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Rita Moves Thousands More Into Shelters
Written by
Lesly C. Simmons
, Staff Writer, RedCross.org
Monday, September 26, 2005 — Nearly 150,000 people sought refuge in American Red Cross shelters as Hurricane Rita threatened the Gulf Coast over the weekend. The latest storm to attack the United States did not as much damage as Hurricane Katrina, but is no less devastating for the thousands forced to evacuate who worry about their homes and communities.
A Hurricane Rita evacuee is assisted towards an American Red Cross shelter in Texas.
(Photo Credit: Gene Dailey/American Red Cross) |
Rita came ashore near Lake Charles, La. as a Category 3 storm early Saturday morning, and left widespread flooding in many coastal communities, including New Orleans once again. Some parts of Louisiana got as much as 16 inches of rain from Rita, saturating ground that was already soaked by Katrina.
At least five deaths have been attributed to the storm; five of those coming after a family was overcome by carbon monoxide fumes from using a generator inside their home in Beaumont, Tx.
While the storm’s damage was not as devastating or widespread as its size portends, several areas of the Gulf are considered uninhabitable, including Beaumont and Port Arthur, Tx. The Department of Energy said that 1.5 million customers were without power in Arkansas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Texas as a result of both hurricanes. It could still be several weeks before basic services including power, water, and sewer service are restored.
The Red Cross is working feverishly to make arrangements to provide support to the victims of Hurricane Rita. Please visit RedCross.org regularly for the latest information on Red Cross information and services.
All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. You can help the victims of thousands of disasters across the country each year, disasters like the Midwest ice storms, by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, which enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to victims of disaster. The American Red Cross honors donor intent. If you wish to designate your donation to a specific disaster please do so at the time of your donation. Call 1-800-REDCROSS or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P. O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting www.redcross.org.
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