Homestead Mayor Jeff Porter joins us now. The high winds destroyed large areas of sugar and soybean crops, estimated at $289million in damage. [37] In New Orleans, Mayor Sidney Barthelemy ordered the evacuation of about 200,000residents in the low-lying areas of the city. [58] But most others (particularly the media, former National Hurricane Center director Max Mayfield) in retrospect stated that Andrew was hardly "The Big One",[59][60] but still very devastating. [35] Three damaging tornadoes occurred in the state. After turning northwestward and weakening further, Andrew moved ashore near Morgan City, Louisiana, as a low-end Category3 storm. - Articles from The Weather Channel | weather.com [35] Along Dauphin Island, high tides left severe beach erosion, with portions of the island losing up to 30ft (9.1m) of sand. As many as 1.4million people lost power at the height of the storm; some for more than one month. [147], Media related to Hurricane Andrew at Wikimedia Commons, Hurricane Andrew at peak intensity near the. [29] Government offices and public and private schools were closed from Monroe County northward to St. Lucie County. About 25minutes after its first Florida landfall, Andrew made another landfall just northeast of Homestead, with a slightly lower pressure of 922mbar (27.23inHg). [1][2] In Florida, Andrew killed 44 and left a then-record $25billion in damage. [79] In addition to the damage at Everglades National Park, effects in Monroe County were significant, especially in the Upper Florida Keys. HOMESTEAD, Fla. It's safe to say no one was prepared for Hurricane Andrew, the category 5 hurricane that slammed into Miami-Dade County and Homestead Air Force Base. [17] In West Virginia, the remnants of Andrew combined with a cold front to produce 1.5 to 2.5in (38 to 64mm) of rain over portions of the state, causing flooding in areas of Morgantown with poor drainage. Damage was heaviest in St. Mary Parish, about 32mi (51km) east of where Andrew made landfall. Overall, $27.3billion in losses[43] and 65fatalities were attributed to Andrew,[4] although many other estimates range as high as $36billion. Hes been calling us and telling us to come up, so we are.. [39] The city later decided against ordering an evacuation. Located some 35 miles south of Miami, Homestead sits in the southernmost section of the continental U.S., where the mainland gives way to the Florida Keys. Aren't big tropical cyclones also intense tropical cyclones? [10] As it crossed over the warm waters of the Gulf Stream, the hurricane rapidly re-intensified as the eye decreased in size and its eyewall convection deepened. [4] The storm's remnants continued moving towards the northeast, fully merging with the remnants of Hurricane Lester and the frontal zone over the Mid-Atlantic, in Pennsylvania, on August 29. Im coming back. Andrew began as a tropical depression over the eastern Atlantic Ocean on August16. There were no traffic lights. It was later noted that if Andrew had been slightly larger or made landfall a few miles further north, it would have significantly affected Miami and Fort Lauderdale, which would have resulted in an even higher damage and death toll. Social Sharing Areas in the Gasp region could see 90 . [28] Overall, almost 1.2million people evacuated, which contributed to the low number of fatalities, despite the intensity of the storm. In the years that followed, the storm survivors were joined by thousands of new arrivals who turned the once-sleepy farm town into a sprawling Miami exurb and poured millions of tax dollars into revitalizing a moribund downtown that is now anchored by a shimmering new $26 million, 75-foot tall City Hall building. Despite this, the Cleveland Indians, fearing the relocation of their more affluent fans, moved their spring training location to Chain of Lakes Park in Winter Haven. "[103] Some responsibility for the slow response must rest with Florida Governor Lawton Chiles, who waited five days to submit the formal request for Federal assistance that FEMA officials believed was required before they were empowered to act. [24] Rainfall was projected to be between 5 and 8in (130 and 200mm) along the path of the storm. Although Burmese pythons native to Southeast Asia had been sighted in Everglades National Park since the 1980s, the destruction of this facility contributed significantly to the establishment of breeding populations in Florida. [4] Only minor damage occurred in Nassau, according to the Bahamas Red Cross,[50] but on the private island of Cat Cay, many expensive homes sustained heavy damage. [135] The county had a net loss of about 36,000people in 1992, while Broward and Palm