrometeorological Prediction Center ceased monitoring Tropical Depression Rita early on September 26. Sabine Pass, Texas is a city located in Jefferson County, Texas, 15 miles south of Port Arthur, Texas, on the west bank of Sabine Pass, near the Louisiana border. ... Johnsons Bayou, is a small community on the Gulf Coast in Cameron Parish, Louisiana, United States, named for Daniel Johnson, who came to the area in around 1790. ... Length 6,270 km Elevation of the source 450 m Average discharge 16,200 m³/s Area watershed 2,980,000 km² Origin Lake Itasca Mouth Gulf of Mexico Basin countries United States (98. ... The Hydrometeorological Prediction Center is one of several Service Centers under the umbrella of the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP), operating under the control of the National Weather Service, which in turn is part of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) of the U.S. government. ... September 26 is the 269th day of the year (270th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 96 days remaining. ...


Trivia

Most intense Atlantic hurricanes
Intensity is measured solely by central pressure
Rank Hurricane Season Min. pressure
1 Wilma 2005 882 mbar (hPa)
2 Gilbert 1988 888 mbar (hPa)
3 "Labor Day" 1935 892 mbar (hPa)
4 Rita 2005 895 mbar (hPa)
5 Allen 1980 899 mbar (hPa)
6 Katrina 2005 902 mbar (hPa)
7 Camille 1969 905 mbar (hPa)
Mitch 1998 905 mbar (hPa)
9 Ivan 2004 910 mbar (hPa)
10 Janet 1955 914 mbar (hPa)
Source: U.S. Department of Commerce

The use of the name "Rita" reflects the record-breaking activity of the 2005 hurricane season: only once before had a name starting with "R" (the seventeenth name in the list each season) been used for an Atlantic storm, in 1995 for Hurricane Roxanne. Rita was, actually, the third seventeenth storm to form in a season since tropical storm naming began in 1950. However, in the 1969 season, under less-sophisticated forecasting systems, many tropical storms were not named; the seventeenth storm of 1969 was named Hurricane Martha. diurnal (daily) rhythm of air pressure in northern Germany (black curve is air pressure) Atmospheric pressure is the pressure above any area in the Earths atmosphere caused by the weight of air. ... Lowest pressure 882 mbar (hPa) (Lowest pressure ever recorded in an Atlantic hurricane) Damages $16-20 billion (2005 USD) Fatalities 22 direct, 40 indirect Areas affected Jamaica, Haiti, Cayman Islands, Cuba, Honduras, Nicaragua, Belize, Yucatán Peninsula, Florida, Bahamas, Atlantic Canada Part of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season Hurricane Wilma... The 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was the most active Atlantic hurricane season in recorded history, shattering previous records on repeated occasions. ... A millibar (mbar, also mb) is 1/1000th of a bar, a unit for measurement of pressure. ... The pascal (symbol: Pa) is the SI unit of pressure. ... Lowest pressure 888 mbar (hPa) Damages $5 billion (1988 USD) $7-9 billion (2005 USD) Fatalities 318 direct Areas affected Windward Islands, Venezuela, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Central America, Yucatán Peninsula, northern Mexico, Texas, South Central United States Part of the 1988 Atlantic hurricane season Hurricane Gilbert is the... The 1988 Atlantic hurricane season was an ongoing event in the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation. ... Lowest pressure 892 mbar (hPa)[1] Damages $6 million+ (1935 dollars) $82 million+ (2005 dollars) Fatalities 408 - 600 direct Areas affected Bahamas, Florida Keys, Florida Panhandle, Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina Part of the 1935 Atlantic hurricane season The Labor Day Hurricane was a very compact, intense hurricane that... First storm formed: Aug. ... The 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was the most active Atlantic hurricane season in recorded history, shattering previous records on repeated occasions. ... Hurricane Allen was the strongest hurricane of the 1980 Atlantic hurricane season. ... First storm formed: July 31, 1980 Last storm dissipated: Nov. ... Lowest pressure 902 mbar (hPa) Damages $81. ... The 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was the most active Atlantic hurricane season in recorded history, shattering previous records on repeated occasions. ... Lowest pressure ≤905 mbar (hPa)[1] Damages $1. ... First storm formed: July 25, 1969 Last storm dissipated: Nov. ... Lowest pressure 905 mbar (hPa) Damages $5+ billion (1998 USD) $6–7 billion (2005 USD) Fatalities 11,000–18,000 direct (deadliest Atlantic hurricane since 1780 hurricane) Areas affected Honduras, Nicaragua, El Salvador, Guatemala, Yucatán Peninsula, south Florida Part of the 1998 Atlantic hurricane season Hurricane Mitch was one... First storm formed: Jul. ... Lowest pressure 910 mbar (hPa) Damages $17. ... The 2004 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1, 2004, and lasted until November 30, 2004. ... Hurricane Janet was the most powerful hurricane of the 1955 Atlantic hurricane season and the 10th strongest Atlantic Hurricane of all time. ... The 1955 Atlantic hurricane season was an ongoing event in the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation. ... R is the eighteenth letter of the Latin alphabet. ... The 1995 Atlantic hurricane season officially began on June 1, 1995, and lasted until November 30, 1995. ... Lowest pressure 956 millibars, 28. ... First storm formed: July 25, 1969 Last storm dissipated: Nov. ... First storm formed: July 25, 1969 Last storm dissipated: Nov. ...


Other records set by Rita:

  • Earliest 17th named storm in Atlantic hurricane season
  • Fourth most-intense storm in Atlantic basin
  • Greatest one-hour pressure drop in Atlantic basin
  • Most intense hurricane in the Gulf of Mexico (breaking record set by Hurricane Katrina three weeks earlier)

Lowest pressure 902 mbar (hPa) Damages $81. ...

Preparations

Louisiana

Before Rita, the mayor of New Orleans, Ray Nagin, had planned to begin reopening the city after the damage caused by Hurricane Katrina on September 19. [2] However, as Rita developed in the Gulf of Mexico, the reopening was cancelled and a re-evacuation of the city was initiated on September 21 as the storm was initially forecast to make landfall much closer to the city. Although Rita remained well to the south and west of New Orleans, a pre-landfall storm surge overwhelmed a levee protecting the lower 9th Ward [3], a part of a fragile and already compromised levee system as repairs continued [4] At landfall, more parts of the levee wall were breached causing major reflooding in New Orleans. The original breaches had occurred a month earlier as a result of Hurricane Katrina. [5] Ray Nagin Clarence Ray Nagin, Jr. ... September 19 is the 262nd day of the year (263rd in leap years). ... September 21 is the 264th day of the year (265th in leap years). ... ... The 9th ward is a highly distinctive region in New Orleans, Louisiana that is located in the eastern downriver portion of the city. ... When Category 4 storm Hurricane Katrina slammed into New Orleans, on the night before August 29, 2005, storm surges estimated at 20 feet took place; levee height was about 17 feet. ... Lowest pressure 902 mbar (hPa) Damages $81. ...


