STATE PARKS AFTER THE STORM: Hurricane Rita devastated 
state parks in her path - learn their status one year after 
the storm ... on Passport to Texas ... 
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Passport to Texas from Texas Parks and Wildlife

One year ago, Hurricane Rita made landfall along the 
Texas coast, and delivered a mighty blow to state parks 
in her path. Walt Dabney, Director of State Parks, says it 
could have been worse. 

We didn't lose - surprisingly - that many facilities. Although, 
we had structural damage in a lot of places, and we actually lost 
the complete bathroom at Sabine Pass. We had some cabin 
damage at a few places, and we had some facility damage at 
Sea Rim. 

While the hurricane granted special dispensation to 
manmade structures, it was not as charitable to nature's 
handiwork.

We had just a horrific challenge with blown down trees. I think 
the estimate at Martin Dies is that we lost as much as sixty 
percent of the forest canopy. 

Martin Dies and Village Creek State parks looked like 
logging operations during the clean up process. While 
both are now open for visitation, the experience will be a 
little different than before the storm.

It, I guess, will be sunnier (laughs). But it's still a wonderful park 
- both of those are. And, you know, throughout history, that's 
one of nature's ways of thinning the forest, and opening the 
canopy so you get other kinds of things stimulated by getting 
sunlight again. 

Talk about finding the silver lining ... 

That's our show for today ... For Texas Parks and 
Wildlife ... I'm Cecilia Nasti.