Beach counties gained about 17,000 and 2,300Dade County residents, respectively. Overall he caused $300 billion worth in damages and a chuck of that money came from the destruction that he caused in Homestead, Florida. Homestead became a field of destruction following Hurricane . [28] Damage in that county was about $131million. [80] Storm surge flooded low-lying areas, particularly in Goodland, Everglades City, and Marco Island. Several other anemometers measuring the highest wind speeds on land were destroyed or failed. Porter said they have spent the past few days making sure Homestead residents know where the shelters are and making sure the families of key city workers and police officers are in safe places. Andrew was also the strongest landfalling hurricane in the United States in decades and the costliest hurricane to strike anywhere in the country, until it was surpassed by Katrina in 2005. At the time, Hurricane Andrew was the most expensive Atlantic hurricane in U.S. history (later surpassed by Hurricane Katrina in 2005). In addition to the mobile homes already provided, FEMA spent $22.6 million on disaster housing. [139] Efforts have been made to curb the thriving population of these invasive snakes, including a ban on importation of the species to the United States since January 2012 and increased regulations on ownership of a boa constrictor or python. [128] Stricter building codes were created in Florida in the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew. FEMA spokesman Grant Peterson stated, "24 hours is not reasonable to expect to have all the resources of the federal government landing in the middle of a disaster. However, as Broward County became more crowded, 100,871people relocated from Broward County to Palm Beach County. [66] Approximately 20million cubic yards (15million m3) of debris left by the storm were disposed of. [145] About 1,300National Guardsmen were deployed to southern Louisiana. around $3 billion were lost when Homestead National Air Force Base had to be shut down, 1167 out of the 1176 mobile homes were completely destroyed . Accelerating northeastward, the depression began merging with the approaching frontal system, and by midday on August 28, Andrew had lost its tropical identity while located over the southern Appalachian Mountains. Andrew is currently the ninth-costliest Atlantic hurricane to hit the United States, behind only Katrina (2005), Ike (2008), Sandy (2012), Harvey (2017), Irma (2017), Maria (2017), Ida (2021), and Ian (2022) as well as the ninth-costliest Atlantic hurricane, behind the aforementioned systems. It was just wild," Knowles said. All rights reserved, What's With the Construction on I-95 in Broward? So were the houses of his grandparents and other kin. Tuesday marks the 29 th anniversary of the Category 5 hurricane making landfall, leveling cities like Homestead and Florida City with winds as high as 175 miles per hour. [84] Sustained winds in the state were below tropical storm force, though a wind gust of 41mph (67km/h) was observed in Huntsville. Hurricane Andrews 175-mile-per-hour wind gusts leveled Homestead, destroyed much of South Floridas infrastructure system and left tens of thousands homeless. Andrew continued into the Gulf of Mexico before reaching the central Louisiana coast as a Category 3 hurricane. [13], As the eye moved onshore in Florida, the convection in the eyewall strengthened due to increased convergence, and Hurricane Hunters reported a warmer eyewall temperature than two hours prior. "They finally got people coming down with water and some supplies for the people, like ice and things like that, it got a lot better.". HMSCardiff, a Royal Navy Type 42 destroyer, was the operational guard ship at the time and assisted in relief operations in and around the Gregorytown area. So I know what a big storm like this can do, he said. Funnel clouds were observed near the path of the storm,[91] along with 26tornadoes. The Homestead Cybrarium will open a virtual exhibit to mark 30 years since Hurricane Andrew. It is the most destructive hurricane to ever hit Florida in terms of structures damaged or destroyed, and remained the costliest in financial terms until Hurricane Irma surpassed it 25 years later. "You could not get gas. The Miami suburb was flattened by Hurricane Andrew 25 years ago. The state National Guard also dispatched water purification units and tanks with filled potable water. There were no landmarks," Blakely said. Weve been looking at whats been going on in Houston, so everybodys got in their minds what Mother Nature can do, he said. [83] Before making landfall, Andrew spawned an F3 tornado in LaPlace, which killed two people and injured 32. IE 11 is not supported. U.S. Twenty-five years ago Thursday, the city of Homestead was in the eye of a Category 5 storm the highest category on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale that unleashed its wrath on South Florida on Aug. 24, 1992. Heavy rainfall in other areas was sporadic, with precipitation reported as far north as Central Florida. "The base was so badly damaged that rebuilding it was almost out of the question, said Bob Jensen, president of the Town Hall Museum. