Overview

• On September 24, 2005, Rita made landfall in Cameron Parish, Louisiana as a Category 3 hurricane with sustained winds of 115 mph.
• The National Weather Service reported storm surge up to 18 feet in Cameron Parish, which leveled Holly Beach and sent Gulf water far inland.
• Before landfall, Rita rapidly intensified over the Gulf to Category 5 strength, peaking near 180 mph with a minimum pressure of 895 mb.
• Reporting cites more than 100 deaths tied to the storm, over $18 billion in damage, and roughly one million customers without power across Texas and Louisiana.
• Twenty years later, Vermilion Parish tributes highlight resilience and readiness, recalling mass evacuations exceeding three million people, the Texas Guard’s recall, displaced graves, and the loss of community landmarks.