Join us for an event marking the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Rita's landfall on the Texas Gulf Coast and a discussion on lessons learned from Rita, and whether Texas is better prepared for such storms in its aftermath.
Lamar University, The Texas Tribune, The Beaumont Enterprise and Provost Umphrey Law Firm will host a free, open-to-the-public conversation marking the 10th anniversary of Hurricane Rita’s landfall on the Texas Gulf Coast and their forthcoming joint reporting project, The Road From Rita.
The conversation will focus on lessons learned from Hurricane Rita, whether Texas is better prepared for such storms in its aftermath and the future of emergency management and mass evacuation plans in Texas. In addition to the conversation, storm survivors are invited to share video testimonials of their Rita experience on-site. Testimonials will be filmed from 10 a.m. to noon and 1 to 2 p.m. in the Setzer Center Conference Room (Room 133) and will be shared on the website for the Road From Rita project.
The panelists are State Rep. Joe Deshotel, former Jefferson County Judge Carl Griffith, Beaumont Fire Chief Brad Penisson, and Debbra Mamula, policy advisor to Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick and former executive vice president of the Texas Oil and Gas Association. Tribune Editor Emily Ramshaw will moderate the discussion.