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. [120], Although proposals to rebuild Homestead Air Force Base were initially rejected,[71] the United States Department of Defense eventually expended over $100million to begin repairs. One person drowned from the surge in Lower Bogue, Eleuthera, and two others died in The Bluff. Thirty years after Hurricane Andrew made landfall in our community the City of Homestead is stronger than ever. On March 5, 1994, the base reopened as Homestead Air Reserve Base. Andrew came ashore at Homestead with winds of 160 miles per hour. [4] Embedded within the deep easterlies, the depression tracked west-northwestward at 20mph (32km/h). [84] A total of 17deaths occurred in Louisiana, 8directly and 9from indirect causes. [4][83] The tornado was on the ground for about 10minutes, during which it damaged or destroyed 163structures, leaving 60families homeless. Joan Wallach, left, and her daughter, Brenda, leave the Royal Palm Trailer Park in Homestead, Florida, where they lived, with suitcases they found in the debris from the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew, Monday, Aug. 24, 1992. Generally, single-family homes fared well, with most losing only roofing shingles, though others suffered severe damage after large trees fell on them. Natives of Iowa who have called Homestead home for 39 years, they too are Andrew survivors. A recording station at the National Hurricane Center recorded a peak gust of 163 miles per hour (262 km/h), and sustained winds peaked at 126 miles . [10] The cyclone weakened further while crossing the Bahama Banks, and at 01:00 UTC on August 24, Andrew hit the southern Berry Islands of the Bahamas as a Category 4 hurricane, with winds of 150mph (240km/h). [4] River flooding was also reported, with the Tangipahoa River in Robert cresting at 3.8ft (1.2m) above flood stage. [131] It phased out local laws and regulations and replaced them with universal statewide building codes. Fifteen of them were killed by the impact of the storm that night. The flight indicated that Andrew maintained a vigorous circulation aloft. In Broward County, on the north side of the storm's path, damage in several municipalities was primarily limited to downed trees, several of which fell onto roads and power lines. [55] Almost all of the damage in Florida was caused by strong winds, rather than storm surge or flooding that is often associated with a major hurricane. I thought that can't be my house, but it was," Knowles recalled. Its very hard to drive away from this storm, said Porter. Difficulty during clean-up and recovery led to increased divorce rates and a spike in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Unsalvageable buildings were demolished. While the storm also caused major damage in the Bahamas and Louisiana, the greatest impact was felt in South Florida, where the storm made landfall as a Category5 hurricane, with 1-minute sustained wind speeds as high as 165mph (265km/h) and a gust as high as 174mph (280km/h). Estfana Hernandez, whose El Toro Taco restaurant is one of the longtime anchors of Homesteads revitalized downtown, began boarding the windows of her eatery on Wednesday and those of the other businesses her family owns on Krome Ave., the main drag in town. It produced hurricane-force winds along its path through Louisiana, damaging large stretches of power lines that left about 230,000people without electricity. [118] A panel of psychiatrists and psychologists at the University of Miami agreed that as many as 90% of residents in the worst impacted areas would experience at least a few symptoms of PTSD. A resident in Homestead, Fla., asks for help for the entire block, Aug. 26, 1992, after the area was ravaged by Hurricane Andrew earlier in the week. Everybody in town is very nervous about Irma, she said. Las mejores ofertas para 1992 Foto de prensa de Bill Shaw en daos por huracn Andrew en Homestead, Florida estn en eBay Compara precios y caractersticas de productos nuevos y usados Muchos artculos con envo gratis! [47] The storm first struck North Eleuthera,[48] where it produced a high storm