Hurricane Rita

The Forgotten Storm

September 24, 2005

The Great Mississippi River The Great Mississippi River Flood of 1927Flood of 1927

“…“….it penetrated to the core of the .it penetrated to the core of the nation, washed away the surface, and nation, washed away the surface, and revealed the nation’s character. Then it revealed the nation’s character. Then it tested that character and changed it. It tested that character and changed it. It marked the end of a way of seeing the marked the end of a way of seeing the world and possibly the end of that world world and possibly the end of that world as well.”as well.”

Rising Tide – John M. BarryRising Tide – John M. Barry

CalcasieuCalcasieu ParishParishPopulation – 185,862Population – 185,862

Vinton

DeQuincy

Sulphur

Lake Charles

Westlake

Iowa

Southwest Louisiana Southwest Louisiana EconomyEconomy

• PetrochemicalPetrochemical

• Oil & GasOil & Gas

• AviationAviation

• Tourism/GamingTourism/Gaming

• Agriculture/timberAgriculture/timber

• ManufacturingManufacturing

• ShipbuildingShipbuilding

• Seafood HarvestingSeafood Harvesting

• Food ProcessingFood Processing

• TelecommunicationsTelecommunications

• Transportation and Transportation and distributiondistribution

• TelecommunicationsTelecommunications

• Technology based Technology based industriesindustries

Rita Third Most Powerful Rita Third Most Powerful Hurricane in Atlantic HistoryHurricane in Atlantic History

National Geographic NewsNational Geographic News

September 22, 2005September 22, 2005 -- --

Fueled by the warm late-summer Fueled by the warm late-summer waters of the Gulf of Mexico, Hurricane Rita waters of the Gulf of Mexico, Hurricane Rita exploded overnight into the third-most exploded overnight into the third-most powerful hurricane on record for the Atlantic powerful hurricane on record for the Atlantic Basin. Basin.

As of 5 a.m. today the hurricane's As of 5 a.m. today the hurricane's strongest winds were blowing at 175 miles strongest winds were blowing at 175 miles an hour (280 kilometers an hour) and the an hour (280 kilometers an hour) and the barometric pressure at the storm's center barometric pressure at the storm's center had fallen to 26.51 inches, or 897 millibars. had fallen to 26.51 inches, or 897 millibars.

Hurricane Katrina ImpactHurricane Katrina Impact

15,000-20,000 Katrina evacuees parishwide15,000-20,000 Katrina evacuees parishwide 5,000 evacuees in Calcasieu shelters 5,000 evacuees in Calcasieu shelters

Katrina Sheltering OperationKatrina Sheltering OperationToday, there are more than 3,000 evacuees staying at the Civic Center

with 1,800 others at Burton Coliseum. More are expected.

We have fed, clothed and cared for the evacuees. We also have tried to

Make them feel welcome here, because they will be here for a while.

All of this is being done on a local level….

FEMA officials, who showed up last Saturday, described the Civic Center

Shelter as top notch. Lake Charles and surrounding communities have

given thousands of dollars in donations and even more in supplies.

Years from now, people will look back at this event and say it was one of

Lake Charles finest hours.

-- American Press Editorial – September 9, 2005

Wednesday Night -- 10 amWednesday Night -- 10 am Forecast MapForecast Map

Wednesday Night Briefing -Wednesday Night Briefing -9/219/21

8 hours before Mandatory Evacuation8 hours before Mandatory Evacuation• HURRICANE RITA HURRICANE RITA PROBABILITIESPROBABILITIES NUMBER 18 ...NATIONAL NUMBER 18 ...NATIONAL

HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL 10 PM CDT WED SEP 21 200510 PM CDT WED SEP 21 2005

• PROBABILITIESPROBABILITIES FOR GUIDANCE IN HURRICANE PROTECTION FOR GUIDANCE IN HURRICANE PROTECTION PLANNING BY GOVERNMENT AND DISASTER OFFICIALSPLANNING BY GOVERNMENT AND DISASTER OFFICIALS AT 10 AT 10 PM CDT...0300Z...THE CENTER OF RITA WAS LOCATED NEAR PM CDT...0300Z...THE CENTER OF RITA WAS LOCATED NEAR LATITUDE 24.6 NORTH...LONGITUDE 87.2 WEST LATITUDE 24.6 NORTH...LONGITUDE 87.2 WEST

• CHANCESCHANCES OF.. HURRICANE PASSING WITHIN 65 NAUTICAL MILES OF.. HURRICANE PASSING WITHIN 65 NAUTICAL MILES OF LISTED LOCATIONS THROUGH 7PM CDT SAT SEP 24 2005OF LISTED LOCATIONS THROUGH 7PM CDT SAT SEP 24 2005

