Hurricane Rita Formation and Landfall

• Less than one month after Hurricane Katrina devastated the central Gulf coast region in 2005, Hurricane Rita battered the area. Both hurricanes were Category 5, which is the highest and strongest classification the meteorological service can deem a storm. It made landfall in southeastern Texas and southwestern Louisiana on September 23 but was only ranked Category 3 at the time. Meteorologists classify all hurricanes into categories numbered one thru five, based on the wind speeds and atmospheric pressure of the storm. Though the label Category 3 gives the impression a storm is only moderate in strength, a hurricane of any strength has the potential to cause epic damage, as was the case with Hurricane Rita.
  
  

Hurricane Rita Evacuation

• Many portions of coastal southeastern Texas, including Galveston, ordered mandatory evacuations in the days leading up to the storm's landfall. Many of the survivors of Katrina evacuated to Texas in the weeks before Rita's arrival, and hurricane damage and refugees overwhelmed the southeastern region of Texas. Texas was also experiencing a heat wave with 100-degree temperatures, which further complicated evacuation. In-state travel became perilous, and it took upwards of 24 to 36 hours to flee from the areas of projected landfall.
  
  

Hurricane Rita Aftermath

• Dozens of deaths occurred in Texas in relation to the hurricane, but only three were directly caused by the storm. The others were the result of accidents during evacuation or the aftermath.The storm caused $5.8 billion dollars of damage in Texas alone.
  
  

Hurricane Ike Formation and Landfall

• Hurricane Ike was a Category 5 hurricane that swept through the central Gulf region in 2008. It was only Category 2 at the time of landfall in Galveston on September 13. Severe damage extended as far into Texas as Corpus Christi. However, Atlantic island nations suffered the greatest loss. The storm became the costliest hurricane in Cuban history, causing $7.3 billion dollars in damage. It was over three times more expensive than Hurricane Michele, Cuba's previous record holder, which tallied $2.2 billion in damage claims.
  
  

Hurricane Ike Evacuation and Aftermath

• The evacuation in the days leading up to Ike was the largest emergency displacement Texas ever experienced, breaking the record set by Rita three years earlier. The subsequent search, rescue, and recover missions required more manpower than any other American disaster. Only Hurricanes Andrew and Katrina have resulted in more costly FEMA operations than Ike in the final tally of damages. Texas suffered $12 billion dollars worth of damage.