The final tally for the cost of claims from Hurricane Rita in both Louisiana and Texas came to $5.8 billion. Hurricane Rita’s 120 mile per hour winds plowed into the Texas/Louisiana border on Sept. 24, 2005, one month after Hurricane Katrina. The overwhelming majority of claims in Texas came from the storm’s damaging winds that toppled power lines and trees, many of which smashed into homes, businesses and automobiles. The lack of power, the shortage of gasoline and the blockage of many roads leading to affected neighborhoods all played a role in slowing the recovery for southeast Texas residents affected by the storm.