Hurricane Rita Pictures from Monday, Sept. 26, 2005

Local resident Louis Parent pedals his bicycle on flooded Boulevard Hamel, a main artery in the lower north end of Quebec City. The street was closed as remnants from hurricane Rita fell on the region. Jacques Boissinot ASSOCIATED PRESS

Emergency workers gather in what was downtown Cameron, La. Ric Feld ASSOCIATED PRESS

Military vehicles loaded with soldiers and workers make their way past what was a Shell gas station in Cameron, La. Ric Feld ASSOCIATED PRESS

Search and rescue personnel walk through mud in the aftermath of Hurricane Rita in Cameron, La.  David J. Phillip ASSOCIATED PRESS

Search and rescue personnel walk through floodwaters in the aftermath of Hurricane Rita in Cameron, La.  David J. Phillip ASSOCIATED PRESS

An overturned truck leans on a tree in the aftermath of Hurricane Rita in Cameron, La.  David J. Phillip ASSOCIATED PRESS

A search and rescue worker walks through the mud in the aftermath of Hurricane Rita in Cameron, La.  David J. Phillip ASSOCIATED PRESS

Alligators swim in receding Hurricane Rita floodwaters around Highway 82 in Cameron Parish just outside the boundries of the Rockerfeller Wildlife Refuge near North Island, La. Smiley N. Pool THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS

Receding floodwaters from Hurricane Rita leave a house in the middle of Highway 82 in Grand Chenier, La. Smiley N. Pool THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS

A house rests against a tree in floodwaters from Hurricane Rita, a few hundred yards from its foundation, in Grand Chenier, La. Smiley N. Pool THE DALLAS MORNING NEWS

Motorists wait for debris to be cleared off Highway 82 in the aftermath of Hurricane Rita near Forked Island, La. David J. Phillip ASSOCIATED PRESS

Cattle make their way down Highway 82 through floodwaters in the aftermath of Hurricane Rita south of Forked Island, La. David J. Phillip ASSOCIATED PRESS

Comments

[Ann Trahan]

I grew up in South Louisiana but live in Tennessee now. We made 2 trips to Cameron with 4 trailers of donated items (clothes, furniture, toys, sanitary items) from the Murfreesboro, Tn. area. I had a lot of family in the Cameron, Creole, Little Chenier area. There was nothing left. Anything that was used as a landmark is gone. My aunt & uncle's house ended up in the burns. My great-grandmother's house was moved three hundred or so yards. My Paran lived on East Creole Road and sadly enough, there's nothing left there either. It's worse than any words could describe. But, I have to admit that I am SO proud of my people. They are making it & doing with what they have. It's really pityful that they can't get more help!

[cyndi taylor]

i would like to say that my heart truly goes out to the victims of hurricane rita. i live on the gulf coast in mobile, alabama. we have been truly blessed so far. i have been to camreron, la alot since rita. my husband works offshore out of the dyhico dock. my prayers are with all the victims. god bless, cyndi mobile, al

[Andre]

I was in cameron parish 3-7-06. My first trip since Rita. I had seen pictures, but nothing had prepared me for the total destruction from
Pecan Island through Cameron to Holly beach. This makes New Orleans look and sound like a bunch of whining babies.

[shirley]

these people have been forgotten because all tou hear is katrina, i am truly sorry for those people in New Orleans but what about those in cameron louisiana. you hear nothing please dont forget them

[Jengi]

I am from Cameron. My aunt's home is the 5th picture down. She does not think that she can save it. My mother and step-father came home to only a slab. The engineers say it was wind and tornados mainly, but the insurance company, State Farm, says they won't pay because it is flood. My father and step-mother are trying to save their home (my grandparents home which went through Hurricane Audrey). Their insurance, Farm Bureau, did pay in full. I wanted to say thank you to those who are not forgetting about us. It is total devastation. There is very little to begin to rebuild, but we will! New Orleans gets all the attention, and I am sorry for the enormous loss of life there. That was flood and could have been prevented. Even the houses on pilings are completely gone or unsavagable in Cameron Parish, except for a few! We need the govenment's attention and the American public's. We cannot let insurance companies screw good paying customers over! Please spread the word about the destruction in Cameron Parish. When you look at the pictures, remember that it is 100 times worse in person, and it is 360 degrees around you.

[DiamondCat]

To the lady from Murphysboro, Tenn. Would you like to move back to Louisiana? I have some beautiful property for sale in Sulphur, La.

