On September 24, 2005, Hurricane Rita blasted ashore with 120 mph winds, its ferocious northeast eyewall passing directly over Sabine National Wildlife Refuge. Damage along the Creole Nature Trail was extensive, including total destruction of the Sabine National Wildlife Refuge headquarters and 80% of the homes in southern Cameron parish. The people of the area, who live by a "live hard, play hard" motto, are in the process of recovering what can be salvaged and rebuilding what cannot, as they have always done.