Rita left her mark in Cameron parish, LA:

The aerial tour, in a National Guard helicopter, included areas such as Cameron, Creole, Lake Charles, Abbeville, Delcambre and Erath. The tour began at Chenault Airbase and followed La. 27 into Cameron, where upon entry, the smell of shrimp and seafood hung thick in the air.

From above, it’s hard to tell just where the Gulf of Mexico ends and the land begins.

Debris laced yards and clung to tree branches. Homes were washed away, leaving nothing but foundations to mark spots they once occupied. Others were seen barely standing, having suffered extensive damage from the 100 mph-plus winds and rising waters.

There are almost no local landmarks left. Schools were demolished. Cemeteries, with above ground tombs, are submerged. Some homes looked like empty dollhouses, with whole sides torn off by the winds.