For many of you who are new to Miami, you may not know much about a hurricane named Andrew that hit South Florida 20 years ago this Friday, August 24th. For those that were here, this was the storm that changed everything for the entire community. And for weather geeks around the world, Hurricane Andrew would become a turning point for scientific need and innovation, which in many ways has been answered.
On August 24, 1992, South Florida was shaken to its core when Category 5 Hurricane Andrew made landfall at around 5:00am. Andrew was only the third Category 5 to ever make landfall in the US in the past 100 years behind the 1935 Hurricane in the Florida Keys and 1969 Hurricane Camille in Louisiana. Andrew just 5 days earlier was nothing more than a weak tropical storm. However, by Sunday August 23rd, evacuations and hasty preparations were being made for “The Big One” to hit South Florida. Andrew was a small hurricane with its strongest winds in the eyewall only extending a few miles. Due to this, downtown Miami was mostly spared. Had Andrew made landfall just 15 miles north, the damage costs would have been more than doubled!
However, the city of Homestead was not so fortunate. The storm and its aftermath left the city completely devastated. Residents were not prepared for what they saw when daylight exposed Mother Nature’s power. The National Guard, Red Cross, and Salvation Army were on the scene immediately, to hand out emergency supplies and provisions. The US Army would arrive 10 days later to help keep the peace as survival instincts took over societal norms. With such complete destruction it is a remarkable testament to local news, county emergency management, and the National Hurricane Center that only 65 total deaths occurred during Andrew and its aftermath. The total damage was estimated to be $26.5 billion (1992USD) including damage in the Bahamas and Louisiana.
Twenty years later the memories for the survivors are still clear as day. For the South Florida community, Hurricane Andrew is one storm that will never be forgotten.
Do you have any stories of Hurricane Andrew you would like to share? Leave them in the comments below.
*To commemorate the 20th Anniversary of Hurricane Andrew, the Miami Science Museum is hosting a day of remembrance on August 25, 2012 from 11am until 5pm. Come explore the museum and be treated to the day’s special activities. For more information, please visit http://www.miamisci.org
-Angela Colbert
Meteorology & Physical Oceanography
Graduate Student
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