Hurricane Rita

Rita provided the first test for a law the Texas Legislature passed during the 2005 regular session, allowing county judges or mayors to order a mandatory evacuation in order to avoid massive loss of life. About 3.7 million people evacuated Texas Gulf Coast between Corpus Christi and Beaumont — nearly 7.5 times as many as those who fled in the face of Carla. More than 100 people died in Texas, most of them as a result of the evacuation.

Guests:
Bill White, former Houston mayor
Robert Eckels, former Harris County Judge
Annise Parker, former Houston mayor
Bill Read, formerly the meteorologist-in-charge of the National Weather Service’s Houston office
Neil Frank, formerly with KHOU-TV