Rayburn RV Hideout          Hurricane Rita           (409) 698 - 3137
     September 24, 2005


Satellite view of Hurricane Rita taken at 11:30 am on September 24, 2005. The Red "X" is Rayburn RV Hideout. The eye of Rita had just passed over us.  Looking towards Site #22 from behind the bathhouse in the eye of the strom. Notice all the leaves etc. on the ground. Looking towards the Main Loop from Site #14 in the eye of the storm.

Tree across the road on the Lower Loop. This tree fell from Site #17 towards the Southeast and landed on the pipe rail trailer and put a dent in the top rail. Site #16 is off to the right. Tree from Site #17 across Lower Loop looking North. Site #16 is visible, Site #15 is on the far right. Looking towards the Main Loop from the south side of the Lower Loop. Site #19 is on the right. Notice all the debris on the ground from the storm. Taken in the eye of the storm.

One of the two families that hunkered down for Rita at Rayburn RV Hideout. After the storm we really were camping! Taken in the eye of the storm. Looking at the bathhouse from Site #20. Reece is out stretching her legs in the eye of the storm. Tree down across the Lower Loop from Site #22 to Site #23. There was no damage to the motorhome. Taken in the eye of the storm.

The majority of the trees fell over slowly with winds over 100 mph and 14 inches of rain. You had to be careful when you cut the tree the root ball would stand up. Taken in the eye of the storm. Taken on the main loop. One tree snapped off and another leaning on the power line coming into the park. Taken in the eye of the storm. Tree down on the Upper Loop from Site #12 to Site #9. Site #12 was the last site to reopen due to this tree. Taken in the eye of the storm.

Another picture of the tree on the power line. Deep East Texas contractor was out the next day (Sunday) to cut this tree off the line. Taken in the eye of the storm. Corps of Engineer property marker between two fallen trees near Site #2. Taken in the eye of the storm. Group of trees pushed to the ground by Hurricane Rita's winds near Site #2. Taken in the eye of the storm.

Tree that was snapped off near the power lines on the Main Drive. Luckly it did not hang up in the line. Reece stayed close by my side in our walk. Taken in the eye of the storm. Another picture of the tree from Site #12 across the Upper Loop. I counted the rings and this tree was over 100 years old. Taken in the eye of the storm. Another view of the tree from Site #12. This tree was held up by one of the branches on the ground. Taken in the eye of the storm.

This was a beautiful huge oak in the front of the park. The truck ran along the ground for about 4 feet before turning up. Hurricane Rita split this tree open. Taken in the eye of the storm. Tree across the Main Loop leaving the park. This tree along with all the others that were pushed over by Hurricane Rita lay towards the Southwest. Notice all the water in the hole left by the root ball. We had 14 inches of rain with Rita. Taken in the eye of the storm. Tree across the Main Loop at the exit. Reece is wondering where all the squirrels are. Notice the water running in the drains. Taken in the eye of the storm.

Picture from the junction of the Upper Loop and the Main Drive looking North towards the bathhouse. Taken in the eye of the storm. Picture from the junction of Upper Loop and Main Drive looking towards the exit and FM-1007. Taken in the eye of the storm. Looking down the South side of the Lower Loop. Site #22 on the right, Site #23 on the left. Taken in the eye of the storm.

Picture of the hole left by the roots on Site #12. When the tree was cut the root ball sat back up in the hole and had to be burned out. The hole is over 5 feet deep. Taken after the storm. Another picture of the tree top by Site #2 that was blown out of a tree and missed hanging up in the power lines. Taken after the storm. The clean up starts. This tree was across the Lower Loop and on top of the motorhome. Taken after the storm.

Looking down the Main Loop towards the exit and FM-1007 after 4 trees were cut from the road. Taken after the storm. Looking down the Upper Loop after the tree from Site #12 was removed. Taken after the storm. One of the meals provided by either the Salvation Army, Red Cross or FEMA for area residents. It took a couple of days for the relief workers to make it into the area.

Mother and Daughter after Rita. Notice the red socks, Mother wore them in case she got swept out to sea in Rita so they could identify her. The stump from Site #12 with a Zippo on it showing how big the tree was.


 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

© 2010 Rayburn RV Hideout

          

 

Tropical Depression 18 formed in the Atlantic Ocean on September 17, 2005.  This depression became the 17th named storm of the season.  Tropical Storm Rita grew into the 9th hurricane in the Atlantic 2005 season on September 20.  Rita intensified into a category 5 hurricane eclipsing the record set by Katrina just a few short weeks before and then being eclipsed by Wilma just a few weeks later.  Rita to date is the 4th most intense hurricane in the Atlantic Basin with a pressure of 895 mb set on September 21.  Top winds were recorded at 175 m.p.h.  Rita weakened to a category 3 before roaring ashore on September 24, 2005 at Sabine Pass, Texas.  Due to the speed and strength of Rita inland hurricane warnings were issued as for north as Lake Sam Rayburn/Toledo Bend area. 

Rita northward path brought it to the Lake Sam Rayburn area in the mid morning hours on the 24th as a category 2 hurricane.  Wind gusts were recorded at the Lake in excess of 100 m.p.h. before the instruments failed.  Rain fall at Rayburn RV Hideout totaled 14 inches.

Rayburn RV Hideout closed for business on September 23, 2005.  We lost power about 11 p.m. that night and by dawn we were feeling hurricane gusts of wind.  At 10 a.m. we experienced about 30 minutes of calm in the eye of the storm, then about 45 minutes of hurricane force winds from the opposite direction.  For the rest of the day we experienced wind guests, and a light misting rain.  Our power was restored on September 29, 2005 and we reopened for business later that day. 

Our main buildings escaped damage from the hurricane.  We lost over 20 trees within the park.  The majority of our trees weathered the hurricane well.  Our clean up of the camping area was completed mid October 2005 and the last site reopened in December 2005. 

You can take a tour of the park in the eye of Rita, and the days following the storm.  Each picture has a story you can view by running your mouse over the picture, and all pictures will open into a larger one by clicking on it. 

We would like to thank and we appreciate all the phone calls, emails and offers of help from family and friends.  We would also like to thank those two families who "hunkered down" with us to ride out the storm, and their help in the days after of cleaning up the park.  Special thanks to the former owner who procured a generator, borrowed his neighbors gas cans and delivered the generator and gas early that Monday morning!

We invite you to come camping with us, and enjoy the Lake Sam Rayburn area.  Even though Hurricane Rita gave us a little disruption in our lives, our community stands ready to welcome you and let your enjoy some Texas Hospitality!