Hurricane Rita anniversary: Texas

It's been a year since Hurricane Rita hit Southeast Texas and Southwest Louisiana. We'll always remember the date because it's also Fayrouz's birthday. Last year, we "celebrated" by eating some Zebra snack cakes before Rita ripped the roof off the newsroom and destroyed the entire area. This year, thankfully, her birthday was celebrated at a fine restaurant with a tasty whipped-cream cake.

Hurricane Rita is barely mentioned in the news outside of this area. However, in an area where many folks still have blue roofs and shattered dreams, it's mentioned often. So often, in fact, that the word "Rita" has appeared in every edition of The Beaumont Enterprise since the tropical storm was named.

Although we're all tired of Rita, Katrina and any other mention of hurricanes, we must still reflect on how the area is recovering after one year.

Below are the images of recovery. Many of the compositions appear strange or random. By normal accounts, most are quite boring. However, click on the link under each image and see how the same scene looked about a year ago.


Photos by Mark M. Hancock / © The Beaumont Enterprise
Now:   William L. Snyder II, owner of B&B Enterprises, poses for a portrait outside his auto business in Orange on Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2006.
Then


Now:   The Target store in Beaumont is fully repaired and operational on Friday, Sept. 15, 2006.
Then


Now:   O'Hare's Market and Grill on Dowlen Road in Beaumont has changed its lease arrangement and is now Gator West Mini Mart on Friday, Sept. 15, 2006. It reopened for business in mid-July, it was previously damaged after looters smashed the front doors.
Then


Now:   A crushed sport utility vehicle with Louisiana license plates was removed from under a Jack In The Box sign and the store has been repaired and is operational again by Friday, Sept. 15, 2006.
Then


Now:   Johnson's Xpress Lube has been repaired and is operational by Friday, Sept. 15, 2006.
Then


Now:   Southeast Texas Regional Airport has removed the secondary tower and returned to normal operations by Friday, Sept. 15, 2006.
Then


Now:   The Port Arthur Holiday Inn has been repaired and is back to normal operation by Friday, Sept. 15, 2006.
Then


Now:   The parking lot remains empty by the severely-damaged Port Arthur Civic Center in Port Arthur on Friday, Sept. 15, 2006.
Then