As we mark the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Rita, we pause to remember not just the storm, but the humanity caught in its wake. Rita struck on September 23rd, 2005 as one of the most powerful storms ever recorded in the Gulf — winds roaring at Category 5 strength. Southwest Louisiana, particularly Cameron Parish and its neighbors, bore the brunt. Homes, histories, and livelihoods were submerged in water, mud, and loss.
As the largest parish by geographic area, Cameron Parish has changed since 2005, as its population declined from 9,590 in 2004 to 4,678 in 2024, while its median household income has increased from $36,126 to $66,189. Meanwhile, the entire Lake Charles metro area has grown overall from 193,715 to 242,975 residents during that period.
For many, Rita was more than a disaster. It was a breaking point. Families fled, evacuations were chaotic, and for those who stayed, the emotional and physical scars ran deep. Yet, in that destruction, there is story after story of neighbors helping neighbors and of people rebuilding not just houses, but hope.
Today, as Louisiana continues to face hurricanes, flooding, and climate threats, Rita’s anniversary offers both a moment of remembrance and a warning. It demands our ongoing attention: stronger infrastructure, better evacuation planning, resilient housing, and policy that supports long-term recovery.
Today, we remember the people displaced, the communities tested, and the landscapes forever changed. And we as a state should restate our commitment to building a Louisiana that isn’t just able to weather the next storm, but to grow stronger and safer in the storm’s wake.