Hurricane Lili

Infobox Hurricane
Name=Hurricane Lili
Type=hurricane
Year=2002
Basin=Atl
Image location=Hurricane Lili 02 oct 2002 1645Z.jpg


Formed=September 21, 2002
Dissipated=October 6, 2002
1-min winds=125
Pressure=938
Da

Inflated=2
Fatalities=13 direct, 2 indirect
Areas=Windward Islands, Cuba, Jamaica, Haiti, Louisiana
Hurricane season=2002 Atlantic hurricane season

Hurricane Lili was the deadliest and costliest hurricane of the 2002 Atlantic hurricane season. Lili was the twelfth named storm, fourth hurricane, and second major hurricane of the 2002 Atlantic hurricane season. The storm developed from a tropical disturbance in the open Atlantic on September 21. It continued westward, affecting the Lesser Antilles as a tropical storm, then entered the Caribbean Sea. As it moved west, the storm dissipated while being impacted by wind shear south of Cuba, and regenerated when the vertical wind shear weakened. It turned to the northwest and strengthened up to category 2 strength on October 1. Lili made two landfalls in western Cuba later that day, and then entered the Gulf of Mexico. The hurricane rapidly strengthened on October 2, reaching Category 4 strength that afternoon. It weakened rapidly thereafter, and hit Louisiana as a Category 1 hurricane on October 3. It moved inland and dissipated on October 6.

Lili caused extensive damage through the Caribbean, particularly to crops and poorly built homes.Cite web|author=AP|title=Lil leaves trail of destruction in Eastern Caribbean|publisher=Jamaica Observer|year=2002|accessdate=2008-03-23|url=http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/html/20020925T200000-0500_32586_OBS_LILI_LEAVES_TRAIL_OF_DESTRUCTION_IN_EASTERN_CARIBBEAN.asp] Mudslides were common on the more mountainous islands, particularly Haiti and Jamaica.Cite web|author=AP|title=Lili killed 4 in Haiti;deaths unreported for a week|publisher=USA Today|year=2002|accessdate=2008-03-23|url=http://www.usatoday.com/weather/news/2002/2002-10-05-lili-haiti.htm] In the United States, the storm cut off the production of oil within the Gulf of Mexico, and caused severe damage in parts of Louisiana. Lili was also responsible for severe damage to the barrier islands and marshes in the southern portion of the state. Total damage amounted to $860 million (2002 USD; $1.1 billion 2007 USD), and the storm killed 15 people during its existence.

Meteorological history

A tropical wave moved off the west coast of Africa on September 16. A low level center of circulation developed from a tropical disturbance spawned by this tropical wave midway between the African coast and the Caribbean Sea on September 20. The next day, the system gained sufficient organization to become a tropical depression.Cite web|author=Lawrence|title=NHC Tropical Cyclone Report|publisher=NHC|year=2002|accessdate=2008-03-22|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/2002lili.shtml] Cite web|author=Avila/Blake|title=NHC Public Advisory #1|publisher=NHC|year=2002|accessdate=2008-03-22|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2002/pub/al132002.public.001.html] The depression moved westward in excess of convert|20|mph|km/h|abbr=on, and reached tropical storm strength-becoming Tropical Storm Lili-as it passed through the Windward Islands.Cite web|author=Stewart|title=NHC Public Advisory #9A|publisher=NHC|year=2002|accessdate=2008-03-22|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2002/pub/al132002.public_a.009.html] The cyclone continued to intensify as it moved west through the Caribbean Sea, reaching a peak strength of convert|70|mph|km/h|abbr=on on the morning of September 24.Cite web|author=Stewart|title=NHC Public Advisory #13|publisher=NHC|year=2002|accessdate=2008-03-22|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2002/pub/al132002.public.013.html] This was immediately followed by an abrupt weakening, and the storm's maximum sustained winds dropped to convert|40|mph|km/h|abbr=on later that day.Cite web|author=Jarvinen/Molleda|title=NHC Public Advisory #15|publisher=NHC|year=2002|accessdate=2008-03-22|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2002/pub/al132002.public.015.html] The sudden weakening was attributed to strong southerly vertical shear.Cite web|author=Jarvinen/Molleda|title=NHC Forecast Discussion #15|publisher=NHC|year=2002|accessdate=2008-03-22|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2002/dis/al132002.discus.015.html] The system degenerated in to an open tropical wave the next morning, and remained in that state for nearly two days.

