East Texans remember impacts Hurricane Rita left in its wake

LUFKIN, Texas (KTRE) - Hurricane Rita, 20 years later, is still known as largest evacuation in U.S. history, forcing millions to flee their homes.

“That was the first time Jasper County had ever called for a mass evacuation, before we were always a place to evacuate to,” said Jasper County Judge Mark Allen.

Allen vividly remembers the mark Rita left on East Texas.

“That was the first time that Jasper County historically realized that if we are in the bullseye of a hurricane, it’s going to be just as powerful when it gets here as it was in the gulf,” Allen said.

Allen at the time was the county’s deputy emergency management coordinator. He said after the evacuation they waited out the storm. He remembers strong winds, small tornados, and torrential rains. After the storm passed, he said