[Jason Lisotta]

I want to say that I am very saddened by all of the people in SW Louisiana that lost so much. My heart and prayers go out to each and everyone of you. I really wish the Rita victims were getting just as much attention as the Katrina victims. How can our good, hardworking people be forgotten by so many? If no one else knows about us, I take comfort in knowing that GOD does and he is the most important, person we can go to in a time of need like this. For those whose faith is weakened by all of this tragedy, just remember. HE may not come when you want HIM but HE is right one TIME. GOOD LUCK AND GOD BLESS EVERYONE.

[Mary]

I have seen the faces of those that lived in Cameron as my family and friends and I gathered clothing and food, toys, etc and brought it to the temporary post office set up in Lake Charles. I got to know several wonderful ladies that worked there and heard their stories of loss. I lost also from Rita as I live north of LC. but nothing compares to what I saw in Cameron and Holly Beach. Pictures just don't do it. You have to see it from the ground. I almost drove right past Holly Beach as there was nothing left. I cried and cried.

My heart goes out to all of you. It is horrible how long it is taking to get help and FEMA trailers. It is even worse how the insurance companies are treating you. I just wish I knew who to scream at for you. I would do it. All the Cameron/Creole people I have had the wonderful opportunity of meeting have such great spirit. I only wish more could be done by all of us for you.

[DMAN]

Hi, I really want to get back down there and am looking for land for sale. I lost a place down there from Rita, and had put everything I had into it. I've been looking for a land for sale in cameron parish, something with waterfront. I was told by a realtor that a lot of people are selling without the help from realtors and was hoping that if anyone knew of any one down there looking for a possible buyer they could get back in touch and give me some info, it would be very much appreciated. You can send to my email if you like at [email protected]

[Kim]

It's alot worse than it looks. I still live in middle Cameron Parish. Everyday, I get up and work. I work like a man alongside of my husband cleaning and picking up. We have been doing this since the day AFTER the hurricane. It seems hopeless sometimes. Mosquitoes are breeding by the millions- standing water everywhere; ...and when it rains, it "stirrs up" the dead marsh black-bottom producing an eerie, deadly stench that fills the air. I can still smell "death".
My land on the Intracoastal Waterway was used by the DMort team to help recover all the lost vaults and caskets. There were many and the smells and the sights that we witnessed will never leave us.
My business was destroyed and we may have been better off it our home were completely gone.
Picking up the pcs. of what a tornado ripped down, then "patching" the rest has left us with a very undesirable home, to say the least...
Everyday we wake, we are reminded of Hurricane Rita. There is so much debris and trash that I don't think it will ever be cleaned. Kids can't go outside day or night because of mosquitoes, the heat is unbelievable, the smell is nauseating, and everything is still sort of "dead" looking. I grew up here, but if my husband wanted to, I'd leave in a second!

[jim fodrie]

I LIVED THERE LONG AGO.I WISHED I COULD HAVE WENT AFTER RITA TO SEE THE LOSS. MY KIDS LIVED IN SULPHUR DURING RITA. THANKFUL THEY ALL LEFT DURING THE HURRICANE. I SEEN LATER PICS OF WHAT HAPPENED. I AM MOVEING BACK BY JAN OF 2008. IF ANYTHING IS TO HAPPEN LIKE THIS AGAIN I WANT TO BE THERE WITH MY KIDS. THE LOSS THERE IS DEVASTATING. I COULD NOT RECONIZE THE AREA I USED TO KNON.
I TELL PEOPLE THAT RITA VICTIMS NEEDS AS MUCH HELP AS ANY KATRINA VICTIM. MY HEART GO OUT TO ALL OF THE PEOPLE. WE AS AMERICANS NEED TO LET ALL OF THE STORY TO BE TOLD. NO MATER WHAT ACT OF GOD TAKES PLACE PEOPLE SUFFER. LET RITA HAVE AS MUCH TRUTH ABOUT THE STORY AS KATRINA.

[Ty]

I live south of sulphur and just north of Hackberry, i live less than a mile north of the intercoastal canal, during rita, we got alot of wind damage, and little water damage. by 2008, recovery for cameron parish was almost completely completed, except the holly beach area, but then hurricane ike side swiped the coast, the surge was so bad our house floated 35 feet off its foundation, hurricane ike sent a storm surge WAY higher than rita's. All tha hard work and sweat put into the recovery from rita was all washed away, and now people are back to were they started, but now the recovery is almost completed, pray for us. we dont need another rita or ike to wash our community off the map once again.