surge. After the tiles or shingles were peeled off, the plywood and prefabricated trusses were exposed to the weather. [17], Although effects from Andrew were catastrophic, the extent of damage was limited mainly from Kendall to Key Largo due to the small wind field of the storm. The thunderstorm activity became more concentrated, and narrow spiral rainbands began to develop around a center of circulation. [4] Although 48 counties in Alabama reported wind damage, impact across the state was generally minor. [129], In July 1996, Governor Chiles established the Florida Building Codes Study Commission, with the purpose of assessing the building codes at the time, as well as enacting improvements and reform to the system. [26] In Dade County alone, 515,670people were ordered to evacuate. [42], Even though Andrew was a small tropical cyclone for most of its lifespan, it caused extreme damage, especially in the Bahamas, Florida, and Louisiana. Neither President George H.W. The hurricane destroyed 90% of mobile homes in the county, including 99% of mobile homes in Homestead. After the upper-level low weakened and split into a trough, the wind shear decreased over the storm. [114] Bush went on to carry the state of Florida, but by a margin of only 1.89%. [3], A tropical wave moved off the west coast of Africa on August 14. [33] About 1.25million people evacuated from the central and southeast Louisiana,[4] while approximately 60,000others fled parishes in southwest Louisiana. Collier County's $414.2 million in property tax collections accounts for 27% of the $1.7 billion county budget. Hurricane Andrew damaged homes in Jeanerette, La. [31] Major airports such as the Fort LauderdaleHollywood,[31] Key West,[32] Miami,[21] and Palm Beach international airports closed. [146] House Resolution 5620 also included disaster aid to the state of Louisiana. [35] Gambling ships were moved into harbors and inland canals. [84], Across the state, the hurricane damaged 23,000homes and destroyed 985homes and 1,951mobile homes; private property damage was estimated at $1billion. In total, Andrew left 65dead and caused $27.3billion in damage. [4][84], Along the Louisiana coastline, damages largely resembled those of a Category 2 hurricane. The hurricane churned across Miami-Dade County,. Strong winds damaged billboards, awnings, commercial signs, several boats, planes, trees,[32] and 1,500homes, with 300of those becoming uninhabitable. But I dont see a lot of people pulling out of Homestead. [46], In the Bahamas, Andrew produced hurricane-force winds in North Eleuthera, New Providence, North Andros, Bimini, and the Berry Islands. [49][nb 5], Overall, Andrew caused about $25.3billion in damage in Florida,[4] making it the costliest hurricane to hit the state at the time. About 800houses were destroyed in the archipelago, and there was substantial damage to the transport, water, sanitation, agriculture, and fishing sectors. The cases of PTSD primarily impacted children. The plan for Irma is for Hernandezs grown son Hector to spend the night in the restaurant to make sure everything is okay, she said. Hurricane Andrew began as a tropical depression off the west coast of Africa near the Cape Verde islands on August 16; the next day . Crop damage in Dade County totaled about $509million. In Carroll County, several dwellings and barns were damaged, with one mobile home destroyed. In Key Largo, a 13-minute wind speed of 114mph (183km/h) was reported. Porter, 58, who was born and raised in this city of 65,000, said his house was destroyed by Andrew. [4] Galveston City Manager Doug Matthews advised residents to develop an evacuation plan in case the city chose to call for evacuations. [75] More than 50streets were blocked by fallen trees and power lines. [84] Strong winds also left at least 230,000people without electricity. But now theyre senior citizens with worried children who implored them to get out of Dodge. This caused the hurricane to decelerate to the northwest, and winds decreased as Andrew approached the Gulf Coast of the United States. NSGA Homestead was located at Homestead AFB, near the southern end of the Florida peninsula, about 25 miles south of Miami. August 25, 2020 at 12:10 am EDT. [70] Damage to the base was extensive enough that it was recommended for closure. [4] On August 19, a Hurricane Hunters flight into the storm failed to locate a well-defined center[7] and on the following day, a flight found that the cyclone had degenerated to the extent that only a diffuse low-level circulation center remained; observations indicated the barometric pressure rose to an unusually high 1,015mbar (29.97inHg). [66] It is estimated that