• LOCATIONLOCATION %% LOCATIONLOCATION

25.5N 90.5W 25.5N 90.5W 4343 FREEPORT, TX FREEPORT, TX

26.3N 92.4W 26.3N 92.4W 3030 PORT O CONNOR, TX PORT O CONNOR, TX

27.5N 94.2W 27.5N 94.2W 2424 CORPUS CHRISTI, TX CORPUS CHRISTI, TX

Thursday Morning -- 9/22Thursday Morning -- 9/224a.m. Advisory4a.m. Advisory

RITA HAS TURNED A LITTLE TO THE RIGHT DURING RITA HAS TURNED A LITTLE TO THE RIGHT DURING THE PAST SEVERAL HOURS AND THE INITIAL MOTION THE PAST SEVERAL HOURS AND THE INITIAL MOTION IS NOW 285/8. ...DATA SHOWS A STRONG MID-LEVEL IS NOW 285/8. ...DATA SHOWS A STRONG MID-LEVEL RIDGE CENTERED OVER TEXAS.. MODELS FORECAST RIDGE CENTERED OVER TEXAS.. MODELS FORECAST THIS RIDGE TO SHIFT EASTWARD INTO..THE THIS RIDGE TO SHIFT EASTWARD INTO..THE EASTERN GULF OF MEXICO DURING THE NEXT 48 HR. EASTERN GULF OF MEXICO DURING THE NEXT 48 HR. THIS SHOULD ALLOW RITA TO TURN MORE THIS SHOULD ALLOW RITA TO TURN MORE NORTHWARD WITH TIME. NORTHWARD WITH TIME. THE TRACK GUIDANCE IS THE TRACK GUIDANCE IS NOW CLUSTERED AROUND A LANDFALL BETWEEN NOW CLUSTERED AROUND A LANDFALL BETWEEN THE SABINE RIVER AND MATAGORDA TEXAS IN 48-60 THE SABINE RIVER AND MATAGORDA TEXAS IN 48-60 HRHR…... THE NEW FORECAST TRACK IS ALSO SHIFTED …... THE NEW FORECAST TRACK IS ALSO SHIFTED EASTWARD ABOUT 30 N MIEASTWARD ABOUT 30 N MI...CALLING FOR LANDFALL ...CALLING FOR LANDFALL NEAR THE BOLIVAR PENINSULA AND GALVESTON NEAR THE BOLIVAR PENINSULA AND GALVESTON BAY.BAY. HOWEVER...HOWEVER...IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THE IT SHOULD BE NOTED THAT THE NEW TRACK IS ALONG THE LEFT OR WEST SIDE OF NEW TRACK IS ALONG THE LEFT OR WEST SIDE OF THE ENVELOPE OF GUIDANCETHE ENVELOPE OF GUIDANCE. .

Thursday Morning -- 4 a.m.Thursday Morning -- 4 a.m.Forecast MapForecast Map

Thursday Morning HeadlinesThursday Morning HeadlinesSW La. Readies for HurricaneSW La. Readies for Hurricane

With a surging Hurricane Rita headed for With a surging Hurricane Rita headed for the Texas coast, Southwest Louisiana the Texas coast, Southwest Louisiana officials began preparing for at least officials began preparing for at least a a glancing blowglancing blow from the powerful Category from the powerful Category 5 storm, which could bring tropical storm-5 storm, which could bring tropical storm-strength winds and a substantial storm strength winds and a substantial storm surge to the area. surge to the area.     People in Cameron Parish and low-lying People in Cameron Parish and low-lying areas of Calcasieu Parish were urged to areas of Calcasieu Parish were urged to evacuate due to an expected evacuate due to an expected storm surge storm surge of up to 8 feetof up to 8 feet. Residents in mobile homes . Residents in mobile homes or other unsecured dwellings were urged or other unsecured dwellings were urged to move to stronger structures because to move to stronger structures because wind gusts here could wind gusts here could reach 50 mphreach 50 mph. .       Power outages were likelyPower outages were likely, officials said, , officials said, and local Entergy crews were recalled and local Entergy crews were recalled Wednesday from Texas and southeastern Wednesday from Texas and southeastern Louisiana and placed on standby. Louisiana and placed on standby.       Calcasieu and Cameron schools were Calcasieu and Cameron schools were closed for the rest of the week, and closed for the rest of the week, and classes at McNeese State University were classes at McNeese State University were canceled. canceled.       Local officials began Local officials began transporting transporting Hurricane Katrina evacuees sheltered at Hurricane Katrina evacuees sheltered at the Lake Charles Civic Center and Burton the Lake Charles Civic Center and Burton Coliseum to shelters in Alexandria and Coliseum to shelters in Alexandria and ShreveportShreveport. Evacuees at the . Evacuees at the special-special-needs shelterneeds shelter on the McNeese campus on the McNeese campus were also movedwere also moved. .

