Though it’s been six years, local officials and residents remember the arrival of Hurricane Rita like it happened yesterday.

On Sept. 24, 2005, the storm barreled through Southwest Louisiana as a Category 3 hurricane with sustained winds of 115 mph — making it one of the most intense storms of that year’s Atlantic hurricane season.

Lake Charles Police Chief Don Dixon said he remembers the day well.

“We went code red about 6 p.m. Sept. 23, and officers had to be pulled off the streets because conditions were too bad for them to remain in,” he said. “We stayed in a code red until about 6 a.m. Sept. 24 when winds died down to about 45 mph or less and conditions were good enough for officers to get back out on the streets.”

Dixon said that when officers returned to the street they saw “catastrophic damage.”

“It was devastation everywhere,” he said. “It’s a day I’ll always remember. Every year when the anniversary comes around I remember it, and the eyewall passing through around one or two in the morning.”

Roger Erickson, warning coordinator at the National Weather Service in Lake Charles, recalls the sounds he heard as the hurricane ripped through the area.

“We had to stay at the office 24/7 because the winds were so strong,” he said. “The winds were blowing so strong outside. It sounded like there was an airplane taking off right outside the office. It lasted a good 12 hours.”

Hal McMillin, Calcasieu Parish Police Jury President at the time, said his experience during Rita was humbling. He remembers returning to the city after the hurricane.

“I was back about 2 p.m. on Sept. 24, and to see all the trees down, homes damaged, and the destruction was just unbelievable,” he said.

McMillin said experiencing the aftermath of Rita was like being “stuck in a time warp.”

“Three weeks before, we saw the destruction of Hurricane Katrina,” he said. “The governor, senators, president, and every one were there in New Orleans, and then they were all here.

“It was like we were all in a movie, in the same scene, but the characters all changed,” he said. “Instead of the mayor of New Orleans, it was the mayor of Lake Charles and the governor, senators, and everyone was still there, but it was happening right here. It was just a surreal feeling.”

McMillin said he felt honored to meet President Bush after the disaster.

“It was like all of a sudden you’re in a fight and your big brother just showed up — help was here,” he said. “He made us all feel so comfortable that although this may be one of the worst days of our lives, it would get better and they were here to help.”

McMillin said the biggest thing that stands out to him looking back to Rita is how quickly the parish recovered, and how well residents worked together.

“They weren’t looking for a handout; they were looking for a hand up,” he said. “And once they got a hand up they lifted up everyone around them.”

Dick Gremillion, director of emergency preparedness, said he remembers receiving the call from the weather service saying the latest projection had Rita headed straight for Calcasieu.

“It was the type of disaster that we planned for, but hoped wouldn’t happen,” he said. “I remember the call saying it was a Category 4 and headed straight for us.”

Gremillion said what stands out the most to him is the response to evacuation orders. “They were successful, and only one fatality for Southwest Louisiana resulted,” he said. “People heeded the warnings and got out.”

Bryan Beam, who was then the assistant parish administrator, said the first thing that comes to mind is the “extreme heat.”

“It was so hot for a long time without power,” he said. “That just sticks out in my memory for some reason.”

Ron LeLeux, the mayor of Sulphur in 2005, said two things stick out in his memory.

“What really stands out to me is how much devastation could happen in such a short number of hours,” he said. “The spirit of our communities and the city of Sulphur and how everyone worked so well together to get each other back on their feet quickly really stands out, too.”

McNeese psychology professor Linda Brannon said that for several years after Rita residents took more initiative to prepare for disasters.

“For years following, people were more attentive to hurricane warnings, more likely to evacuate, more likely to buy supplies when weather announcements indicated a hurricane anywhere even approximately close,” she said. “That has diminished some by this time. Over time people have become less worried and less stressed with announcements about hurricanes.”

Resident Theresa Needham said her house was damaged by falling trees and floodwaters. “I was just thinking about the anniversary today, and posting pictures from then on my Facebook,” she said. “I can’t believe it’s been six years.”

Needham said she remembers coming back for the “look-and-see” and “being amazed at how different things were.”

“In retrospect, it was one of the best things that happened to me,” she said. “It was a huge learning experience for me and my children. We lived in a travel trailer for 15 months together, and we learned how to do without things. We have a much greater appreciation for our home and our family, but I wouldn’t want to do it again.”