Hurricane Rita facts for kids
| Category 5 major hurricane (SSHWS/NWS) | |
Hurricane Rita near peak intensity on September 21
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| Formed | September 18, 2005 |
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| Dissipated | September 26, 2005 |
| Highest winds | 1-minute sustained: 180 mph (285 km/h) |
| Lowest pressure | 895 mbar (hPa); 26.43 inHg |
| Fatalities | 97–125 total |
| Damage | $18.5 billion (2005 USD) |
| Areas affected | Hispaniola, Turks and Caicos Islands, Bahamas, Cuba, Florida, Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas, Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Great Lakes region |
| Part of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season | |
Hurricane Rita was a very powerful hurricane that formed in the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season. It hit the United States' Gulf Coast in September 2005. At its strongest, Rita was a Category 5 storm. This means it had incredibly strong winds, reaching about 175 miles per hour.
Even though it weakened a bit before hitting land, Rita still made landfall as a strong Category 3 hurricane. It caused a lot of damage, especially in New Orleans, which was already recovering from Hurricane Katrina. Rita's storm surge caused more flooding there because the levees (protective walls) were already weakened. The hurricane also knocked out power for many people.
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How Hurricane Rita Formed and Grew
Hurricane Rita started as a tropical depression on September 18, 2005. It quickly grew stronger as it moved across the warm waters of the Atlantic Ocean. By September 20, it had become a major hurricane.
Rita's Incredible Strength
On September 21, Hurricane Rita reached its peak strength. It became a Category 5 hurricane with winds of 175 miles per hour. This made it one of the strongest hurricanes ever recorded in the Atlantic Ocean. Its lowest pressure was 895 mb, which is very low for a hurricane.
Where Hurricane Rita Traveled
Rita first affected parts of the Caribbean Sea, including Hispaniola, the Turks and Caicos Islands, and the Bahamas. It then moved into the Gulf of Mexico.
Landfall in the United States
On September 24, 2005, Hurricane Rita made landfall near the border of Texas and Louisiana. It hit as a strong Category 3 hurricane. The storm brought very high winds, heavy rain, and a dangerous storm surge to the coast.
Impact and Damage Caused by Rita
Hurricane Rita caused a lot of destruction, especially in coastal areas of Louisiana and Texas. The total damage from Rita was estimated to be around $18.5 billion.
Flooding in New Orleans
One of Rita's major impacts was on New Orleans, Louisiana. The city was still recovering from Hurricane Katrina, which had hit just a few weeks earlier. Rita's storm surge caused more flooding in areas that were already damaged. This put more strain on the city's weakened levee system.
Power Outages and Evacuations
Rita also caused massive power outages across Louisiana and Texas. Many homes and businesses were left without electricity for days or even weeks. Before the storm hit, millions of people in Texas and Louisiana were asked to evacuate their homes. This was one of the largest evacuations in U.S. history.
Fatalities from the Storm
Sadly, Hurricane Rita led to the deaths of between 97 and 125 people. Many of these deaths were indirect, meaning they happened during the evacuation or cleanup efforts, not directly from the storm's winds or flooding.
Related pages
Images for kids
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Tropical Storm Rita over the eastern Bahamas on September 18
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Hurricane Rita as a Category 2 hurricane crossing the Florida Straits
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Rita in the Texas-Louisiana border on September 25
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Motorists stranded on Highway 60 during Hurricane Rita evacuation.
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Hurricane Rita Rainfall
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Holly Beach, a town along the Gulf Coast completely destroyed by Rita
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Holly Beach was almost completely leveled by Rita's storm surge
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Two satellite images showing the extent of flooding caused by Rita in Louisiana and Texas.
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Floodwaters and destruction left in the aftermath of Hurricane Rita, in an area located near Galveston Bay, Texas.
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Church in Beaumont with roof ripped off by Hurricane Rita.
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Projected path of Hurricane Rita on September 22 highlighting refineries and oil rigs across southeast Texas and southern Louisiana.
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Soldiers load hundreds of Meals, Ready-to-Eat and water onto a CH-47 Chinook helicopter at Ellington Field, Texas
See also
In Spanish: Huracán Rita para niños