In addition, residents of Cameron Parish, Calcasieu Parish, and parts of Jefferson Davis Parish, Acadia Parish, Iberia Parish, and Vermillion Parish were told to evacuate ahead of the storm. Cameron Parish is a parish located in the state of Louisiana. ... Calcasieu Parish is a parish located in the state of Louisiana. ... Jefferson Davis Parish is a parish located in the state of Louisiana. ... Acadia Parish is a parish located in the state of Louisiana. ... Iberia Parish is a parish located in the state of Louisiana. ... Vermilion Parish is a parish located in the state of Louisiana. ...


Texas

Evacuees on Interstate 45 leaving Houston on September 21.
Enlarge
Evacuees on Interstate 45 leaving Houston on September 21.

Texas Governor Rick Perry recalled all emergency personnel, including almost 1,200 Texas National Guard from Katrina recovery efforts, in anticipation of Hurricane Rita's arrival. [6] On September 22, Governor Perry and the Texas Department of Transportation implemented a contraflow lane reversal on Interstate 45 north towards Dallas, on Interstate 10 west towards San Antonio, U.S. Highway 290 northwest to Austin. ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (3000x2000, 1455 KB) Description Houston, TX, September 21, 2005 -- Traffic on US 45 was mostly out of town, to the north, as Galveston citizens evacuated the coastal flood plains. ... ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (3000x2000, 1455 KB) Description Houston, TX, September 21, 2005 -- Traffic on US 45 was mostly out of town, to the north, as Galveston citizens evacuated the coastal flood plains. ... Interstate 45 (abbreviated I-45 or in Texas IH-45) is an intrastate interstate highway located entirely within the state of Texas, United States. ... September 21 is the 264th day of the year (265th in leap years). ... In politics, Governor of Texas is the title given to the chief executive of the state of Texas. ... James Richard Rick Perry (born March 4, 1950) is a Republican politician and the governor of Texas. ... Lowest pressure 902 mbar (hPa) Damages $81. ... September 22 is the 265th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (266th in leap years). ... Contraflow lane reversal is a program designed for quick emergency evacuation of an area. ... Interstate 45 (abbreviated I-45 or in Texas IH-45) is an intrastate interstate highway located entirely within the state of Texas, United States. ... ·· Flag Seal Nickname: Big D Location Location in the state of Texas Government Counties Dallas County Collin County Denton County Kaufman County Rockwall County Mayor Laura Miller Geographical characteristics Area 997. ... Interstate 10 (abbreviated I-10) is the southernmost east-west, coast-to-coast interstate highway in the United States. ... Flag Seal Nickname: Alamo City Location Location in the state of Texas Coordinates , Government Counties Bexar County Mayor Phil Hardberger Geographical characteristics Area     City 1067. ... U.S. Highway 290 (or US-290) is an east-west highway entirely in Texas. ... Flag Seal Nickname: Live Music Capital of the World Location Location in the state of Texas Coordinates: Government County Travis County Mayor Will Wynn Geographical characteristics Area 669. ...


Officials in Galveston County (which includes the city of Galveston), which was devastated by the Galveston Hurricane of 1900, ordered mandatory evacuations, effective September 21 at 6 p.m., in a staggered sequence setting different zones in the area which were due to leave at different times over 24 hours, well in advance of the storm's possible landfall later in the week but not enough in advance to ensure that all residents could evacuate safely in advance of the storm. Nonetheless, many residents remained in the county because they were either unaware of the danger of the storm or believed that it was more important to protect their belongings, particularly in the wake of looting following Hurricane Katrina. The evacuation included transfer of all inpatients from the University of Texas Medical Branch hospital to other regional hospitals. Thirty-one patients, including two on ventilators were prisoners under the ward of the Texas Department of Corrections. These patients were systematically transferred to the University of Texas Health Center at Tyler. Galveston County is a county located in the state of Texas. ... Nickname: The Oleander City Official website: City of Galveston Location Location in the state of Texas Government County Galveston Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas Geographical characteristics Area Total 539. ... Lowest pressure ≤936 mbar (hPa) Damages $25-50 million (1900 USD) $928 million (2000 USD) [1] Fatalities 6,000–12,000 direct Areas affected Puerto Rico, Dominican Republic, Haiti, Cuba, south Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas (particularly around Galveston), much of the Central United States, Great Lakes region, Atlantic Canada Part... September 21 is the 264th day of the year (265th in leap years). ...


Officials of Harris County hoped that the designation of zones A, B, and C would be able to prevent bottlenecks leaving the area such as those seen out of New Orleans prior to Katrina and Hurricane Dennis this year. Also, different zones were to be forced to go to certain cities in Texas and were not allowed to exit their designated routes except for food and gas - another feature of the evacuation plan which hoped to keep traffic and flow orderly throughout this timeframe. These evacuation-destination cities included Austin, College Station, San Antonio, Dallas, Huntsville, and Lufkin, Texas. Lowest pressure 902 mbar (hPa) Damages $81. ... Hurricane Dennis was the fourth named storm, second hurricane, and first major hurricane of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season. ... Flag Seal Nickname: Live Music Capital of the World Location Location in the state of Texas Coordinates: Government County Travis County Mayor Will Wynn Geographical characteristics Area 669. ... City nicknames: Aggieland, heart of the Research Valley Location in the State of Texas County Brazos County Mayor Ron Silvia Area  - Land  - Water 104. ... Flag Seal Nickname: Alamo City Location Location in the state of Texas Coordinates , Government Counties Bexar County Mayor Phil Hardberger Geographical characteristics Area     City 1067. ... ·· Flag Seal Nickname: Big D Location Location in the state of Texas Government Counties Dallas County Collin County Denton County Kaufman County Rockwall County Mayor Laura Miller Geographical characteristics Area 997. ... Huntsville is a city and also a newly designated micropolitan area located in the U.S. state of Texas within Walker County. ... Lufkin is a city located in Angelina County, Texas. ...

Motorists stranded on Highway 60 during Hurricane Rita evacuation.
Enlarge
Motorists stranded on Highway 60 during Hurricane Rita evacuation.