Lili regenerated near Jamaica on the evening of September 26 and gradually turned more to the west-northwest while strengthening. The system became a hurricane on September 30, just after passing through the Cayman Islands.Cite web|author=Franklin|title=NHC Public Advisory #36|publisher=NHC|year=2002|accessdate=2008-03-22|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2002/pub/al132002.public.036.html] The storm continued on its course while continuing to intensify, and made landfall twice the next day, on the Isle of Youth and near Pinar Del Rio as a Category 2 hurricane.Cite web|author=Beven|title=NHC Public Advisory #40A|publisher=NHC|year=2002|accessdate=2008-03-22|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2002/pub/al132002.public_a.040.html] Lili emerged over the Gulf of Mexico later that day, having lost little strength during its overland passage.Cite web|author=Beven|title=NHC Public Advisory #41|publisher=NHC|year=2002|accessdate=2008-03-22|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2002/pub/al132002.public.041.html]

The system turned to the northwest and sped up, becoming a major hurricane on October 2 while convert|365|mi|km south-southeast of New Orleans.Cite web|author=Beven|title=NHC Public Advisory #44|publisher=NHC|year=2002|accessdate=2008-03-22|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2002/pub/al132002.public.044.html] This intensification continued, aided by warm sea surface temperatures in the Gulf of Mexico and good outflow.Cite web|author=Beven|title=NHC Forecast Discussion #44|publisher=NHC|year=2002|accessdate=2008-03-22|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2002/dis/al132002.discus.044.html] The system reached its peak strength of category 4 intensity, with winds of convert|145|mph|km/h|abbr=on, during that afternoon.Cite web|author=Beven|title=NHC Public Advisory #45|publisher=NHC|year=2002|accessdate=2008-03-22|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2002/pub/al132002.public.045.html]

This strength was not maintained for long. The storm began to quickly weaken in the early morning hours of October 3,Cite web|author=Pasch|title=NHC Public Advisory #48|publisher=NHC|year=2002|accessdate=2008-03-22|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2002/pub/al132002.public.048.html] and this rapid weakening continued until the hurricane's final landfall near Intracoastal City, Louisiana due to a combination of vertical wind shear, cool waters just offshore Louisiana, [Chris Cappella. [http://www.usatoday.com/weather/news/2002/2002-10-04-lili-weakened.htm Scientists don't yet know why Lili suddenly collapsed.] Retrieved on 2008-05-08.] and slowly encroaching dry air within its southwest quadrant. [Adele Marie Babin. [http://etd.lsu.edu/docs/available/etd-11082004-100236/unrestricted/Babin_thesis.pdf CHARACTERISTICS OF HURRICANE LILI’S INTENSITY CHANGES.] Retrieved on 2008-05-08.] By the time of landfall, maximum sustained winds had dropped to convert|90|mph|km/h|abbr=on.Cite web|author=Avila|title=NHC Public Advisory #49|publisher=NHC|year=2002|accessdate=2008-03-22|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2002/pub/al132002.public.049.html] The weakening was accompanied by a collapse of the inner eyewall before landfall. The system continued inland, curving to the north-northeast, and dissipated when absorbed by an extratropical low near the Arkansas/Tennessee border on October 6.

