Lessons Learned On Hurricane Lili Anniversary
Release Date: October 3, 2003
Release Number: R6-03-129
One-year ago today, residents of some South Louisiana communities were recovering from Tropical Storm Isidore. Many others evacuated their communities because Hurricane Lili, at one point a Category 4 hurricane with wind gusts over 155 mph, was making landfall.
Today, we know that Isidore and Lili caused more than $1 billion damage to insured properties and led to FEMA/State disaster assistance of more than $235 million. Flood insurance losses for these storms totaled nearly $118 million. The American Red Cross, Salvation Army and other volunteer organizations served more than 1.5 million meals and snacks in the aftermath of the storms.
Lili was the first hurricane to make landfall in the United States in three years. Between Hurricane Irene in 1999 and 2002, FEMA, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the National Weather Service and state and local emergency management officials conducted evacuation studies, developed an evacuation information system, updated storm surge models and refined emergency plans.
In the past year, FEMA, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, the National Weather Service and state and local emergency officials have collaborated to conduct a post-storm analysis of Hurricane Lili and Tropical Storm Isidore. The study looks at evacuation, emergency sheltering, actual storm surge heights and the effectiveness of public information efforts. The assessment is based on data analysis, interviews with state and local officials and a behavioral survey of more than 1,800 randomly selected residents in Texas counties and Louisiana parishes.
More than 500,000 residents of Louisiana and Texas were advised to evacuate threatened areas in advance of Hurricane Lili's landfall. The assessment's behavioral surveys indicate that 40-56 percent of advised residents heeded evacuation recommendations. While 83 evacuation shelters were opened, housing 18,000 people, the assessment found that more than 90 percent of the evacuating population found safety by staying with family, friends or in hotels.
In the middle of an active hurricane season, the preliminary assessment offers several important recommendations or lessons learned.
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Improved hurricane forecasting and new technologies, combined with increased news media coverage has improved notification and increased knowledge of individual storm threats. However, emergency officials express concern that with increased information, residents may discount local evacuation recommendations. Officials fear that some coastal residents may wait too long to safely evacuate approaching storms.
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Government, volunteer organizations and the news media need to expand public awareness information materials. Materials should target vulnerable segments of the population such as residents who live in manufactured housing. Manufactured homes comprised two-thirds of structures destroyed by Hurricane Lili.
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Federal and state agencies continue to evaluate evacuation routes. More "real time" traffic counters that feed data to traffic information systems are recommended. Such systems aid transportation and law enforcement officials to manage evacuation traffic flow.
- Many coastal buildings are highly vulnerable to storm surge and flooding. The assessment recommends that government and insurance companies promote mitigation methods that increase safety and reduce property damage.
As atmospheric scientists and hurricane researchers forecast increased hurricane activity in the United States for the next few decades, residents of Louisiana and Texas remember Hurricane Lili. The preliminary post-storm assessment offers preparedness, planning and response recommendations to coastal states and communities throughout the United States.
On March 1, 2003, FEMA became part of the Department of Homeland Security. FEMA's mission within DHS is to lead the effort to prepare the nation for all hazards and to effectively manage the federal response and recovery efforts for any national incident. To help meet this mission, FEMA oversees the National Flood Insurance Program, the U.S. Fire Administration and Citizen Corps.
Last Modified: Friday, 03-Oct-2003 09:41:56