On Wednesday, Houston mayor Bill White urged residents to evacuate the city, telling residents, "Don't wait; the time for waiting is over," reminding residents of the disaster in New Orleans. After heavy traffic snarled roads leading out of town and gas shortages left numerous vehicles stranded, he backed off his earlier statement with, "If you're not in the evacuation zone, follow the news," advising people to use common sense. However by 3:00 p.m. that afternoon, the freeway system in Houston was at a stand-still. Image File history File links DSC_0064. ... Image File history File links DSC_0064. ... Houston redirects here. ... Bill White William Bill Howard White (born June 16, 1954) is the current mayor of the city of Houston, Texas (January 2, 2004 - present). ...


To the east of Houston officials had set up evacuation routes in response to the slow evacuation of residents prior to Hurricane Lili. During the Rita evacuation these preparations and their execution were overwhelmed by the enormous and unprecedented numbers of people fleeing from the Houston area prior to the local residents. By the time Jefferson County began their mandatory evacuation local roads were full of Houstonians. Designated evacuation routes slowed to a pace far worse than with any previous hurricane. Lowest pressure 940 mbar (hPa) Damages $860+ million (2002 USD) $900+ million (2005 USD) Fatalities 14 direct, 2 indirect [1] Areas affected Windward Islands, Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti, Louisiana Part of the 2002 Atlantic hurricane season Hurricane Lili was a powerful hurricane during the 2002 Atlantic hurricane season that caused damage...


By late Thursday morning, the contraflow lanes had been ordered after it was determined that the state's highway system had become gridlocked. The Texas Department of Transportation was unprepared to execute such a large-scale evacuation. Coordination and implementation of the contraflow plan took 8 to 10 hours as inbound traffic was forced to exit and police were stationed to assist with traffic flow. Evacuees fought traffic Wednesday afternoon through mid-day Friday, moving only a fraction of the normal distance expected. Average travel times to Dallas were 24-36 hours, travel times to Austin were 12-18 hours and travel times to San Antonio were 10-16 hours, depending on the point of departure in Houston. Many motorists ran out of gas or experienced breakdowns in the record breaking temperatures that neared 100 degrees. Traffic volumes did not ease for nearly 48 hours as nearly three million residents evacuated the area in advance of the storm. This was the largest evacuation in Texas history.


As part of the evacuation, Johnson Space Center in Houston handed off control of the International Space Station to their Russian counterparts. An aerial view of the complete Johnson Space Center facility in Houston, Texas in 1989. ... International Space Station insignia ISS Statistics Crew: 3 As of July 6, 2006 Perigee: 352. ...


Concerns had been raised over the state of the oil industry in response to Rita. The storm threatened a large amount of oil infrastructure that was left undamaged by Katrina. The Texas Gulf Coast is home to 23% of the United States' refining capacity, and numerous offshore production platforms were in Rita's path. While no potential storm path would threaten all of the capacity at once, a direct strike on Houston could disable up to 8% of the nation's refining capacity. Valero Energy Corp, the nation's largest refiner, stated on September 21 that Rita could have caused gasoline prices to rise well above $3 per US gallon ($0.79/L). Lowest pressure 902 mbar (hPa) Damages $81. ... Valero Energy Corporation (NYSE: VLO) is based in San Antonio, Texas and is one of the leading U.S. refining companies. ... September 21 is the 264th day of the year (265th in leap years). ... This article is about general United States currency. ... The gallon (abbreviation: gal) is an English unit of volume. ...


Impact

In some areas, the effects of Hurricane Rita were not nearly as severe as anticipated. The storm surge feared in Galveston and Houston struck farther east as the storm's center came ashore at the Louisiana border; winds blowing offshore in Texas actually flattened the surge, which was only seven feet (2 m), well below the height of the Galveston seawall. The five inches (130 mm) of rain expected to fall overnight in New Orleans also did not happen, and the pressure on the levee system was eased. Still, storm surge of 15-20 feet (4.5-6.1 m) struck southwestern Louisiana, and coastal parishes experienced extensive damage. In Cameron Parish the communities of Holly Beach, Hackberry and Cameron were essentially destroyed. [7] Calcasieu Parish. The communities of Lake Charles, Sulphur, Westlake and Vinton also suffered heavy damage. ... Seawall protecting homes from storm waves and beach erosion. ... Cameron Parish is a parish located in the state of Louisiana. ... Holly Beach Louisiana. ... Hackberry is a census-designated place located in Cameron Parish, Louisiana. ... Cameron is a census-designated place located in Cameron Parish, Louisiana. ... Calcasieu Parish is a parish located in the state of Louisiana. ... Hibernia Tower in downtown Lake Charles after Hurricane Rita named, see Lake Charles (body of water). Lake Charles is the fifth largest city in the US state of Louisiana. ... Sulphur is a city located in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana. ... Westlake is a city located in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana. ... Vinton is a town located in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana. ...


It is estimated that well over two million people lost electricity. [8] Total damage is estimated at approximately $10 billion, making Rita the ninth-costliest storm in U.S. history. [9] Lightning strikes during a night-time thunderstorm. ...


Following Rita, gas prices fell in the U.S instead of rising as feared.


Deaths

State State total County Reported
deaths		 Direct
deaths
Florida 2 [10] Escambia 1 [11] 1
Walton 1 [12] 1
Louisiana 1 [13] Calcasieu 1 [14] 1
Mississippi 4 [15] Humphreys 1 [16] 1
Pike 3 [17] 0
Texas 113 [18] Angelina 2 [19] 1
Dallas 23 [20] 0
Galveston 36 [21] 0
Harris 35 [22] 0
Jefferson 6 [23] 0
Liberty 2 [24] 2
Montgomery 2 [25] 0
Shelby 1 [26] 0
Walker 5 [27] 0
Totals 120 [28] 120 7
Because of differing sources, totals may not match.

