hurricane rita

Remembering Hurricane Rita 15 years ago

Thursday, September 24, 2020
Houston freeways were bumper to bumper as millions evacuated because of Hurricane Rita
Hurricane Rita swirled toward the Gulf Coast as a 165-mph, category 5 storm 15 years ago.

More than 1.3 million people in Texas and Louisiana were evacuated, with many stuck on the roads for hours and hours in gridlocked traffic.
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PHOTOS: Looking back at evacuation in advance of Hurricane Rita
Hurricane Rita evacuees were trapped in gridlock for nearly 24 hours, September 2005.none
Hurricane Rita evacuees were trapped in gridlock for nearly 24 hours, September 2005.none
Hurricane Rita evacuees were trapped in gridlock for nearly 24 hours, September 2005.none
Hurricane Rita evacuees were trapped in gridlock for nearly 24 hours, September 2005.none
Hurricane Rita evacuees were trapped in gridlock for nearly 24 hours, September 2005.none
Evacuees push their car along Interstate-45 after it broke down in Houston on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2005. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)none
Hurricane Rita evacuees were trapped in gridlock for nearly 24 hours, September 2005.none
Cherlyn, left, and Lane McWhorter of Baycliff, TX ride in the back of a pickup truck with their animals in Houston, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2005. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)none
Hurricane Rita evacuees were trapped in gridlock for nearly 24 hours, September 2005.none
Hurricane Rita evacuees were trapped in gridlock for nearly 24 hours, September 2005.none
Cars are bumper to bumper on Interstate 45 near downtown Houston on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2005. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)none
Hurricane Rita evacuees were trapped in gridlock for nearly 24 hours, September 2005.none
Hurricane Rita evacuees were trapped in gridlock for nearly 24 hours, September 2005.none
Hurricane Rita evacuees were trapped in gridlock for nearly 24 hours, September 2005.none
Hurricane Rita evacuees were trapped in gridlock for nearly 24 hours, September 2005.none
Motorists wait in line for fuel at one of the few open gas stations in Pasadena, Texas, Thursday, Sept. 22, 2005. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya)none
Hurricane Rita evacuees were trapped in gridlock for nearly 24 hours, September 2005.none
Hurricane Rita evacuees were trapped in gridlock for nearly 24 hours, September 2005.none
Hurricane Rita evacuees were trapped in gridlock for nearly 24 hours, September 2005.none
The roadways on the south side of Houston are virtually empty in this unusual view of the city that always has heavy traffic on Thursday, Sept. 22, 2005. (AP Photo/Pat Sullivan)none
Hurricane Rita evacuees were trapped in gridlock for nearly 24 hours, September 2005.none
Storm evacuees stand on the side of Highway 290 that became a parking lot as people attempt to flee the approach of Hurricane Rita. (AP Photo/Ron Heflin)none
Hurricane evacuees stand by the side of their automobiles on Highway 290 leading out of Houston in this Sept. 22, 2005 file photo. (AP Photo/Ron Heflin)none
Hurricane Rita evacuees were trapped in gridlock for nearly 24 hours, September 2005.none


In 2018, meteorologist Travis Herzog shared his memory from that time:

"Houston and Galveston dodged the worst of the devastating hurricane, but it was category 5 chaos on the roadways two days before expected landfall. That's when millions of people, most living outside of evacuation zones, decided to hit the streets and flee the approaching monster. This led to the extreme gridlock on HWY 290 (and all other major freeways).

I don't blame anyone for wanting to get out. This was less than one month after Katrina flooded New Orleans, LA and destroyed Gulfport, MS. The morning of the spontaneous evacuation, Rita was packing winds of 175 mph and the center of the forecast cone was aimed just east of Houston.
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It was a terrifying time.



Sadly, the evacuation proved more deadly than the hurricane. A lot of lessons were learned the hard way, lessons that I hope we can successfully pass on to future generations and transplants to the region."



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