throughout Florida, the storm damaged 101,241homes and destroyed approximately 63,000others the vast majority in Dade County with about 175,000people rendered homeless. The area's shopping mall, on U.S. 1 at. Even a month prior to Andrew, the House Committee on Appropriations which oversees the budget for FEMA released a report calling the agency a "political dumping ground" and a "turkey farm" due to its "weak, inexperienced leaders". She too rode out Hurricane Andrew in her Homestead home and when it was finally safe to venture out her restaurant was badly damaged.. [4] Convection became more organized as upper-level outflow became better established. A tornado in Howard County damaged several homes, some extensively. Storm surge of 9 to 13 feet is possible in areas near Biscayne Bay. [4] Overall, precipitation from Andrew peaked at nearly 14in (360mm) in western Dade County. [142] President Bush remarked, "The destruction from this storm goes beyond anything we have known in recent years," but noted that damage was less severe than in Florida. [126] Nearly two years after Andrew, about 70% of homes in Homestead that were damaged or destroyed were repaired or rebuilt. [nb 2][10] Despite its intensity, Andrew was a small tropical cyclone, with winds of 35mph (56km/h) extending out only about 90mi (150km) from the center. Two run-offs for special legislative elections scheduled for August 25 were postponed. Hurricane Andrew formed from a tropical wave on August 16, 1992 in the tropical Atlantic Ocean. Andrew was considered a "dry hurricane" by multiple media networks. In real time, the National Hurricane Center assessed its peak intensity as 150mph (240km/h),[20] which was upgraded to 155mph (250km/h) in a post-storm analysis after the season ended. Rows of damaged houses sit between Homestead and Florida City, Florida on Aug. 25, 1992. Hurricane Andrew, . They keep saying we're going to get supplies. [109][110] In order to provide temporary housing for the homeless, military personnel initially set up a total of five tent cities in Florida City and Homestead,[111] while a sixth tent city was opened at the Miccosukee Indian Reservation shortly after Labor Day weekend. [71] Nearby, in the small town of Florida City, over 120homes were demolished and 700others were damaged, while a number of other buildings were damaged beyond repair, including City Hall. An aerial view of Homestead, Fla., taken on Sept. 7, 1992, two weeks after Hurricane Andrew's 165-mile-per-hour winds took out nearly every building in the city. Hurricane Andrew made landfall on August 24, 1992, near Homestead, Florida, becoming one of the most catastrophic hurricanes in U.S. history. The city was nearly devastated. Hurricane Andrew was a very powerful and destructive Category 5 Atlantic hurricane that struck the Bahamas, Florida, and Louisiana in August1992. [83] Collectively, 14tornadoes were reported in the parishes of Ascension, Iberville, Pointe Coupee, and Avoyelles, as well as in Baton Rouge. And the interesting thing is that a lot of people have been heeding our advice and taking Irma seriously.. [9] This underestimated both the strength and the speed of the storm, which would eventually make landfall in South Florida. "The next morning it was all gone," he said. After his visit to Louisiana, President Bush declared only Terrebonne Parish as a disaster area,[86] but later included 34 other parishes under this declaration. On the roof of some homes, the concrete tiles were glued to felt paper, which could easily be ripped by straight line winds. made with fresh fruits, at Knaus Berry Farm in Homestead, a . [84] Monetary losses in the state reached about $100,000. "We were totally ignored for about four days. Additionally, a crew of 300military personnel were sent to Miami via HMCS Protecteur to assist American relief teams. Though Andrew briefly weakened to Category4 status while traversing the Bahamas, it regained Category5 intensity before making landfall in Florida on Elliott Key and then Homestead on August24. Bob and Meda Jensen decided not to stick around to find out. Were gonna take no chances., Hernandez is speaking from experience. [133] Many of these families had used the money they received from insurance claims to relocate. [91] Strong winds knocked down trees in the southwestern portion of the state. "My sister lived in Miami so I went up and stayed with her and weathered out the storm there," Knowles told NBC6. [101] The state of Florida alone received $9billion through the disaster relief bill. [38] The New Orleans International Airport closed, with jumbo jets being flown to other airports. Rick Scott: Irma is 'an