The reported death toll by Rita was 120. Only seven were direct deaths. One was caused by a tornado spawned in the storm's outer bands, one was due to storm surge flooding and three others were caused by trees blown down in the storm. The two Florida deaths both occurred in rip currents caused by Rita's distant waves. Official language(s) English Capital Tallahassee Largest city Jacksonville Area  Ranked 22nd  - Total 65,794 sq mi (170,451 km²)  - Width 162 miles (260 km)  - Length 497 miles (800 km)  - % water 17. ... Escambia County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. ... Walton County is a county located in the state of Florida. ... Official language(s) English and French Capital Baton Rouge Largest city New Orleans at last census; probably Baton Rouge since Hurricane Katrina Area  Ranked 31st  - Total 51,885 sq mi (134,382 km²)  - Width 130 miles (210 km)  - Length 379 miles (610 km)  - % water 16  - Latitude 29°N to 33... Calcasieu Parish is a parish located in the state of Louisiana. ... Official language(s) English Capital Jackson Largest city Jackson Area  Ranked 32nd  - Total 48,434 sq mi (125,443 km²)  - Width 170 miles (275 km)  - Length 340 miles (545 km)  - % water 3  - Latitude 30°13N to 35°N  - Longitude 88°7W to 91°41W Population  Ranked 31st... Humphreys County is a county located in the state of Mississippi. ... Pike County is a county located in the state of Mississippi. ... Official language(s) See: Languages of Texas Capital Austin Largest city Houston Area  Ranked 2nd  - Total 268,581 sq mi (695,622 km²)  - Width 773 miles (1,244 km)  - Length 790 miles (1,270 km)  - % water 2. ... Angelina County is a county located in the state of Texas. ... Dallas County is a county located in the state of Texas within the Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington metropolitan area (colloquially referred to as the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex). ... Galveston County is a county located in the state of Texas. ... Location in the state of Texas Formed Seat Houston Area  - Total  - Water 4,604 km² (1,778 mi²) 127 km² (49 mi²) 2. ... Jefferson County is a county located in the state of Texas. ... Liberty County is a county located in the state of Texas within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown Metropolitan Area. ... Montgomery County is a county located in the U.S. state of Texas within the Houston–Sugar Land–Baytown Metropolitan Area. ... Shelby County is a county located in the state of Texas. ... Walker County is a county located in the state of Texas. ... A rip current is a strong flow of water returning seaward from the shore. ...


Direct deaths indicate those caused by the direct effects of the winds, flooding, tornadoes, storm surge or oceanic effects of Rita. Indirect deaths indicate those caused by hurricane-related accidents (including car accidents, crimes, fires or other incidents), cleanup and evacuation incidents and health issues (such as poisoning, illnesses, lack of emergency aid). For the 1928 film, see The Wind. ... Look up flood in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... For other uses of Tornado, see Tornado (disambiguation). ... ... The worlds oceans as seen from the South Pacific Oceans (from Okeanos, Greek for river, the ancient Greeks noticed that a strong current flowed off Gibraltar, and assumed it was a great river) cover almost three quarters (71%) of the surface of the Earth, and nearly half of the... This article or section does not cite its references or sources. ... A large bonfire. ... For biological toxicity, see toxin and poison. ... This article needs more context around or a better explanation of technical details to make it more accessible to general readers and technical readers outside the specialty, without removing technical details. ...


Arkansas

While Rita weakened to a tropical depression, the outer bands continued to spawn numerous tornadoes in Arkansas, including one in Lonoke County and another in Conway County, damaging many homes and businesses in several communities. In addition, significant flooding has been reported in several areas. [29] Lonoke County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. ... Conway County is a county located in the U.S. state of Arkansas. ...


The tornadoes were unusual in that they moved in a northwestern direction due to the direction in which Rita was moving. Most tornadoes move northeast. [30]


No deaths caused by Rita were reported in Arkansas.


South Florida and Cuba

More than 340,000 people were under voluntary or mandatory evacuation orders in Florida and Cuba. Storm surge flooding was reported along the low-lying Florida Keys. The Overseas Highway (U.S. 1) connecting the islands was flooded and impassable in some sections. As of 8 p.m. EDT on Tuesday, September 20, about 25,000 customers in Broward and Miami-Dade and 2,100 in the Keys were without electricity. [31] Official language(s) English Capital Tallahassee Largest city Jacksonville Area  Ranked 22nd  - Total 65,794 sq mi (170,451 km²)  - Width 162 miles (260 km)  - Length 497 miles (800 km)  - % water 17. ... Look up flood in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Palm trees in Islamorada The Florida Keys are an archipelago, a string of about 1700 islands in the southeast United States. ... The Matecumbe Keys toll booth on June 21, 1938. ... United States Highway 1 is a United States highway which parallels the east coast of the United States. ... September 20 is the 263rd day of the year (264th in leap years). ... Broward County is a county located in the U.S. state of Florida. ... Miami-Dade County is a county located in the southeastern part of the state of Florida. ... Lightning strikes during a night-time thunderstorm. ...


A state of emergency was declared by Florida Governor Jeb Bush and a federal emergency by President George W. Bush in four counties: Broward, Collier, Miami-Dade and Monroe. More than 2,000 National Guard troops and dozens of law enforcement officers were brought in. [32] A state of emergency is a governmental declaration that may suspend certain normal functions of government, may work to alert citizens to alter their normal behaviors, or may order government agencies to implement emergency preparedness plans. ... List of Governors of Florida: Florida Governors Military Government Territorial Government Statehood Categories: Lists of United States governors | Governors of Florida | Government of Florida ... John Ellis Jeb Bush (born February 11, 1953), a Republican, is the forty-third and current Governor of Florida. ... The presidential seal was used by President Hayes in 1880 and last modified in 1959 by adding the 50th star for Hawaii. ... George Walker Bush (born July 6, 1946) is an American businessman and politician, was elected in 2000 as the 43rd President of the United States of America, re-elected in 2004, and is currently serving his second term in that office. ... Location in the state of Florida Formed 8 May 1923 Seat Naples Area  - Total  - Water 5,970 km² (2,305 mi²) 724 km² (280 mi²) 12. ... Location in the state of Florida Formed 1823 Seat Key West Area  - Total  - Water 9,679 km² (3,737 mi²) 7,097 km² (2,740 mi²) 73. ... Seal of the National Guard Bureau Seal of the Army National Guard Seal of the Air National Guard Seal of the National Guard Missile Defense The United States National Guard is a component of the United States Army (the Army National Guard) and the United States Air Force (the Air... For the band, see The Police. ...


No deaths were reported in either Florida or Cuba from the initial impact. Official language(s) English Capital Tallahassee Largest city Jacksonville Area  Ranked 22nd  - Total 65,794 sq mi (170,451 km²)  - Width 162 miles (260 km)  - Length 497 miles (800 km)  - % water 17. ...


Florida Panhandle

While the Florida Panhandle escaped most of the land effects from Rita, two deaths were reported on beaches. Both were due to high surf and rip currents caused by Rita's distant waves. [33] The Florida Panhandle is the region of the state of Florida which includes the westernmost 16 counties in the state. ...


