Lets put Rita into some historical perspective in relation to Cameron, La. You will see that Cameron has had much more serious damage done to it by direct hits of hurricanes
than Rita has done, notibly the hurricane of 1865. Somehow the people survived, and note that Cameron has a culture of rebuilding and dealing with hurricanes. This is likely why there is far less media coverage, because far fewer numbers of people are whining like they did in New Orleans. In Cameron they are likely rolling up their shirt sleeves and Moving Forward.
http://www.hurricanecity.com/city/cameron.htm
Cameron,Louisiana's history with tropical systems:
(br)=brush (ts)=Tropical Storm (bd)=Back Door,meaning coming from over land from opposite coast.Not all names are noted,also storms before 1950 were not named.Not every stat on every storm description is given.
Years within 60 miles
1879br,1882ts,1886,1886ts,1888br,1897,1898-2tsbr,1905-2tsbr,1918,1920br
1932-37tsbr,1938ts,1940,1940ts,1941br,1943ts,1946ts,1957,1957ts,1971
1974bdts,1978,1979ts,1982ts,1985-2br,1986-89-92br,2004tsbr,(2005 not in stats)
33 times in 134 yrs end of 2004
Names from list above
audrey,bertha,edith,carmen,debra,claudette,chris,danny,juan,bonnie,chantal,Andrew ,Rita,
How often this area gets affected?
brushed or hit every 4.06 years
Average years between direct hurricane hits.(usually within 40 miles to include small hurricanes)
(7h)once every 19.14 years
Statistically when this area should be affected next
hit by Rita in 2005 ( plus 19.14 years)
Last affected by
2005 Sept 24th Hurricane Rita hits with 120mph winds. High storm surge in many areas of Vermillion parish with very heavy damage.
This areas hurricane past
in 1837 8 ft rise in lake pochatrain
1865 several thousand killed by a hurricane
1879 aug 23rd a 12 ft storm surge & many buildings destroyed.
1886 oct 12th a 9 ft storm surge as winds blew for 36 hrs,most houses removed from foundations due to storm surge.196 killed & hundreds of cattle killed
1918 early august,100mph. It struck without warning.press 28.36 gusts to 125mph.Overall moderate damage 34 killed
1940 aug 7th,6 killed 5ft storm surge
aug 1940 a hurricane well to the south slow moving dumped 21 inches of rain
1957 hurricane Audrey Thousands of buildings destroyed june 27th. Between 90 and 95 percent of the buildings in Cameron and Lower Vermilion Parishes were damaged beyond repair. 13 ft s.s inland to abbeville 556 killed 144mph over 40,000 homless in Louisiana
1971 edith gusts to 95mph 6 ft s.s ,69mph in Cameron with gusts to 96mph passed approx 30 miles east of Cameron.Heavy damage to sugarcane crops.
2005 Sept 24th Hurricane Rita hits with 120mph winds. High storm surge in many areas of Vermillion parish with very heavy damage.Moves slowly to the NW as a large hurricane weakening while moving in.
Wow. Thanks for that information.
However...
To say that Cameron has been worse hit is a bit of a misnomer. There are probably no deaths from this, but this isn't the same Cameron that has been hit before. The land is physically smaller than it used to be and there are simply fewer reasons to rebuild. While the economy is still viable, it isn't what it used to be if you aren't working the oil patch.
But, I have no doubt that you are right, that this will be rebuilt. If you don't mind a few errant gusts, life is actually pretty good down there.
PS, let's not forget that Cameron isn't the only place hit in the parish. My main concerns are mainly around a smaller community named Hackberry on the west side of Lake Calcasieu (call Big Lake by the locals). We are also anxious to hear about Holly Beach and Johnson's Bayou--which were directly under Rita's eye.