The AftermathThe Aftermath• 650,000 homes in Louisiana without 650,000 homes in Louisiana without

electricityelectricity

• Half a million people with no drinking Half a million people with no drinking water (three weeks)water (three weeks)

• $403 million in housing assistance to $403 million in housing assistance to homeowners and rentershomeowners and renters

200,000 acres of fresh water and intermediate marsh inundated with salt water.

In Cameron Parish, “. . . the damage that was inflicted was beyond comprehension to the coastal communities of Cameron, Grand Chenier, Creole, Holly Beach, Pecan Island and Vermilion Parish”

David RichardStream Property Management

The ResponseThe Response• All emergency responders – police, sheriff, All emergency responders – police, sheriff,

firefighters, public works and medical firefighters, public works and medical personnel – remained on the job.personnel – remained on the job.

• Public officials coordinated relief efforts. Public officials coordinated relief efforts.

• Residents who remained assisted in cleanup.Residents who remained assisted in cleanup.

• Within 48 hours, FEMA and National Guard Within 48 hours, FEMA and National Guard were distributing food, water and ice.were distributing food, water and ice.

• FEMA and Red Cross began distributing FEMA and Red Cross began distributing emergency payments to evacuees.emergency payments to evacuees.

• 20,000 electrical utility workers deployed to 20,000 electrical utility workers deployed to restore power.restore power.

Role of Role of Charitable and Non-profit Charitable and Non-profit OrganizationsOrganizations• American Red Cross – 500,000 meals, 660,000 American Red Cross – 500,000 meals, 660,000

snackssnacks

• Salvation Army – 223,000 hot meals and 131,000 Salvation Army – 223,000 hot meals and 131,000 snacks; 60,000 appliances and pieces of snacks; 60,000 appliances and pieces of furniture; 18,000 food boxes; 4,300 personal furniture; 18,000 food boxes; 4,300 personal comfort items; 8,500 Wal-Mart gift cards; 4,800 comfort items; 8,500 Wal-Mart gift cards; 4,800 Kroger gift cards; 1,267 phone cardsKroger gift cards; 1,267 phone cards

• ““Fat Boys” – from the Civic Center 993,000 meals Fat Boys” – from the Civic Center 993,000 meals for Katrina/Ritafor Katrina/Rita

• Area churches, the synagogue and mosque also Area churches, the synagogue and mosque also fed and sheltered victims and volunteers from all fed and sheltered victims and volunteers from all over the country.over the country.

RestorationRestoration

• The petrochemical industry escaped The petrochemical industry escaped serious damage, so most major serious damage, so most major employers in the area were able to employers in the area were able to continue operations and employees continue operations and employees continued receiving paychecks.continued receiving paychecks.

• Notable exception – Harrah’s Notable exception – Harrah’s Riverboat Casino Complex (1,500 Riverboat Casino Complex (1,500 employees) employees)

Labor ShortageLabor Shortage

• FEMA and other relief agencies hired workers for FEMA and other relief agencies hired workers for cleanup and reconstruction efforts at artificial cleanup and reconstruction efforts at artificial salaries.salaries.

• Refineries and petrochemical plants had to Refineries and petrochemical plants had to increase wage scales by $4.00 per hour and offer increase wage scales by $4.00 per hour and offer sign-on bonuses.sign-on bonuses.

• Many small businesses could not afford to pay Many small businesses could not afford to pay higher wages and had to cut back on operations.higher wages and had to cut back on operations.– For example, the local McDonald’s chain brought in 60 For example, the local McDonald’s chain brought in 60

workers from Romaniaworkers from Romania

Debris RemovalDebris Removal

• By September 2006, FEMA had By September 2006, FEMA had collected 8,523,181 cubic yards of collected 8,523,181 cubic yards of debris debris

• 2,050,000 trash trucks, placed end to 2,050,000 trash trucks, placed end to end and side to side, would fill a 4-lane end and side to side, would fill a 4-lane highway from New York to Californiahighway from New York to California

• Total cost - $232 million (as of June Total cost - $232 million (as of June 2006)2006)