Louisiana

Storm surge damage from Rita
Enlarge
Storm surge damage from Rita

New Orleans's levee system had already sustained heavy damage from Hurricane Katrina before Rita's outer bands of rain fell on the city. On Friday, September 23, the day before landfall, rising water due to Hurricane Rita poured through breaches in the patched Industrial Canal levee in New Orleans' devastated Ninth Ward, as reported by the Army Corps of Engineers. Water entered the Ninth Ward over two 32-foot (10 m) wide patches in the levee as of about 9 a.m. CDT on Friday, September 23. Water in the Ninth Ward was reported to be waist-deep at 11 a.m. CDT on Friday. By approximately 5 p.m. CDT, water had begun gushing through another patch in the London Avenue Canal into the surrounding Gentilly neighborhood. Some pumping stations were abandoned. By Saturday night, September 24, water from a 150-foot gap in the Industrial Canal levee flooded some areas of the Ninth Ward to eight feet deep. [34] Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (864x648, 131 KB) Summary Storm surge damage from Rita http://chartmaker. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (864x648, 131 KB) Summary Storm surge damage from Rita http://chartmaker. ... A levee, levée (from the feminine past participle of the French verb lever, to raise), floodbank or stopbank is a natural or artificial embankment or dike, usually earthen, which parallels the course of a river. ... Lowest pressure 902 mbar (hPa) Damages $81. ... September 23 is the 266th day of the year (267th in leap years). ... The Industrial Canal is a 5. ... The Ninth ward is a distinctive region of New Orleans, Louisiana, United States that is located in the eastern downriver portion of the city. ... United States Army Corps of Engineers logo The United States Army Corps of Engineers, or USACE, is made up of some 34,600 military men and women. ... September 23 is the 266th day of the year (267th in leap years). ... The London Avenue Canal in New Orleans, Louisiana does not connect Lake Pontchartrain to the Mississippi River. ... September 24 is the 267th day of the year (268th in leap years). ...

Trailer moved onto road in Cameron Parish, Louisiana.
Enlarge
Trailer moved onto road in Cameron Parish, Louisiana.

Damage in southwestern Louisiana was extensive. In Cameron Parish, the communities of Hackberry [35], Cameron, Creole, Grand Chenier, Holly Beach, and Johnsons Bayou were heavily damaged or entirely destroyed. A casino boat and several barges were floating loose in Lake Charles and damaged a bridge spanning Interstate 10 across the Calcasieu River. Lake Charles experienced severe flooding, with reports of water rising 6-8 feet in areas around the lake itself. At a hotel on the Contraband Bayou, water was reportedly up to the second floor. There was also extensive damage to its regional airport. [36] Damage to the city's electrical system was so severe that authorities warned that power would not return for two weeks, if not longer. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2048x1536, 520 KB) Summary My picture from January 2006. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2048x1536, 520 KB) Summary My picture from January 2006. ... Cameron Parish is a parish located in the state of Louisiana. ... Official language(s) English and French Capital Baton Rouge Largest city New Orleans at last census; probably Baton Rouge since Hurricane Katrina Area  Ranked 31st  - Total 51,885 sq mi (134,382 km²)  - Width 130 miles (210 km)  - Length 379 miles (610 km)  - % water 16  - Latitude 29°N to 33... The Trump Taj Mahal in Atlantic City, New Jersey. ... Hibernia Tower in downtown Lake Charles after Hurricane Rita named, see Lake Charles (body of water). Lake Charles is the fifth largest city in the US state of Louisiana. ... Interstate 10 (abbreviated I-10) is the southernmost east-west, coast-to-coast interstate highway in the United States. ... The Calcasieu River (KAL-kuh-shoo) is a river on the Gulf Coast of southwestern Louisiana in the United States. ... Look up flood in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...


In Vinton, several fires burned, the roof was torn off the town's recreation center and many homes were damaged by fallen trees. Widespread flooding was reported in coastal parishes. In Terrebonne Parish, virtually every levee was breached. [37] Some people were stranded in flooded communities and had to be rescued by boat. At least 100 people were reported rescued from rooftops, as at least 25 more remained stranded. [38] Vinton is a town located in Calcasieu Parish, Louisiana. ... Look up flood in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... A parish is a type of administrative subdivision. ... Terrebonne Parish is a parish located in the state of Louisiana. ... Look up flood in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...


Louisiana Governor Kathleen Blanco reported that 700,000 homes lost power in 41 of the state's 64 parishes. [39] Kathleen Babineaux Blanco (born December 15, 1942) is an American politician. ... Parish Hall of St. ...


In Vermilion Parish south of Abbeville, rescue efforts were undertaken for up to 1,000 people stranded by local flooding. On Saturday, September 24, 250 people were rescued. [40] Vermilion Parish is a parish located in the state of Louisiana. ... Collégiale St Vulfran Beffroi Abbeville is a city in the Picardie région, in the north of France. ... September 24 is the 267th day of the year (268th in leap years). ...


Mississippi

Two satellite images showing the extent of flooding caused by Rita in Louisiana and Texas.
Enlarge
Two satellite images showing the extent of flooding caused by Rita in Louisiana and Texas.

Several tornadoes from Rita's outer bands affected the state. At least 40 homes and an industrial plant were damaged and one person killed by a tornado in Humphreys County in central Mississippi. Another tornado (unconfirmed) was reported in Bolivar County. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (540x716, 147 KB) Summary Licensing File links The following pages link to this file: Hurricane Rita ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (540x716, 147 KB) Summary Licensing File links The following pages link to this file: Hurricane Rita ... Humphreys County is a county located in the state of Mississippi. ... Bolivar County is a county located in the state of Mississippi. ...


One death was reported in Wilkinson County, although it has not been confirmed if it was storm-related. [41] Wilkinson County is a county located in the state of Mississippi. ...


A tornado touched down on Mississippi State University's campus. MSU officials reported significant damage to some buildings. There were also numerous mobile homes damaged at the University Hills trailer park just off the campus. There were several non-life threatening injuries. Mississippi State University is a land-grant university located in north east-central Mississippi in the town of Starkville and is situated 125 miles northeast of Jackson and 23 miles west of Columbus. ...


Lauderdale County in east central Mississippi reported several confirmed and unconfirmed tornado touch downs in and near the cities of Marion and Meridian, an area recovering from damage from Category 2 winds in Hurricane Katrina.


