Rita blacks out
1 million in Gulf
Winds of 150 mph, heavy rainsknock down buildings, power lines
Posted: September 24, 20051:15 p.m. Eastern

Hurricane Rita, with an eye 20 miles wide and wind gusts of up to 150 miles per hour, hit the Gulf Coast before dawn today bringing widespread flooding, knocking down buildings and cutting power to an estimated 1 million residents of the area.

The storm smashed windows, sparked fires and knocked down power lines.

But hopeful officials said the death toll is likely to be contained because of evacuation efforts that were more successful than before Hurricane Katrina.

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