Preparations

[
thumb|right|250_px|National Hurricane Center track forecast of Lili from September 30, 2002] Tropical storm watches were issued in parts of the Lesser Antilles on September 22. These were upgraded to warnings the next afternoon, and all advisories were dropped late on September 23 once the storm had passed. Over the next week, the islands of Hispaniola, Jamaica, Cuba, the Caymans, and the Yucatan Peninsula were all under advisories of some kind at different times. Hurricane and tropical storm watches were issued for the Gulf Coast on October 1, and were upgraded to warnings the next morning. They were discontinued after the storm moved past the following day.Cite web|author=Avila|title=NHC Public Advisory #49B|publisher=NHC|year=2002|accessdate=2008-03-27|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2002/pub/al132002.public_b.049.html]

Because the cyclone affected the islands as a weak tropical storm, preparations were minimal. Two hundred people evacuated their homes in advance of the storm on the islands of St. Vincent and Grenadine. In Jamaica, all schools and universities were closed in advance of the storm, and 17 public shelters were opened on the island.Cite web|author=Horace Helps|title=News: Caribbean: Tropical Storm Lili - Sep 2002, Hurricane Lili belts Caymans, 4 dead in Jamaica|publisher=Relief Web|year=2002|accessdate=2008-04-06|url=http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/ACOS-64BEV8?OpenDocument&query=hurricane%20lili]

Preparations were extensive in Cuba. Military officials at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba prepared for the possibility of evacuating their Al Qaida and Taliban prisoners.Cite web|author=Reuters|title=US to move Cuba base detainees if storm nears|publisher=The Guardian|year=2002|accessdate=2008-03-27|url=http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2002/sep/25/1] A total of 130,000 Cuban citizens, mainly in western portions of the island, evacuated their homes prior to the storm.Cite web|author=AP|title=Gulf Coast under Lili watch|publisher=The St. Petersburg Times|year=2002|accessdate=2008-03-27|url=http://www.sptimes.com/2002/10/02/Weather/Gulf_Coast_under_Lili.shtml] Significant action was taken along the Gulf Coast as the threat the storm posed, predicted to come ashore at Category Four strength, became more urgent. Over a half million people evacuated their homes in Texas and Louisiana, including everyone in Iberia Parish.Cite web|Jeffrey Gettleman|title=Thousands Seek Safety as Hurricane Nears Gulf Coast|publisher=The New York Times|year=2002|accessdate=2008-03-27|url=http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9D01EFDA1E38F930A35753C1A9649C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=1] A total of 200,000 people evacuated in Louisiana.Cite web|author=CNN|title=Red Cross shelters thousands from the storm|publisher=CNN|year=2002|accessdate=2008-03-27|url=http://archives.cnn.com/2002/WEATHER/10/03/lili.states/index.html] At least 2,000 volunteers staffed 115 Red Cross shelters in Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi, and Alabama.Cite web|author=Bonnie Gillespie|title=Team Louisiana Weathers Hurricane Lili|year=2002|publisher=The Red Cross|accessdate=2008-04-03|url=http://www.redcross.org/news/ds/hurricanes/021008lili.html] More than 20,000 people stayed in those shelters. The Red Cross also sent over 160,000 meals to the area. A total of 3,000 prison inmates in Texas were evacuated to safer inland locations. The launch of Space Shuttle Atlantis was delayed for 5 days when the Kennedy Space Center was threatened by the storm, the first time a launch in Florida had been delayed because of weather in Houston, Texas.Cite web|author=Jim Banke|title=Mission Atlantis:Hurricane Lili Delays Launch to Monday|publisher=SPACE|year=2002|accessdate=2008-03-28|url=http://www.space.com/missionlaunches/sts112_delay_021002.html] Stores across the warning area were very busy in advance of the storm. In New Iberia, Louisiana, hardware stores ran out of stock,Cite web|author=KXAS|title=Hurricane Lili Makes Landfall Into Louisiana Coast|publisher=NBC|year=2002|accessdate=2008-03-28|url=http://www.nbc5i.com/news/1698445/detail.html] and businesses in Lafayette, Louisiana reported similar shortages.Cite web|author=Mike Brassfield|title=Hurricane Lili runs out of steam|publisher=The St. Petersburg Times|year=2002|accessdate=2008-03-28|url=http://www.sptimes.com/2002/10/04/Worldandnation/Hurricane_Lili_runs_o.shtml]

