Rita 2005: Stories, Photos of the Strongest Gulf Hurricane Ever

Meghan Evans
By , Meteorologist
September 26, 2012; 10:10 AM
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Swirling floodwaters of Lake Charles lap onto the shore in the port city of Lake Charles, La., following landfall of Hurricane Rita on Saturday, Sept. 24, 2005. (AP (Photo/Ric Feld)

Hurricane Rita went down in the record books as the strongest hurricane ever in the Gulf of Mexico, beating a record that Katrina had set about three weeks earlier.

While churning in the Gulf, the maximum sustained winds of Rita reached 180 mph with the central pressure dropping as low as 895 mb (26.43 inches). Only Hurricane Wilma in 2005, Hurricane Gilbert in 1988 and The Labor Day Hurricane in 1935 have been stronger hurricanes with lower pressures in the Atlantic Ocean.

Besides setting a record for being the strongest Gulf hurricane ever, this was the first time on record that two storms strengthened into Category 5 hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico.

Rita crashed onshore along the Texas-Louisiana border as a Category 3 storm with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph on Sept. 24, 2005.

More than 3 million Texas and Louisiana residents were evacuated ahead of Rita, which caused severe flooding in coastal areas of Texas and Louisiana. NOAA reports that storm surge of 15 feet trapped residents who stayed behind in coastal Louisiana parishes of Cameron, Jefferson Davis, Terrebonne and Vermilion.

According to NOAA, more than a million people lost power due to Rita's lashing winds. Many were in the dark for several days and weeks. Meanwhile, dozens of tornadoes touched down across the Deep South from Sept. 24-25, while the storm plowed into the Gulf Coast.

Rita 2005: Stories, Photos of the Strongest Gulf Hurricane Ever

Storified by Accu Weather · Tue, Sep 25 2012 06:43:27

7 years ago today hurricane Rita hit and changed my lifeSarah Ramsey
Weather History: Hurricane Rita 2005Brightcove
We asked AccuWeather followers to share their memories of Hurricane Rita. 
@accuweather the panic attacks a family friend had over the NOLA leeves... and the general concern over gas pricesTerpWeather
@accuweather said family friend worked for FEMATerpWeather

"Yea I remember I live in southwest La. I evacuated but my husband stayed. Out of electricity about 2 wks. But most media don't remember because it wasn't New Orleans. They don't remember whole communities were wiped out. When people went back home, because they had enough sense to leave, They didn't have water damage. They had nothing but slabs or empty lots. They didn't scream and cry they along with their neighbors rolled up their sleeves and went to work. Yea there are a lot of people that remember." --AccuWeather Facebook fan Monique P.

undefinedNoaa

"Some left and never returned. I remember it very well. First time I had ever evacuated." --AccuWeather Facebook fan Sandy M.

It's been seven years since Hurricane Rita hit, Geraldo Rivera stood on my front porch, and we didn't have power for a month. #bestdayseverRachel Parker
undefinedNoaa

"I lived down there when she almost hit Houston, but, veered off and hit Beaumont instead.....horrible and scary......" --AccuWeather Facebook fan Stel H.

undefinedNoaa

"Was part on an EMS deployment team from PA in the aftermath and was truly humbled by the residents of LA and MISS that I had the honor to meet, listen to their accounts and assist in their time of need... Ty to all that helped me re-prioritize the important things in my life... God bless you all..." --AccuWeather Facebook fan David O.

Hurricane RitaSummary of Hurricane Rita

"I live in southeast arkansas..kept me awake the whole night!" --AccuWeather Facebook fan Darlene T.


"Packed my stuff headed north to Arkansas, Rita followed me, then went to manhattan. Nobody was allowed back in lake Charles for 2 weeks. So I had vacation. : )" --AccuWeather Facebook fan Chad E.

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