Hurricane Andrew

Hurricane Andrew

Hurricane Andrew was one of the strongest and most damaging hurricanes to hit the United States. It struck in 1992 and caused huge damage, especially in Florida.

At its peak, Andrew was a Category 5 hurricane, with very powerful winds. When it hit land near Homestead and Cutler Bay in Florida, its winds reached up to 165 mph. This tore down buildings and knocked out power for millions of people.

The hurricane began as a small storm in the Atlantic Ocean and quickly grew into a big, dangerous system. It passed through The Bahamas first, where it damaged homes, before moving toward the United States. In Florida, Andrew destroyed many homes and caused a lot of damage. The storm also caused damage in parts of Louisiana and along the Gulf Coast.

Because of the terrible damage caused by Hurricane Andrew, the name was later retired. It will no longer be used for future storms. Today, Andrew is remembered as a powerful reminder of how strong hurricanes can be and why it is important to be prepared.

Meteorological history

On August 14, a tropical wave moved off the west coast of Africa. High pressure to its north pushed the wave westward. An area of convection formed along the wave south of the Cape Verde islands, and on August 15, meteorologists began watching the system. The thunderstorms became more organized, and rainbands formed around a center of circulation. Tropical Depression Three formed late on August 16, about 1,630 mi east-southeast of Barbados. It moved west-northwestward at 20 mph. At first, wind shear stopped it from growing, but when the shear decreased, the depression became a tropical storm. The National Hurricane Center named it Andrew at 12:00 UTC on August 17.

The hurricane moved westward into good conditions and began to grow quickly late on August 22. On August 23, the storm reached Category 5 on the Saffir–Simpson scale, with maximum winds of 175 mph near Eleuthera in the Bahamas. Andrew was a small hurricane, with winds of 35 mph only about 90 mi from its center. After reaching this strength, the hurricane went through an eyewall replacement cycle. At 21:00 UTC on August 23, Andrew hit Eleuthera as a Category 5 hurricane, with winds of 160 mph. The storm weakened while moving over the Bahama Banks, and at 01:00 UTC on August 24, it hit the southern Berry Islands as a Category 4 hurricane, with winds of 150 mph. As it moved over warm waters of the Gulf Stream, the hurricane grew stronger again. At 08:40 UTC on August 24, Andrew struck Elliott Key as a Category 5 hurricane, with winds of 165 mph. About 25 minutes later, Andrew hit just northeast of Homestead, Florida, with a pressure of 922 mbar. This made Andrew the strongest hurricane to hit the United States since Hurricane Camille. The United States did not see another Category 5 landfall until Hurricane Michael. As the eye moved over Florida, the storm weakened after crossing the state and moved into the Gulf of Mexico with winds of 130 mph. In the Gulf of Mexico, Andrew turned west-northwest and grew stronger again, reaching winds of 145 mph late on August 25.

At 08:30 UTC on August 26, the hurricane hit about 20 mi west-southwest of Morgan City, Louisiana, with winds of 115 mph. Andrew weakened quickly as it moved north and northeast, becoming a tropical storm within 10 hours. After moving into Mississippi, the storm weakened to a tropical depression early on August 27. The depression merged with an approaching frontal system, and by midday on August 28, Andrew had lost its tropical features while over the southern Appalachian Mountains. The storm's remnants continued northeast, merging with the remnants of Hurricane Lester and a frontal zone over Pennsylvania on August 29.

Later reviews showed that Andrew was often stronger than thought between early August 22 and early August 26. At the time, the National Hurricane Center thought its strongest winds were 150 mph, but after the season ended, this was raised to 155 mph. A 2004 study by Christopher Landsea and others found that Andrew reached Category 5 strength near the Bahamas on August 23 and had maximum winds of 175 mph. The study also said Andrew briefly became a Category 5 again around the time it hit South Florida early on August 24. The storm was also found to have been slightly stronger than first thought as it approached Louisiana, but the landfall winds were adjusted from 120 to 115 mph.

Preparations

Bahamas

Officials in the Bahamas warned people about Hurricane Andrew two days before it arrived. They told everyone to take the storm seriously and get ready. Shelters were set up in churches, government buildings, and schools. Because of the warnings, not many people were hurt.

Florida

People in Florida were also warned about the hurricane. The governor declared an emergency and called up part of the National Guard. Many people left their homes to stay safe. Schools and airports closed, and many tourists left the area. The warnings helped keep injuries low.

Gulf Coast of the United States

When the hurricane moved towards the Gulf Coast, warnings were issued for places from Alabama to Texas. People in Mississippi, Louisiana, and Texas were told to leave. Shelters were opened, and schools closed. Officials prepared for the storm by moving boats and securing oil platforms.

Impact

Hurricane Andrew caused big damage in the Bahamas, Florida, and Louisiana. In the Bahamas, strong winds hurt homes and schools, leaving many people without homes. The storm also damaged farms and fishing areas.

In Florida, Andrew was very costly, causing billions of dollars in damage. Strong winds destroyed many homes, businesses, and farms. Many people lost their homes, and some areas looked like after a big storm. The hurricane also caused some deaths and injuries.

In Louisiana, Andrew moved ashore and caused damage like a big storm. Schools and homes were damaged, and crops like sugar were hurt. The storm also caused some deaths and injuries. Other states like Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia saw some damage from winds and rain, but it was much less severe than in Florida and Louisiana.

Aftermath

Bahamas

After the storm, the Bahamas needed help. The government of the United Kingdom sent supplies like blankets, food, and water. A ship from the Royal Navy also helped. Aid came from Canada, Japan, the United States, and the United Nations. The American Red Cross sent tents and other supplies. Rebuilding started quickly, but it would take years for trees and plants to recover. Tourism dropped because of the storm. The Bahamas also improved its emergency management system.

United States

After seeing the damage in Florida and Louisiana, President George H. W. Bush asked for aid to help people and businesses recover. Later, this amount was increased. This was the most expensive disaster aid package at the time. Florida received a lot of this aid. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) was criticized for being slow to help.

Florida

President Bush declared parts of Florida a disaster area and offered help. Governor Lawton Chiles created a fund to help businesses and homes. There was an increase in crime after the storm. Military personnel set up tent cities for temporary housing. Canada also sent military engineers to help repair schools and hospitals.

FEMA provided temporary mobile homes for families and financial help to others. Almost two years later, many homes that were damaged had been repaired. New building codes were created in Florida to make homes stronger against future storms.

Louisiana

President Bush visited Louisiana and said the damage was very bad. He declared many areas as disaster zones. FEMA set up offices to help people apply for aid. The Louisiana National Guard helped clear debris and provided water. Mobile homes were made available for people whose homes were damaged. The Small Business Administration also provided loans to help repair homes and businesses.

Retirement

Because Hurricane Andrew caused so much damage, the World Meteorological Organization retired the name Andrew in 1993. It was replaced with the name Alex for the 1998 hurricane season.