The Day After Hurricane Rita | Rex Ross WebSite

Field report

Sunday
7:45 a.m.

I traveled to Pirates’ Beach on Sunday morning, September 25, arriving around 7:45 a.m. In general, there seemed to be virtually no damage beyond a few missing roof shingles, downed palm fronds, and miscellaneous items overturned by wind.

No serious damage was observed anywhere in the Pirates’ Beach or Pirates’ Cove areas that I toured.

Some beach erosion had occurred, and most of the dune socks were exposed on their front side, although the small storm surge left sand on top of them. Most of the crossovers were badly damaged or destroyed.

All in all, Pirates’ Beach and the whole West End fared wonderfully. We were very lucky.

Morning survey

18 photographs

Beach view looking east from Campeche after Hurricane Rita — Looking east from Campeche.

Beach view looking west toward the Barataria crossover — Looking west from Campeche to the Barataria crossover.

Exposed dune sock between Campeche and Buccaneer Boulevard — The dune-sock line between Campeche and Buccaneer Boulevard.

Dune line erosion after Hurricane Rita — The dune-sock line between Campeche and Buccaneer Boulevard.

Storm damage at the Buccaneer Boulevard crossover — The Buccaneer Boulevard crossover.

Buccaneer Boulevard drainage tube after Hurricane Rita — The Buccaneer Boulevard drainage tube was still in good shape.

Buccaneer Boulevard drainage tube and crossover viewed from the east — Buccaneer Boulevard drainage tube and crossover, looking back toward the west.

High surf on the morning after Hurricane Rita — Surf and tide were still fairly high on the morning of September 25.

Elevated tide along Pirates Beach on September 25 — Surf and tide were still fairly high on the morning of September 25.

Minor street flooding on Buccaneer Boulevard — Minor flooding was still visible on Buccaneer Boulevard, although few streets had any water remaining. Streets with drainage tubes had varying amounts of sand on the roadway.

Sand deposited on a roadway near a drainage tube — Minor flooding was still visible on Buccaneer Boulevard, although few streets had any water remaining. Streets with drainage tubes had varying amounts of sand on the roadway.

Rex Ross, Richard Domercq, and Richard Alexander surveying Hurricane Rita — The Rex Ross Weather Station hurricane survey team: Rex Ross, Richard Domercq, and Richard Alexander.

Beach warning sign beside a destroyed walkway — Still good advice—if only there were a walkway.

Damage to the crossover and drainage tube on Long Tom.

Bay side of Pirates Beach after Hurricane Rita — The bay side was in good shape, too.

High tide along lower Galveston Bay on September 25 — Tides along lower Galveston Bay remained high early on September 25 as north winds piled up water from upper Galveston Bay.

Tide debris left in a yard after Hurricane Rita — From debris in the yards, the tide appeared to have been about a foot higher at one point.

Damaged electric pole after Hurricane Rita — One of the few damaged electric poles in evidence.