Texas

On the morning of September 23, 23 people were killed when a bus carrying 45 nursing home evacuees from Brighton Gardens in Bellaire, Texas erupted into flames and exploded on Interstate 45 in Wilmer, southeast of Dallas. The fire started in the brake system, and the passengers' therapeutic oxygen tanks may have caused the bus to explode. [42][43] Many of the passengers were mobility-impaired making escape difficult or impossible. [44] September 23 is the 266th day of the year (267th in leap years). ... An early motorized bus - a Benz truck modified by Netphener company (1895) A bus is a large automobile intended to carry numerous persons in addition to the driver and sometimes a conductor. ... One of Bellaires two water towers, commemorating the citys little league team Bellaire is a city located in Harris County, Texas within the Houston-Sugar Land-Baytown metropolitan area. ... Interstate 45 (abbreviated I-45 or in Texas IH-45) is an intrastate interstate highway located entirely within the state of Texas, United States. ... Wilmer is a city located in Dallas County, Texas. ... ·· Flag Seal Nickname: Big D Location Location in the state of Texas Government Counties Dallas County Collin County Denton County Kaufman County Rockwall County Mayor Laura Miller Geographical characteristics Area 997. ... General Name, Symbol, Number oxygen, O, 8 Chemical series Nonmetals, chalcogens Group, Period, Block 16, 2, p Appearance transparent (gas) very pale blue (liquid) Atomic mass 15. ...


In the late evening, a fire broke out in the Strand District of Galveston, Texas, gutting several homes. However, the fire department was able to fight the wind-whipped blaze and prevent it from spreading through the city. No serious injuries were reported in the fire. Around midnight, a vacant restaurant collapsed nearby, which was reportedly as a result of the fire that weakened the walls. [45] The Strand The Strand District, in downtown Galveston, Texas, is a National Historic Landmark District of mainly Victorian era buildings that now house restaurants, antique stores and curio shops. ... Nickname: The Oleander City Official website: City of Galveston Location Location in the state of Texas Government County Galveston Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas Geographical characteristics Area Total 539. ... Firefighter with an axe A firefighter, sometimes still called a fireman though women have increasingly joined firefighting units, is a person who is trained and equipped to put out fires, rescue people and in some areas provide emergency medical services. ...


For the most part, Houston escaped major damage, apart from extensive loss of power. Some windows blew out of some downtown skyscrapers, and some trees and signals were down. [46] Thirty one deaths have been reported in Harris County, of which all of them were indirect (mostly related to the evacuation and cleanup). [47] Flag Seal Nickname: Space City Location Location in the state of Texas Coordinates: Government Counties Harris County Fort Bend County Montgomery County Mayor Bill White Geographical characteristics Area 1,558 km²  (601. ... Downtown Houston Downtown Houston is Houstons largest business district. ... Location in the state of Texas Formed Seat Houston Area  - Total  - Water 4,604 km² (1,778 mi²) 127 km² (49 mi²) 2. ...


North of Houston, the 2.5-mile-wide Lake Livingston dam sustained substantial damage from powerful waves driven by 117 mph winds [48] and officials started an emergency release of water to lessen pressure on the dam. A number of news outlets reported on Sunday, September 25, 2005, that the discharge put lives at risk downstream and threatened a major bridge as well due to a sizable barge coming adrift. Repairs to the dam were expected to take months to complete. [49] After water levels were lowered and an inspection was conducted by national and local experts, the dam was declared stable late on Monday, September 26, 2005. [50] Scrivener Dam, in Canberra, Australia, was engineered to withstand a once-in-5000-years flood event A dam is a barrier across flowing water that obstructs, directs or retards the flow, often creating a reservoir, lake or impoundment. ... September 25 is the 268th day of the year (269th in leap years). ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... September 26 is the 269th day of the year (270th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 96 days remaining. ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

Church in Beaumont with roof ripped off by Hurricane Rita. Photo by Steve Buser.
Enlarge
Church in Beaumont with roof ripped off by Hurricane Rita. Photo by Steve Buser.

Communities in the "Golden Triangle" formed by Beaumont, Port Arthur, and Orange sustained enormous wind damage. Texas Governor Rick Perry declared a nine-county disaster area. In Beaumont an estimated 25% of the trees in the heavily wooded neighborhoods were uprooted. In Groves, the home of Texas' Pecan Festival, an equal number of the pecan trees were leveled. An enormous number of houses and businesses suffered extensive damage from wind and falling trees. The water treatment plant in Port Neches was heavily damaged. Some areas did not have power for more than six weeks. A mandatory evacuation had been issued before Rita's landfall. Those displaced by Rita were offered up to 60 days of hotel rooms, generators, chainsaws, and monetary assistance by FEMA. The "Golden Triangle" area was spared a more devastating storm surge by Rita's slight eastward turn just before landfall, which placed most of the coastal community to the left of the eye and in the storm's least-damaging quadrant. Rita's surge was contained by Port Arthur's extensive levee system. Bolivar Peninsula between Galveston and Sabine Pass experienced only a small storm surge, in contrast to areas east of Rita's center where sent a 20-foot surge struck Louisiana's unprotected towns. Image File history File links FellowshipChurch. ... Image File history File links FellowshipChurch. ... Southeast Texas is a region in the southeast corner of the U.S. state of Texas. ... Flag Location Location in the state of Texas Coordinates , Government Counties Jefferson County Mayor Guy Goodson Geographical characteristics Area     City 222. ... Port Arthur is a city in Jefferson County within the Beaumont-Port Arthur metropolitan area and is situated in southeast Texas. ... Orange is a city located in Orange County, Texas. ... Groves is a city located in Jefferson County, Texas. ... Port Neches is a city located in Jefferson County, Texas. ... Nickname: The Oleander City Official website: City of Galveston Location Location in the state of Texas Government County Galveston Mayor Lyda Ann Thomas Geographical characteristics Area Total 539. ... Sabine Pass, Texas is a city located in Jefferson County, Texas, 15 miles south of Port Arthur, Texas, on the west bank of Sabine Pass, near the Louisiana border. ...


Aftermath

Economic effects

Enlarge
From the Department of Energy, the path of Hurricane Rita and the site of refineries in the Texas and Louisiana area.

The heavy concentration of oil infrastructure in the Gulf of Mexico makes hurricanes of Rita's intensity very problematic. Currently, very little spare crude oil capacity exists in the United States, and the Gulf of Mexico produces some 2 million barrels per day (300,000 m³) total, as well has having some 30% of the total refining capacity of the United States. Rita's path traveled through a dense area of offshore pipelines and oil platforms, and on land to an area with large refineries. With over half of Gulf production still shut down in the wake of Katrina, some economists have stated that a worst case scenario is for gasoline prices to briefly touch $5/US gallon ($1.30/L), which would be easily the highest real price for gasoline paid in the United States during the internal combustion era. However the oil industry escaped essentially unscathed from the storm and post-storm predictions estimated only minor price rises. With some 200,000 jobless claims attributed to Katrina, Rita could be a further drag on a weakened US economy. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (856x679, 43 KB) Summary This map shows Hurricane Ritas path at landfall, along with the location of several refineries in the area. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (856x679, 43 KB) Summary This map shows Hurricane Ritas path at landfall, along with the location of several refineries in the area. ... Barrels per day (abbreviated bpd or b/d) is a measurement used to describe the amount of crude oil produced or consumed by an entity in one day. ... An oil platform is a large structure used to house workers and machinery needed to drill and then produce oil and natural gas in the ocean. ... An 1837 political cartoon about unemployment in the United States. ...


