[b_a88]

Some pictures of what Rita left behind.


Destroyed houses are seen on road 27 near the
coastal town of Cameron
<img src='http://us.news3.yimg.com/us.i2.yimg.com/p/nm/20050927/2005_09_26t223124_442x450_us_rita.jpg?x=339&y=345&sig=KWCR.ncO3HC674d_syi02w--'/>

A view of the coastal town of Cameron
<img src='http://us.news3.yimg.com/us.i2.yimg.com/p/nm/20050927/2005_09_26t193626_450x271_us_rita.jpg?x=380&y=229&sig=.QNDjM1Nl0b..hZNFIbBVQ--'/>

A truck is submerged in floodwaters
on a street near the coastal town of Cameron
<img src='http://us.news3.yimg.com/us.i2.yimg.com/p/nm/20050927/2005_09_26t193732_325x450_us_rita.jpg?x=249&y=345&sig=LQR27xx8GBzVoz0sHdBZow--'/>

Rubble is seen at a street in front of the Courthouse of
the coastal town of
Cameron
<img src='http://us.news3.yimg.com/us.i2.yimg.com/p/nm/20050927/2005_09_26t193700_450x296_us_rita.jpg?x=380&y=249&sig=5nPxYm6Oh3QuWDGUDJ2GRw--'/>

A home sits in the middle of
the road in the aftermath of
Hurricane Rita in Grand Chenier, La.
<img src='http://us.news3.yimg.com/us.i2.yimg.com/p/ap/20050927/capt.ladp11809270526.hurricane_rita_ladp118.jpg?x=184&y=345&sig=H4xU0x2r8gNoaRl_7.OlSg--'/>

A cow displaced by Hurricane Rita walks along a flooded
highway north of Creole, Louisiana.
<img src='http://us.news3.yimg.com/us.i2.yimg.com/p/afp/20050927/capt.sge.lom97.270905045001.photo02.photo.default-384x248.jpg?x=380&y=245&sig=zERpz2osmOPk.fG1yGxuSg--'/>

Motorists wait for debris to be cleared
off Highway 82 in the aftermath of
hurricane Rita near Forked Island, La.
<img src='http://us.news3.yimg.com/us.i2.yimg.com/p/cpress/20050927/capt.w092704a.jpg?x=240&y=301&sig=tv44quk9nT63Q_yyn5KuKw--'/>

Emergency workers walk along a destroyed street in the
coastal town of Cameron
<img src='http://us.news3.yimg.com/us.i2.yimg.com/p/nm/20050927/2005_09_26t193717_450x300_us_rita.jpg?x=380&y=253&sig=1jnvK9ROy79PaBJEF2tVug--'/>

U.S. Postal Inspectors sift through debris in the aftermath
of Hurricane Rita in Cameron, La. An estimated 80 percent
of the buildings in the town of Cameron, population 1,900,
were leveled.
<img src='http://us.news3.yimg.com/us.i2.yimg.com/p/ap/20050927/capt.ladp13009270125.rita_ladp130.jpg?x=380&y=212&sig=lUqhSy1S4pQvszyne64xlA--'/>

Only a stairway leading to a foundation remains at the site
of a structure in downtown Cameron
<img src='http://us.news3.yimg.com/us.i2.yimg.com/p/ap/20050927/capt.laric13309270119.rita_laric133.jpg?x=380&y=253&sig=a54gfp9VPaze6rtHKDP_oQ--'/>

A flooded road 27 is seen near the coastal town of Cameron
<img src='http://us.news3.yimg.com/us.i2.yimg.com/p/rids/20050927/i/r4066656256.jpg?x=380&y=240&sig=bEhKuO4DHrJeFSzV8amT.w--'/>

Buildings off their foundations line
a street in what was Cameron, La.
<img src='http://us.news3.yimg.com/us.i2.yimg.com/p/ap/20050927/capt.laric13509270116.rita_laric135.jpg?x=229&y=345&sig=qUM5KOApM2YTYqahO2QjBQ--'/>

Cowboys direct cows across a bridge on
road 27 in Cameron Prairie
<img src='http://us.news3.yimg.com/us.i2.yimg.com/p/rids/20050927/i/r3438225243.jpg?x=283&y=345&sig=WToELrA9G4jihxZpagLmew--'/>

Search and rescue personnel walk through floodwaters in
the aftermath of Hurricane Rita in Cameron, La.
<img src='http://us.news3.yimg.com/us.i2.yimg.com/p/ap/20050927/capt.ladp13609270103.rita_ladp136.jpg?x=380&y=251&sig=2ZH2QCqfvDahFXOUCYaxag--'/>

A water tower marks what was
Cameron, La.
<img src='http://us.news3.yimg.com/us.i2.yimg.com/p/ap/20050926/capt.laric12809262342.rita_laric128.jpg?x=220&y=345&sig=z.tTz7d99qGLruQSr7Dg_A--'/>

Damaged structures are shown in
the aftermath of Hurricane Rita in
Cameron, La.
<img src='http://us.news3.yimg.com/us.i2.yimg.com/p/ap/20050926/capt.ladp12309262323.rita_ladp123.jpg?x=217&y=345&sig=u3YxpJ3FIDMa_GtUnGdJfA--'/>

A view of the coastal town of Cameron
<img src='http://us.news3.yimg.com/us.i2.yimg.com/p/rids/20050926/i/r3187336828.jpg?x=380&y=287&sig=O_Guutoe0WywlWWsouQUkg--'/>

A destroyed Route 3142 sign points to water and destruction
along the former road in Cameron, La.
<img src='http://us.news3.yimg.com/us.i2.yimg.com/p/ap/20050926/capt.laric11509262234.rita_laric115.jpg?x=380&y=253&sig=hVmaF4CvecQPtcM1BxJRiQ--'/>

Fishing boats lie in a flooded field across from a marina in
Henry, La.
<img src='http://us.news3.yimg.com/us.i2.yimg.com/p/ap/20050926/capt.txsae10609262224.rita_txsae106.jpg?x=380&y=253&sig=zSSxxYekbT6BR9J6NekJwA--'/>

[Mac33]

Absolutely horrendous for the local population here. It must be a nightmare which will take folks years to recover from. Thanks for the pics.

[b_a88]

Every one seems to be losing sight of the fact that this hurricane did some major damage. They aren't covering it much just because it didn't live up to being quite as bad as Katrina. The only reason there wasn't a big loss of life from this storm is because most everyone evacuated.

[Mac33]

Every one seems to be losing sight of the fact that this hurricane did some major damage. They aren't covering it much just because it didn't live up to being quite as bad as Katrina. The only reason there wasn't a big loss of life from this storm is because most everyone evacuated.

I understand that. There's been an assumption made that Rita let everyone off scot free, but that couldn't be further from the truth. Just because the ferocity of it dropped by a category, doesn't mean that the damage was any less. I just feel so sorry for all those folks, with their lifetime buidling up a home, and seeing it gone in minutes. That is very heartbreaking.