Hurricane Rita

Where did Hurricane Rita start and end?

Hurricane Rita had initiated as a tropical wave in the Bahamas area on September 18th, 2005. The wave had initially taken its start from the coast of West Africa. The wave that originated thus, moved west and passed Florida Straits without any notifications, but later after crossing this region, it met with the warm waters. This increased the intensity of the wind to 180 mph within three days of its origin in the Bahamas. The strength reduced gradually as it started moving towards the northwest direction and eventually made the downfall between the regions of Sabine Pass, Texas and Holly Beach with a wind speed of 120 mph on September 24. It then moved to the Mississippi Valley and weakened further settling on September 26th.

How long did Hurricane Rita last?

It started off on September 17th, 2005 as a tropical wave on the coast of Africa. It reached the peak intensity on September 21 and then made the fall on September 24. Then it passed over Mississippi valley over the land surface and finally ended on September 26. Hurricane Rita lasted for about nine days.

Where did Hurricane Rita hit?

In its peak intensity, Hurricane Rita made the downfall in the southwestern regions of Johnson Bayou and Sabine Pass as a Category 3 hurricane. It is one of the most intense hurricanes of the 2005 season, and its impact was felt across Bahamas, Louisiana, Florida, Europe.Missouri, Texas, Mississippi, Hispaniola, Turks and Caicos Islands and Arkansas.

When did Hurricane Rita hit?

The tropical wave that emerged on September 7, 2005, was declared Tropical Depression Eighteen on September 18th. It was named as eighteen because it was the eighteenth disturbance in 2005 But the winds organized itself and took the form of a storm and was named Rita.

What caused Hurricane Rita?

In the year 2005, several hurricanes hit the United States, and Hurricane Rita had caused its good share of havoc in the US Gulf Coast in September. The reason has been analyzed to be a coming together of different systems. What started as a tropical wave on September 7th was informed to be a tropical depression on 18th September. On moving west, the Hurricane got its boost from the warm waters and the reduced resistance from the wind shears it quickly transformed it into a  Category 5 hurricane reaching the top intensity on 26th September.

What was the wind speed of Hurricane Rita?

The highest recorded speed of Hurricane Rita was 180 mph, which is also measured as 285 kmph.

What were the responses to Hurricane Rita?

Hurricane Rita had followed soon after Hurricane Katrina and therefore the people and the society were well prepared to face the threat with all immediate emergency actions.

• American Red Cross Society has been providing its relief activities after the Katrina hurricane, when the state met with the Rita hurricane. It continued with the rescue operations after the storm. It has distributed more than a lakh meals and snacks to the people who were rendered homeless.
• Relief crews from the AmeriCorps were sent out to Texas which included the NCCC and the Emergency Relief Team.
• Victims were moved to relief camps.
• Federal funds worth about $500 million was released to Texas to face the aftermaths of Hurricane Rita.
• Louisiana National Guard and FEMA came together to provide the hurricane struck areas with food and water.
• Mobile homes and travel sailors were given to the people by FEMA.

What category was Hurricane Rita?

First declared as one of the tropical depressions like the several that happened that year. It later increased in intensity and became a hurricane under Category 5. It then reduced to category 4 due to the weakening of the hurricane eye and it later weakened gradually over the following days ending as a landfall with Category 3 intensity.

Why was Hurricane Rita so devastating?

Hurricane Katrina had wreaked havoc just three weeks before the area was hit again with the Rita hurricane. It started as a ridge in the ocean but gained momentum while passing over the western Gulf of Mexico with a speed of 150 miles per hour. About 120 deaths were reported due to the hurricane, and a portion of these was caused over confusions during the evacuation. The weakening of the wind shear and the warm water over the Gulf of Mexico had increased the intensity of the tropical storm. The eye wall replacement had lowered the speed followed by the traverse over land.

What were the effects of Hurricane Rita?

Louisiana was just recovering from the Katrina Hurricane devastation when Rita Storm took  over the area plunging it further into devastation. Lake Charles flooded over causing damage in the surrounding areas. Texas city faced significant damages. Over 4500 houses were destroyed on Southeast Texas. Over 50,000 single family homes faced other big and small damages. The expanse of devastation was vast that about nine counties were declared as storm stuck. Texas and Louisiana went without electricity for several weeks after the disaster.  The total estimated damaged caused approximated to $9.4 billion.

What was the death toll of Hurricane Rita?

The most number of deaths was reported in Texas city with over 113 in number. Of this, the major portion was said to be due to the Houston emergency evacuation over the hurricane warning as soon as it struck the area. The total damage has been estimated to be about $12 billion USD with a total of 120 deaths from four states in the United States.

Any other interesting facts found during research?

• Rita is the fourth most intense hurricanes of the Atlantic region.
• Very many tornadoes followed the Rita Hurricane.
• It was the second Category 5 rated hurricane of the 2005 hurricane season.
• The largest urban evacuation plan of all times was done as a precaution to Hurricane Rita in the US territory. Over 3 million people have evacuated from Louisiana and Texas alone.
• The worst gridlock was created during this time which lasted for about 24 hours in the Houston area.