Collegiate activities were also affected by the storm. Southern University canceled four days of classes because of Lili,Cite web|author=Gabrielle Maple|title=Back to Back|publisher=The Southern Digest|year=2002|accessdate=2008-03-27|url=http://media.www.southerndigest.com/media/storage/paper950/news/2002/10/08/News/Back-To.Back-2233030.shtml] and 20 Texas A&M University Galveston, Texas students evacuated to the school's College Station location.Cite web|author=Jeremy Osborne|title=Texas Task Force Sent to Galveston|publisher=The Batt|year=2002|accessdate=2008-03-27|url=http://media.www.thebatt.com/media/storage/paper657/news/2002/10/03/FrontPage/Texas.Task.Force.Sent.To.Galveston-515455.shtml] The University of South Alabama canceled two athletic events in advance of the storm.Cite web|author=Jeff Roper|title=Hurricane Lili cancels two games|publisher=The Vanguard|year=2002|accessdate=2008-03-27|url=http://media.www.usavanguard.com/media/storage/paper973/news/2002/10/07/Sports/Hurricane.Lili.Cancels.Two.Games-2618639.shtml]

Impact

Hurricane Lili was both the deadliest and most devastating hurricane of the 2002 Atlantic hurricane season.Cite web|author=AVILA/BEVEN/FRANKLIN/LAWRENCE/PASCH/STEWART
title=Summary of Tropical Cyclone Activity of 2002|publisher=NHC|year=2002|accessdate=2008-04-02|url=http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/archive/2002/tws/MIATWSAT_nov.html] A total of 13 people died in the Caribbean Islands, and 2 more were killed in the United States. Severe damage to crops and livestock occurred through the Lesser Antilles, and damage to buildings and other infrastructure was reported in other Caribbean nations and the United States.

Lesser Antilles

Lili affected the islands as a tropical storm. Winds in the area were generally below hurricane force, although some gusts exceeded convert|74|mph|km/h|abbr=on. Rainfall of up to convert|4|in|mm caused deadly mudslides.Cite web|author=AP|title=Lili leaves trail of destruction in Eastern Caribbean|publisher=Jamaica Observer|year=2002|accessdate=2008-04-02|url=http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/html/20020925T200000-0500_32586_OBS_LILI_LEAVES_TRAIL_OF_DESTRUCTION_IN_EASTERN_CARIBBEAN.asp] The winds, combined with poor construction, tore the roofs off numerous homes and businesses. The majority of the damage was dealt to primarily to the banana crop.

St. Lucia lost at least 75 percent of its banana crop, and hundreds of homes were damaged by the strong winds. Near total loss of electricity, water, and telephone services occurred, and utility systems were heavily damaged. Four people were killed on the island, and total damage was estimated at $20 million (2002 USD, $23.5 million 2007 USD)

Over 600 homes were damaged in Barbados, [Ministry of Housing Lands and the Environment of the Government of Barbados. [www.sidsnet.org/docshare/other/20041103160354_BARBADOS_NAR_2004.doc BARBADOS NATIONAL ASSESSMENT REPORT ON THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE BARBADOS PROGRAMME OF ACTION (BPOA).] Retrieved on 2008-05-08.] and nearly 50 trees were downed by the high gusts. Similar to in St. Lucia, there was significant damage to the nation's banana crop.Cite web|author=CEDRA|title=Situation Reports:Caribbean:Tropical Storm Lili|publisher=Relief Web|year=2002|accessdate=2008-04-04|url=http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/OCHA-64CU4B?OpenDocument&query=hurricane%20lili%20caribbean] Extensive loss of electricity and telephone service also occurred. Damage totaled at nearly $200,000 (2002 USD, $235,000 2007 USD)

Grenada also experienced moderate damage. A total of 14 homes' roofswere damaged, and one was completely destroyed. The island Medical Centre's roof was also damaged, and 12 landslides were reported. There was also mild damage to infrastructure, particularly in St. Patrick's Parish; three bridges were damaged or destroyed, along with seven utility poles and a water main. The entire island was without power at some point, but it was quickly restored in the southern part of the island where damage to the poles themselves was less significant.

