On September 18, when Rita was declared a tropical storm, phased evacuations began in the Florida Keys.
All tourists were told to evacuate the Lower Keys immediately and residents in mobile homes were told to prepare to evacuate.
By September 20, mandatory evacuations were in place for the 80,000 residents of the Keys.
Both lanes on Route 1 were directed northbound to speed up evacuations.
City busses picked up those who did not have transportation out of the Keys.
An estimated 2.3 million people in Miami-Dade County were warned about the possibility of a direct hit on Miami and told to prepare to evacuate.
A State of Emergency was declared ahead of Rita later that day by President George W. Bush.
This would allow federal assistance to aid the affected areas in the wake of the storm.
Throughout Florida, a total of 340,000 people were placed under mandatory or voluntary evacuation orders.

Five shelters were opened in southern Florida with a total capacity of 4,335 people.
Tolls on northbound roads were lifted in Monroe County.
A total of four hospitals, three assisted living facilities, and two nursing homes were evacuated.
Military support in the form of 7,000 soldiers, eight Black Hawk helicopters, two Chinook helicopters, three Kiowa helicopters, one Huron aircraft, one Short 360 aircraft, one Hercules aircraft, and one Metroliner aircraft was provided.
A task force was put on standby in Homestead Joint Air Reserve Base to quickly deploy in affected areas.

The United States Department of Agriculture prepared food to deliver to affected areas after Rita.
The United States Department of Defense deployed personnel to coordinate evacuations.
The United States Department of Health and Human Services sent fully equipped medical teams and supplies if needed.
The United States Department of Homeland Security pre-positioned over 100 trucks of ice and packed food to deliver following Rita.
Two helicopters and one Cheyenne aircraft were also provided to assist with recovery efforts.
The United States Department of the Interior shut down all national parks in Florida and evacuated workers in low-lying areas.
Military cargo planes evacuated hospital patients from three acute-care hospitals in the Keys.
On September 18, when Rita was declared a tropical storm, phased evacuations began in the Florida Keys. All tourists were told to evacuate the Lower Keys immediately and residents in mobile homes were told to prepare to evacuate. By September 20, mandatory evacuations were in place for the 80,000 residents of the Keys. Both lanes on Route 1 were directed northbound to speed up evacuations. City busses picked up those who did not have transportation out of the Keys. An estimated 2.3 million people in Miami-Dade County were warned about the possibility of a direct hit on Miami and told to prepare to evacuate. A State of Emergency was declared ahead of Rita later that day by President George W. Bush. This would allow federal assistance to aid the affected areas in the wake of the storm. Throughout Florida, a total of 340,000 people were placed under mandatory or voluntary evacuation orders.
Five shelters were opened in southern Florida with a total capacity of 4,335 people. Tolls on northbound roads were lifted in Monroe County. A total of four hospitals, three assisted living facilities, and two nursing homes were evacuated. Military support in the form of 7,000 soldiers, eight Black Hawk helicopters, two Chinook helicopters, three Kiowa helicopters, one Huron aircraft, one Short 360 aircraft, one Hercules aircraft, and one Metroliner aircraft was provided. A task force was put on standby in Homestead Joint Air Reserve Base to quickly deploy in affected areas.
The United States Department of Agriculture prepared food to deliver to affected areas after Rita. The United States Department of Defense deployed personnel to coordinate evacuations. The United States Department of Health and Human Services sent fully equipped medical teams and supplies if needed. The United States Department of Homeland Security pre-positioned over 100 trucks of ice and packed food to deliver following Rita. Two helicopters and one Cheyenne aircraft were also provided to assist with recovery efforts. The United States Department of the Interior shut down all national parks in Florida and evacuated workers in low-lying areas. Military cargo planes evacuated hospital patients from three acute-care hospitals in the Keys.
Hurricane Rita