Cincinnati Change Response to Changing the Gulf

Hurricane Rita was the seventeenth named tropical storm, ninth hurricane, fifth major hurricane, and second Category 5 hurricane of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season. It was the second-most powerful hurricane of the season, ahead of Hurricane Katrina but behind Hurricane Wilma. This hurricane is on record as being the strongest measured hurricane to ever have entered the Gulf of Mexico, and the fourth most intense hurricane ever in the Atlantic Basin.

After peaking in strength at 175 mph (280 km/h) steady winds, it made landfall between (Port Arthur Texas) Sabine Pass, Texas, and Johnson's Bayou, Louisiana, at 02:38 CDT (07:38 UTC) on September 24, 2005 as a Category 3 hurricane, with windspeeds of 120 mph (190 km/h) and a storm surge of 10 feet (3 m). [1]

The storm first struck Florida after making an approach near Cuba and went on to strike Texas and Louisiana. It is doubtful that Cuba saw sustained tropical storm force winds. A day prior to landfall, the resultant storm surge also reopened some of the levee breaches caused by Hurricane Katrina a month earlier, and reflooded parts of New Orleans. [2] Post-landfall damage was extensive in the coastal areas in southwestern Louisiana and extreme southeastern Texas.

Because the Gulf of Mexico is a major center for crude oil production and refineries, as well as home to some of the busiest ports in the world, Rita initially presented the potential to do damage beyond the localized wind and wave surge. These concerns have so far not been realized, as no reports emerged of long-term damage to the major U.S. refining and shipping capacities in Houston, Texas City, Port Arthur, Texas or Beaumont, Texas [3] [4]. Power outages may have the greatest related effect.

Port Arthur is a town located in Jefferson County within the Beaumont–Port Arthur metropolitan area and is situated in East Texas. As of the 2000 U.S. Census, the city had a total population of 57,755.

Demographics

As of the censusGR2 of 2000, there are 57,755 people, 21,839 households, and 14,675 families residing in the city. The population density is 268.9/km² (696.5/mi²). There are 24,713 housing units at an average density of 115.1/km² (298.0/mi²). The racial makeup of the city is 39.01% White, 43.70% African American, 0.45% Native American, 5.89% Asian, 0.02% Pacific Islander, 8.88% from other races, and 2.06% from two or more races. 17.45% of the population are Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There are 21,839 households out of which 33.2% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 42.6% are married couples living together, 19.7% have a female householder with no husband present, and 32.8% are non-families. 29.4% of all households are made up of individuals and 13.6% have someone living alone who is 65 years of age or older. The average household size is 2.61 and the average family size is 3.25.

In the city the population is spread out with 28.7% under the age of 18, 9.7% from 18 to 24, 26.2% from 25 to 44, 19.9% from 45 to 64, and 15.5% who are 65 years of age or older. The median age is 35 years. For every 100 females there are 91.1 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there are 86.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city is $26,455, and the median income for a family is $32,143. Males have a median income of $30,915 versus $21,063 for females. The per capita income for the city is $14,183. 25.2% of the population and 22.9% of families are below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 35.2% of those under the age of 18 and 14.4% of those 65 and older are living below the poverty line.
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Hurricane Rita

During the night and through early morning of September 24, 2005, Port Arthur took a huge hit from the high winds and rain of Hurricane Rita. The damage was extensive and widespread, including flooding in Port Arthur's Downtown area.

Port Arthur had the highest recorded winds during Hurricane Rita's landfall - at 116mph.

NOAA reported Rita's record-setting Category 5 strength as a result of achieving a minimum central pressure of 897 millibars (hPa) (26.49 inches of mercury) on the afternoon of September 21, 2005. This record strength steadily diminished prior to landfall after Rita moved over cooler waters in the northern Gulf of Mexico.