Rutherford Beach...Rita's Wrath

During the early part of our vacation week, John Michael, Thomas and I ventured down to the southwest Louisiana coastline of Vermilion and Cameron Parishes. Both of these areas were wiped out by Hurricane Rita in September. Most of the Vermilion Parish coast is marsh, while Cameron Parish has beach. Louisiana is not known for beautiful beaches, but you can walk in the water, and listen to the waves to satisfy your beach fix. The storm surge at Rutherford Beach was 16 feet, and at Cameron 18 feet, and Holly Beach the surge was over 20 feet with the eye of the hurricane. Rutherford didn't have too many houses around in the first place so it doesn't look much different. The city of Cameron has a few gutted buildings left, but most of the city is wiped to the slab. We took the ferry over to Holly Beach that once had about 200 beach homes and camps...all that is left are the streets and some of the power poles.