Hurricane Rita: The Forgotten Storm | March 2006 | Public Square

This episode of the series “Louisiana Public Square” from March 29, 2006, features Craig Freeman leading a discussion between the audience members and panelists on southwest Louisiana’s recovery from Hurricane Rita. A background report on the impact of Hurricane Rita on southwest Louisiana precedes the discussion and includes interviews with Congressman Charles Boustany, Lake Charles Mayor Randy Roach, and regional planner Peter Calthorpe. The audience members discuss: the response of local officials to Hurricane Rita; the lack of media coverage of the storm; the federal government acting as a hindrance to the rebuilding effort; the challenge of dealing with insurance companies; the lack of affordable housing for evacuees; and their frustrations with FEMA. A panel of experts then joins the audience to answer their questions. The panelists are: Judge Hadley Ward Fontenot of Cameron Parish; Rodney Geyen, the President of the Lake Charles City Council; Tom Henning of the Louisiana Recovery Authority; and State Senator Willie Mount of Lake Charles. They discuss: FEMA impeding the rebuilding process because they have not released their building regulations; the disconnect between the federal government and state and local agencies; the efforts of local officials and Louisiana’s Congressional delegation in making members of Congress from other states aware of the devastation suffered in southwest Louisiana; the effect of Louisiana’s reputation for political corruption on federal aid; the importance of Louisiana’s coastal communities to the nation; and the plans to build affordable housing. This episode was filmed at the Central School Arts and Humanities Center in Lake Charles. Hosts: Beth Courtney and Craig Freeman

[@jobuck879]

I lived in DeRidder, went to college in Lake Charles. I had moved to Beaumont Tx by the time Katrina and Rita came along. I lost every thing in my apartment in Beaumont. I evacuated to Alabama when Rita was approaching, it took almost 6 hrs to go from Beaumont to Lake Charles. Driving in the middle of the night with very little open due to Katrina was horrific but thankfully I made it. I moved to Houston. Got a little damage from Ike. Then in 2017 I had moved to Kansas but came back to Houston in July only to have Harvey take everything I owned. I’m not one of those people who don’t take hurricanes seriously, when I can evacuate I do so.

[@TheJessicahammerly]

Yeah I live in orange county tx.. and I remember Rita hitting.. it was terrifying.. and horrible.. and then Harvey few years ago watching the flood waters just get higher and being scared it wouldn't stop just watching it freaking out..

[@CorvetteCoonass]

Watching this as Hurricane Laura is about stroll in...

[@turdferguson1021]

Me too

[@bargaingoldandsilver]

Lol you from Houston too ?

[@capricorn2816]

Watching from Baytown.

[@lifeinanutshell8000]

Me too. I lost my home in Rita. Here we go again.

[@Yellow-br5li]

Me ok in. Ms

[@oybumgarner4373]

I never wanted to say good bye to sweet Lake Charles LA and sweet Sulphur LA U are always inmy heart and my mind

[@fungdark8270]

So true, nobody ever talks about Rita

[@oybumgarner4373]

I have to come from my country of Thailand to learn about the beautiful city Lake charles full of beautiful people they helping to survive in so many ways

[@fungdark8270]

So scary being up all night hoping another tree didn’t fall on the house or the roof come off at every powerful gust.
My little brother literally slept through the entire thing, tree hitting the house and all…

[@theonekeanu8920]

We lived in beamont tx. Took us 7 days to get to austin. Traffic for miles on end and short on gas. It was a crazy adventure to say the least when I was a kid.

[@lenne1133]

hurricane Rita hit in 2005 not March 2006 it achieving Category 5 status on September 21. However, it weakened to a Category 3 hurricane before making landfall in Johnson's Bayou, Louisiana, between Sabine Pass, Texas and Holly Beach, Louisiana, with winds of 115 mph (185 km/h). Rapidly weakening over land, Rita degenerated into a large low-pressure area over the lower Mississippi Valley by September 26th.

[@nahh5]

This episode of the series “Louisiana Public Square” from March 29, 2006

[@unrelatablecontent629]

I was born on the 12
And me and my parents had to evacuate and was pretty much homeless for maybe a year even after moving to okc
I don't remember the storm. But it's always a part of me and my parents lives

[@janetspell1396]

Add Laura to this as well!

[@liljons6753]

Here to compare...

[@fungdark8270]

Lots of livestock that couldn’t be removed drowned in the surge, terrible stuff

[@quasar6235]

I know hurricane but not what she's saying!!!!! Lol

[@jameshodge1517]

I wanted to hear about Galveston and Beaumont not Louisiana. You and your Katrina... 😦 😦

[@quasar6235]

What is a hurracan,