Hurricane Andrew

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Hurricane Andrew Synoptic description of the disaster : On August 24th, 1992 in the state of Florida, complete destruction was the end result of Hurricane Andrew. A Hurricane that began in the Atlantic ocean at 20mph. That is almost twice the strength that normal hurricanes begin at. The peak strength of Hurricane Andrew was so strong that devices were not able to measure the winds. An approximation of the force of the winds was said to be up to 200mph. Andrew destroyed about 28,000 homes, damaged 100,000 homes and left 250,000 people homeless along with 30 billion dollars in damage and almost 30 deaths. Hurricane Andrew did not end its devastation in Florida, soon it went to Louisiana causing more damage. (Fig.1) The destruction, injuries and losses were not the only things to worry about after Andrew. Only hours after Hurricane Andrew hit South Florida, looting began. People were taking advantage of others in this moment of crisis, stealing the few possessions that were left. The Clintons, President Bush, at the time, Governor Lawton Chiles were the leaders that came to see the magnitude of this disaster. Seeing the situations in the aftermath of Andrew, troops were sent in to protect and help distribute food, water, clothes and supplies. They also provided medical help. People had guns and were not afraid to use them to save what little they had left. A curfew was established to keep people off the streets and out of trouble. Causes of the disaster: Andrew began as a tropical depression in the Atlantic almost a week before hitting South Florida. The next day, which was August 17th , it was the first tropical storm of the season. It was moving with amazing quickness and strength in a west and northwest dire... ... middle of paper ... ...ns such as the Red Cross. Personal suggestion for prevention and recovery of disaster: There isn't a way of preventing a hurricane, but there are ways to prevent injuries. If you have never experienced a hurricane, learn about them. Many places offer free hurricane tips and preparation. Always have the necessities if the is a hurricane warning; water, batteries, flashlight, radio, matches, canned food, hand operated can opener, candles and a first aid kit. Make an emergency plan with your family, designate a safety area in the house and a meeting place if you should separate. Hurricane preparation is the most important thing in staying safe during a hurricane. Through technology we are able to track these hurricanes and have time to get ready for them. Recovery takes a lot of time and work, but safety and injury prevention should be your number one concern.

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