St. Vincent and the Grenadines were heavily impacted, especially compared to other islands in the area. Several hundred homes and two schools were damaged, and the Rose Hall Police Station's roof was lost. Still, the majority of damage was dealt to the agricultural industry. In all, damage to the islands totaled $40 million (2002 USD, $47 million 2007 USD).

Haiti

Lili passed offshore of Haiti as a dissipating tropical storm. The storm's major impact was extremely heavy rainfall, in excess of convert|16|in|mm near the settlement of Camp-Perrin, Haiti.Cite web|author=ORE|title=Hurricane Lili Was Accompanied by Torrential Rains As it Passed Over Haiti|publisher=ORE|year=2002|accessdate=2008-04-05|url=http://www.oreworld.org/flood/flood.htm] This caused the Ravine du Sud River to overflow, and submerge buildings in the town. Two people died in the mudslides these rains triggered, and two more drowned in the flooding around Camp-Perrin.Cite web|author=AP|title=Lili killed 4 in Haiti; deaths unreported for a week|publisher=USA Today|year=2002|accessdate=2008-04-05|url=http://www.usatoday.com/weather/news/2002/2002-10-05-lili-haiti.htm] The floods also seriously damaged crops and infrastructure; over 1700 homes were damaged and 240 were destroyed.

Jamaica

Lili affected Jamaica as a strengthening tropical storm. Wind gusts in excess of convert|70|mph|km/h|abbr=on and rainfall over convert|2|ft|m resulted in damage to homes, crops, and utility systems.

Extremely heavy rainfall inundated the island. Cedar Valley recorded the most rainfall, with convert|23.1|in|mm measured. This led to prolific flooding that triggered mudslides across the island and killed four people. These floods decimated the island's sugar cane crop, one of the island's principal exports. The resultant flooding caused widespread problems with the infrastructure of the island. All of the island's hospitals had flood damage, and three were also dealt structural damage by the strong winds.Cite web|author=POH|title=Hurricane Lili in the Caribbean
publisher=WHO|year=2002|accessdate=2008-04-06|url=http://www.paho.org/English/DD/PED/lili-hur.htm] The flooding caused latrines and other sewage sources to overflow into the intake sources for the water supply, leading to fear of disease.

Cuba

Lili made landfall as a category two hurricane twice in Cuba, on the Isle of Youth and in the Pinar Del Rio Province, on October 1. Wind gusts up to convert|112|mph|km/h|abbr=on and rainfall amounts reaching convert|6|in|mm in some places caused damage to homes, businesses and crops. One person was killed.Cite web|author=IFRC|title=Press Releases: Caribbean: Tropical Storm Isidore - Sep 2002, Cuban community left reeling by Isidore and Lili|publisher=Relief Web|year=2002|accessdate=2008-04-06|url=http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/ACOS-64D86L?OpenDocument&query=hurricane%20lili]

Damage to buildings and other infrastructure was significant. The most severely impacted provinces were Pinar Del Rio and La Habana. A total of 48,000 homes were damaged, 16,000 of them lost their roofs. The province Sancti Spiritus was not affected as severely, as only 945 homes were damaged, with 500 losing their roofs. The provinces in Eastern Cuba, including Guantanamo, suffered similar damage.Cite web|author=IFRC|title=Situation Reports: Caribbean: Tropical Storm Isidore - Sep 2002, Caribbean: Hurricane Lili Information Bulletin No. 03/02|publisher=Relief Web|year=2002|accessdate=2008-04-06|url=http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/OCHA-64C2L6?OpenDocument&query=hurricane%20lili] Electricity outages for whole towns lasted weeks in parts of the western provinces. This led to loss of running water due to unpowered pumps, and deliveries of fresh water had to be made to remote villages. The tobacco and rice crops were badly depleted, but it was difficult to differentiate how much damage was caused by Lili, since Isidore had struck the region just a week earlier.Cite web|author=OCHA|title=Caribbean - Tropical Storm Lili OCHA Situation Report No. 8|publsher=Relief Web|year=2002|accessdate=2008-04-06|url=http://www.reliefweb.int/rw/rwb.nsf/db900sid/ACOS-64C9GJ?OpenDocument&query=hurricane%20lili]

