Hurricane Rita, following close upon the devastating Hurricane Katrina that washed out New Orleans, made landfall early on September 24, 2005. Though less destructive than Hurricane Katrina, Rita caused extensive damage when it roared ashore near the Texas-Louisiana border as a Category 3 hurricane with 120 mph (193 km/h) winds. Hurricane Rita reached Category 5 intensity with 165 mph (265 km/h) winds, the deadliest storm designation, but weakened before it reached land. By comparison, Hurricane Katrina only reached Category 4. Much of the hurricane-hit areas had been evacuated ahead of the storm, including Houston and Galveston.

New Orleans once again endured flood waters when Rita's surge toppled provisional repairs made after Hurricane Katrina. Towns near where Hurricane Rita made landfall over the weekend have had all but a handful of buildings destroyed, including nearly all homes in Cameron, Holly Beach, and Creole. Flooding remains in southwest Louisiana and coastal Texas, with up to 15 feet in Cameron Parish.

Hurricane Rita apparently caused far lower insured losses than Hurricane Katrina, but it may still prove to be one of the nation's most costly storms.