The most pessimistic projections have GDP growth cut by 1% on an annualized basis in the United States in the second half of 2005, with as many as 500,000 people made unemployed. Some economists argue that the rebuilding effort could buoy the economy in 2006, while others argue that the energy spike could decrease consumer confidence by enough to send the economy into a full-fledged recession when combined with the Federal Reserve's recent increases in interest rates. Unemployment rates in the United States. ... A recession is usually defined in macroeconomics as a fall of a countrys real Gross Domestic Product in two or more successive quarters of a year. ...


Due to the impending oil shortage and increasing gas prices, Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue declared what he termed "snow days," closing all Georgia public primary and secondary schools on September 26 and 27 to conserve fuel for buses. George Ervin Sonny Perdue III (born December 20, 1946) is the current governor of the U.S. state of Georgia. ... September 26 is the 269th day of the year (270th in leap years) in the Gregorian Calendar, with 96 days remaining. ... September 27 is the 270th day of the year (271st in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar, with 95 days remaining. ...


Military relief operations

On September 24, 2005, following the havoc caused by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, the National Guard named Brig. Gen. Douglas Pritt of the 41st Brigade Combat Team, Oregon Army National Guard, head of Joint Task Force Rita (formally called JTF Ponchartrain). [51] [52] The 1,400 Oregonian soldiers and airmen, including the 1st Battalion of the 186th Infantry which is designated a quick response unit, are joined by engineers and military police from Louisiana, a Stryker brigade from Pennsylvania, and an engineering batallion from Missouri. It is their mission to provide relief support for all of the areas in Texas and Louisiana effected by the two storms and to remove obstructions that might otherwise hinder help to those affected. September 24 is the 267th day of the year (268th in leap years). ... 2005 (MMV) was a common year starting on Saturday of the Gregorian calendar. ... Lowest pressure 902 mbar (hPa) Damages $81. ... Seal of the National Guard Bureau Seal of the Army National Guard Seal of the Air National Guard Seal of the National Guard Missile Defense The United States National Guard is a component of the United States Army (the Army National Guard) and the United States Air Force (the Air... The Sunset shoulder patch of the 41st Brigade Combat Team The 41st Brigade Combat Team is an element in the Oregon Army National Guard. ... Official language(s) None Capital Salem Largest city Portland Area  Ranked 9th  - Total 98,466 sq mi (255,026 km²)  - Width 260 miles (420 km)  - Length 360 miles (580 km)  - % water 2. ... To meet Wikipedias quality standards, this article or section may require cleanup. ... It has been suggested that Gendarmerie be merged into this article or section. ... For the manufacturer of medical and orthopedic products, see Stryker Corporation. ... Official language(s) None Capital Harrisburg Largest city Philadelphia Area  Ranked 33rd  - Total 46,055 sq mi (119,283 km²)  - Width 160 miles (255 km)  - Length 280 miles (455 km)  - % water 2. ... Official language(s) None Capital Jefferson City Largest city Kansas City Largest metro area St. ...


Post Rita Deaths


Due largely to what many have called the largest two day evacuation in the country's history, many people died in the weeks following Rita's passing. The stress brought on by 98 degree heat in cars that were forced to turn off their air conditioners on the gridlocked highways was intense and the ederly in particular developed a large number of health problems in the weeks following the storm. For weeks funeral homes in the Beaumont area were unable to respond to the large number of requests by family members to retrieve the bodies of their loved ones to the north. These deaths are not currently counted as officially caused by the hurricane.


American Red Cross operations

The American Red Cross continued to provide disaster relief to Hurricane Katrina affected areas, but as a result of Hurricane Rita, had to open additional shelters in other gulf states. The Red Cross also expanded their Hurricane Katrina internet "Safe List" for use by those affected by Hurricane Rita. States that border the Gulf of Mexico are shown in red The Gulf Coast region of the United States comprises the coasts of states which border the Gulf of Mexico. ...


AmeriCorps relief operations

AmeriCorps sent several crews to Texas, Mississippi and Louisiana in response to Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita. The crews originated from two main organizations, the National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC) and the Washington Conservation Corps (WCC), as well as from smaller Americorps organizations such as St. Louis Conversation Corps' Emergency Response Team (ERT). The crews performed a number of relief tasks for hurricane survivors, including support on the FEMA/Carnival Cruise Lines shelter ship, tarping damaged roofs, and debris removal. As of the beginning of 2006, AmeriCorps teams have been involved in the rebuilding efforts in Louisiana and Mississippi. Teams have also operated volunteer camps like Camp Premier as well as assisted with the Made with Love cafe. As of May 2006, AmeriCorps reported that it would continue to send relief to affected areas. the AmeriCorps logo In the United States, AmeriCorps is a network of more than 2,100 non-profit organizations, public agencies, and faith-based organizations. ... Lowest pressure 902 mbar (hPa) Damages $81. ... New FEMA seal The Federal Emergency Management Agency or FEMA is an agency of the United States government dedicated to swift response in the event of disasters, both natural and man-made. ... Carnival Cruise Lines is a cruise line operating a large number of cruise ships. ...


Retirement

See also: List of retired Atlantic hurricanes

The name Rita was retired in the spring of 2006 and will never be used again for an Atlantic hurricane. It was replaced by Rina, which will be used in the 2011 season.[53] This is a list of all Atlantic hurricanes that have had their names retired. ... Atlantic hurricane refers to a tropical cyclone that forms in the Atlantic Ocean north of the equator, usually in the Northern Hemisphere summer or autumn. ... The 2011 Atlantic hurricane season will be an ongoing event in the annual cycle of tropical cyclone formation. ...


See also

Commons logo
Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
Tropical cyclones Portal

Image File history File links Wikinews-logo. ... Wikinews is a free-content news source and a project of the Wikimedia Foundation. ... Image File history File links Commons-logo. ... Wikimedia Commons logo by Reid Beels The Wikimedia Commons (also called Commons or Wikicommons) is a repository of free content images, sound and other multimedia files. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1000x662, 320 KB) http://eol. ... This is a list of notable tropical cyclones, subdivided by basin and reason for notability. ... This is a list of notable Atlantic hurricanes, subdivided by reason for notability. ... A Category 5 hurricane (the highest category on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale) has sustained winds higher than 155 mph (250 km/h). ... The 2005 Atlantic hurricane season officially began June 1, 2005 and officially ended on November 30, 2005 although effectively the season persisted into January of 2006 due to continued storm activity. ...