Louisiana

Lili made landfall on the morning of October 3 near Intracoastal City, as a weakening category one hurricane. Wind gusts reaching convert|120|mph|km/h|abbr=on, coupled with over convert|6|in|mm of rainfall and a storm surge of convert|12|ft|m caused over $860 million (2002 USD; $1 billion 2007 USD) in damage. A total of 237,000 people lost power, and oil rigs offshore were shut down for up to a week. Crops were badly affected, particularly the sugar cane, damage totaled nearly $175 million (2002 USD; $205 million 2007 USD). No direct deaths were reported as early warnings and the compact nature of the storm circumvented major loss of life.Cite web|author=Kent Kuyper, Marty Mayeaux, Montra Lockwood, Donovan Landreneau, Joe Rua, Lance Escude and Roger Erickson|title=Lili '02|publisher=NWS WFO Lake Charles, Louisiana|year=2002|accessdate=2008-04-08|url=http://web.archive.org/web/20021226160502/www.srh.noaa.gov/lch/tropical/lili/lili_rpt.htm]

Vermillion Parish, the point of landfall, was hardest hit. Wind gusts in excess of convert|120|mph|km/h|abbr=on, along with a storm surge of convert|12|ft|m dealt major damage to nearly 4000 homes. The worst storm surge flooding occurred in Intracoastal City, destroying 20 buildings owned by a helicopter company. One person died after the storm, and 20 were hospitalized for carbon monoxide poisoning.
Acadia Parish was also hard hit, recording wind gusts exceeding convert|110|mph|km/h|abbr=on, and 5 tornadoes touched down in the parish.Cite web|author=NWS Lake Charles|title=LILI|publisher=NWS|year=2002|accessdate=2008-04-08|url=http://web.archive.org/web/20030417141302/www.srh.noaa.gov/lch/tropical/lili/lili_psh.htm] Thousands of homes were damaged with over 2,500 suffering severe damage. Power across the parish was knocked out, 2 people were injured and one was killed after the storm. Schools in the parish also sustained $1.6 million (2002 USD; $1.9 million 2007 USD) in damage.

Mississippi

Lili's outer rainbands dumped large amounts of rain and brought tropical storm force wind gusts to Mississippi.Cite web|author=NWS New Orleans|title=POST TROPICAL CYCLONE REPORT...HURRICANE LILI|publisher=NWS New Orleans|year=2002|accessdate=2008-04-12|url=http://web.archive.org/web/20021016193841/www.srh.noaa.gov/data/NEW/PSH/newpshnew.1.txt] Pascagoula, Mississippi recorded wind gusts of convert|41|mph|km/h|abbr=on, and Picayune, Mississippi received convert|4.14|in|mm of rainfall. Minor power outages occurred, mainly in southern Mississippi, and combined with the flooding of roads and buildings caused $30 million (2002 USD; $35 million 2007 USD) in damage. No deaths occurred in Mississippi.

Other Areas In The United States

Hurricane Lili's remnants brought heavy rainfall, peaking at four inches in Arkansas, to the Southeast, before dissipating near the Arkansas-Tennessee border. No major damage was reported.