References

  1. ^ a b c d NHC Rita Report (PDF)
  2. ^ http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050920/ap_on_re_us/hurricane_katrina_139
  3. ^ http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050923/ap_on_re_us/rita_new_orleans_hk2
  4. ^ http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050921/ap_on_re_us/hurricane_katrina_150;_ylt=AmTVTUtqIRGSzNau..Qc5I8bLisB;_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl
  5. ^ http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=1154742
  6. ^ http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,169845,00.html
  7. ^ http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20050926/ap_on_re_us/rita
  8. ^ http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/rita_dc;_ylt=ApDUoGIhMZ7IAdw0qQANgZyCbpwv;_ylu=X3oDMTBiMW04NW9mBHNlYwMlJVRPUCUl
  9. ^ http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pdf/TCR-AL182005_Rita.pdf
  10. ^ http://www.wkrn.com/Global/story.asp?S=3898247
  11. ^ http://www.wkrn.com/Global/story.asp?S=3898247
  12. ^ http://www.wkrn.com/Global/story.asp?S=3898247
  13. ^ http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pdf/TCR-AL182005_Rita.pdf
  14. ^ http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/pdf/TCR-AL182005_Rita.pdf
  15. ^ http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050923/ap_on_re_us/rita_bus_explosion_hk1
  16. ^ http://www.wjtv.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=WJTV/MGArticle/JTV_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031785260428&path=
  17. ^ http://www.katc.com/Global/story.asp?S=3889493
  18. ^ http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050923/ap_on_re_us/rita_bus_explosion_hk1
  19. ^ http://www.ktbs.com/news-detail.html?cityid=1&hid=27050
  20. ^ http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050923/ap_on_re_us/rita_bus_explosion_hk1
  21. ^ http://www.khou.com/topstories/stories/khou050928_cd_galvctydeaths.9fb1b409.html
  22. ^ http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/rssstory.mpl/metropolitan/3378405
  23. ^ http://www.kfdm.com/engine.pl?station=kfdm&id=12094&template=breakout_local.shtml
  24. ^ http://www.woai.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=F15F01A3-B512-4882-9C0C-BACA8AC5A579
  25. ^ http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/rssstory.mpl/metropolitan/3378405
  26. ^ http://www.wpmi.com/news/national/story.aspx?content_id=E601A5C1-B61B-46D1-8068-579FDCE076AB
  27. ^ http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory?id=1172003&CMP=OTC-RSSFeeds0312
  28. ^ http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050922/ap_on_re_us/rita;_ylt=Au1rtNlWxs7m1F0I9e2eanvqbr8F;_ylu=X3oDMTA3b2NibDltBHNlYwM3MTY-
  29. ^ http://www.ksla.com/Global/story.asp?S=1984599&nav=menu50_2_1
  30. ^ http://www.wkrn.com/Global/story.asp?S=3897351
  31. ^ http://www.nbc6.net/weather/4989210/detail.html
  32. ^ http://www.nbc6.net/weather/4989210/detail.html
  33. ^ http://www.wkrn.com/Global/story.asp?S=3898247
  34. ^ http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/09/24/rita.assess/index.html
  35. ^ http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/latimests/hackberrypopulationzero
  36. ^ http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/09/24/rita.assess/index.html
  37. ^ http://www.katc.com/Global/story.asp?S=3892692
  38. ^ http://www.katc.com/Global/story.asp?S=3893500
  39. ^ http://edition.cnn.com/2005/US/09/24/news.update.sat/
  40. ^ http://edition.cnn.com/2005/US/09/24/news.update.sat/
  41. ^ http://www.wjtv.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=WJTV/MGArticle/JTV_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031785260428&path=
  42. ^ http://www.khou.com/news/state/stories/khou050923_mh_busfire.86061b26.html
  43. ^ http://www.cantonrep.com/index.php?Category=23&ID=243743&r=0
  44. ^ http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/topfront/3367696
  45. ^ http://www.usatoday.com/weather/stormcenter/2005-09-24-galveston-fire_x.htm
  46. ^ http://www.khou.com/topstories/stories/khou050924_mh_downtowndamage.8bdf5eae.html
  47. ^ http://news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/kprc/20050927/lo_kprc/2963330
  48. ^ http://www.trinityra.org/Press%20Releases/about_press_09_26_05.htm
  49. ^ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4281518.stm
  50. ^ http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20050926006153&newsLang=en
  51. ^ http://www.kgw.com/sharedcontent/APStories/stories/D8CQSDL80.html
  52. ^ http://www.katu.com/news/story.asp?ID=79878
  53. ^ "Dennis, Katrina, Rita, Stan, and Wilma "Retired" from List of Storm Names." NOAA. March 25, 2006.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is a scientific agency of the United States Department of Commerce focused on the conditions of the oceans and the atmosphere. ... March 25 is the 84th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar (85th in leap years). ... 2006 (MMVI) is a common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. ...

External links


  Results from FactBites:
 
Rita Info.com - Hurricane Rita Info, Hurricane Katrina News, Hurricane Katrina Info.com (179 words)
Hurricane Rita made landfall near the Texas/Lousiana border on September 24, 2005, at 3:30 a.m.
At its peak strength, the storm was rated as the third most intense hurricane in recorded history, in terms of atmospheric pressure, which is measured in millibars.
Houston, the largest city in Texas and the fourth largest city in the U.S., was the most difficult city to evacuate; cars lined the freeways for miles in slow-moving bumper-to-bumper traffic as residents fled.
NASA - Hurricane Season 2005: Rita (6339 words)
The MODIS instrument on the Aqua satellite captured this image of Hurricane Rita on September 22, 2005 as it blasts across the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico and heads for the coastline of Texas.
Rita is moving toward the west near 13 mph, and that motion is expected to continue for the next 12-24 hours.
Rita was still a tropical storm at the time of this image with sustained winds of 60 knots (69 mph), but by early afternoon the same day, Rita would become a Category 2 hurricane as it passed south of the Florida Keys headed for the Gulf of Mexico.
  More results at FactBites »


 

COMMENTARY     


Share your thoughts, questions and commentary here
Your name
Your comments
Please enter the 5-letter protection code

Want to know more?
Search encyclopedia, statistics and forums:
 


Lesson Plans | Student Area | Student FAQ | Reviews | Press Releases |  Feeds | Contact
The Wikipedia article included on this page is licensed under the GFDL.
Images may be subject to relevant owners' copyright.
All other elements are (c) copyright NationMaster.com 2003-5. All Rights Reserved.
Usage implies agreement with terms.