Aftermath

President Bush declared Louisiana a federal disaster area after the storm, making it eligible for assistance.Cite web|author=Mike Brassfield|title=Hurricane Lili Runs Out of Steam|publisher=St. Petersburg Times|year=2002|accessdate=2008-04-09|url=http://www.sptimes.com/2002/10/04/Worldandnation/Hurricane_Lili_runs_o.shtml] FEMA set up three locations to apply in Mississippi and Louisiana. Applications began pouring in, 153,000 by the time of the deadline.Cite web|author=FEMA|title=Louisiana Aid Deadline Looms, 153,000 Have Applied|publisher=FEMA|year=2002|accessdate=2008-04-10|url=http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=2751] Cite web|author=The New Orleans Channel|title=FEMA Fans Out After Storms|publisher=WDSU|year=2002|accessdate=2008-04-08|url=http://www.wdsu.com/news/1706286/detail.html] Over $311 million in aid was granted to Louisiana.Cite web|author=FEMA|title=Lili Recovery at More Than a Quater Billion Dollars|publisher=FEMA|year=2002|accessdate=2008-04-10|url=http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=2762] A total of $50 million of that money was in the form of low interest loans, and not actual grants.

Over 1,000 power workers from eight different states went to the worst hit areas to help restore power.Cite web|author=WTVY|title=Hurricane Lili Aid|publisher=WTVY|year=2002|accessdate=2008-04-09|url=http://www.wtvynews4.com/home/headlines/110161.html] Cite web|author=Melissa Simas|title=Utility Workers on Ready for Storm Damage|publisher=KAIT|year=2002|accessdate=2008-04-08|url=http://www.kait8.com/Global/story.asp?S=959699&nav=0jshBbXu] Seven states sent tree trimmers to help clear debris from power lines and roads to speed the recovery process.Cite web|author=Cleco|title=Cleco Power|publisher=Cleco|year=2002|accessdate=2008-04-10|url=http://www.cmsgis.com/main/services/featuredclients.htm] In addition, FEMA gave SLEMCO, the state's power company, an $8.6 million grant, which paid for 75% of the damage to the electrical grid there.Cite web|author=FEMA|title=SWLA Electric Corp To Receive $8.6 million FEMA Public Assistance Grant|publisher=FEMA|year=2002|accessdate=2008-04-10|url=http://www.fema.gov/news/newsrelease.fema?id=2765] It took up to four weeks to restore power to all customers.Cite web|author=Storm Work|title=Helping Costumers and Communities|publisher=Storm Work|year=2002|accessdate=2008-04-10|url=http://www.asplundh.com/treemagpdfs/Holiday%202002%20PDF%20Files/Holiday%20Issue%202002%20Storm%20Work%20Pgs%202-3.pdf]

Hurricane Lili caused great environmental damage to the marshes and barrier islands in Louisiana. Huge fish kills were observed in marshes near the landfall point, and in the Atchafalaya Swamp. The barrier islands to the east of the landfall point, those subjected to the highest surge, were severely eroded. Sand was also deposited behind them into the brackish marshes, burying vegetation. The freshwater marshes were severely damaged by the wind and surge, some of them completely destroyed. The severe erosion created new waterways connecting inland bodies of water with the Gulf of Mexico, which eventually led to further erosion of inland lagoons.Cite web|author=Gaye Farris|title=USGS scientists monitor coastal damage from Hurricane Lili|publisher=USGS|year=2002|accessdate=2008-04-10|url=http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2002-10/usgs-usm101102.php]

Retirement

The name Lili was retired in the spring of 2003 because of its destruction and deadly Caribbean track and will never be used again in the Atlantic basin. It was replaced with Laura for the 2008 season.cite web|author=World Meteorological Organization|year=2004|title=Final Report of the 2003 Hurricane Season|accessdate=2007-02-11|url=http://www.wmo.ch/web/www/TCP/Reports/HC26-English.pdf] The names Lucy and Lisette were also suggested as possible replacement names for Lili.cite web|author=World Meteorological Organization|year=2004|title=Replacement Names for 2003 Atlantic Hurricanes (Fabian, Isabel, and Juan) and 2002 Hurricane Lili|accessdate=2007-02-11|url=http://www.wmo.ch/web/www/TCP/Meetings/HC-26/doc06add1.doc|format=DOC]

ee also

*List of retired Atlantic hurricanes

References