unbelievable hurricane'. Although there are areas of Dade County that still have significant Jewish populations, many Jews resettled to Coral Springs, west Fort Lauderdale, Hallandale Beach, Plantation, and Tamarac in Broward County and Boca Raton and West Palm Beach in Palm Beach County. [76] Agriculture suffered extensively as well, with an 85% loss to fruit crops such as avocados, limes, and mangoes. [35] Heavy rains accompanied the storm's passage through the state, peaking at 11.02in (280mm) in Robert. Hurricane Andrew was the strongest and most catastrophic storm to strike southern Florida, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. A poll conducted by CBS News in September showed that 65% of Dade County residents approved of Bush's handling of the disaster, while 61% of residents approved statewide. [61][62], The storm surge from Andrew was very limited in its overall coverage due the compactness of the hurricane,[63][56] although it caused between $96million and more than $500million in losses to boats and buildings, based on various sources. What I see are lots of people on the streets buying gas and stocking up on dry goods and water.. [4] Many evacuees also checked into hotels, with rooms completely booked as far north as Ocala. As it moved ashore, the hurricane produced storm tides of at least 8ft (2.4m) above normal, causing flooding along the coast from Vermilion Bay to Lake Borgne. [34] Shelters were opened in Hancock and Harrison counties, though only 68people went to a shelter in the former. The vast majority of the damage was as a result of extremely high winds, although a few tornadoes spawned by Andrew caused considerable damage in Louisiana. [99] After the House of Representatives appropriated aid to victims of Hurricane Iniki in Hawaii and Typhoon Omar in Guam, the cost was later increased to $11.1billion. Homestead Air Force Base, which then had 8,000 employees, was almost completely destroyed. [4], The hurricane accelerated westward into an area of highly favorable conditions, and began to rapidly intensify late on August 22; in a 24hour period the atmospheric pressure dropped by 47mbar (1.388inHg) to a minimum of 922mbar (27.23inHg). Henri is expected to become a hurricane in the western Atlantic and may track close to eastern New England. The storm was found to have been slightly stronger than originally assessed while approaching Louisiana, but the landfall winds were decreased from 120mph (195km/h) to 115mph (185km/h). Hurricane Andrew made landfall in Homestead on August 24, 1992, as a monster Category 5 storm with sustained wind speeds as high as 165 mph and gusts as high as 174 mph. However, after curving westward on August 22, the storm rapidly intensified to reach peak winds of 175 mph (280 km/h). The 1926 hurricane compelled the elder Knaus brothers, Jess and Harley, to return to their farming roots. As an estimated 1 million fled. Winds were generally light in the state, reaching 30mph (48km/h) in Port Arthur. [4] An analysis by the American Meteorological Society indicated that unlike most hurricanes, wind damage from Andrew was mostly north of the geometric center and occurred primarily on the eastern edge of the storm. In Homestead alone, the storm obliterated nearly 99% of all mobile homes, leaving the area unrecognizable. [49] Harbour Island, near Eleuthera, reported wind gusts of 138mph (222km/h) the strongest gust speed observed in the Bahamas during Andrew's passage. At houses with shingled roofs, it was found that some of the shingles were stapled perpendicular to the long axis, also allowing them to be torn away. [23] At a small village in the northwestern portion of the island, more than half of the houses were destroyed and the rest of the buildings sustained minor to major damage. Here's One Way to Pay Off Your Debt, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Check Your Change! [4] As Andrew crossed into Mississippi, 3severe thunderstorm warnings, 21tornado warnings, and 16flood warnings were issued. [74][108] Initially, the slow response of federal aid prompted Dade County Emergency Management Director Kate Hale to famously exclaim at a nationally televised news conference, "Where in the hell is the cavalry on this one? Homestead is my home.. An area of convection developed along the wave axis to the south of the Cape Verde islands, and on August 15, meteorologists began classifying the system with the Dvorak technique. Hurricane Andrew, the last category 5 storm to strike the United States, made landfall in southern Miami-Dade County near Homestead on Aug. 24, 1992. It moved west-northwest and remained weak for several days due to strong wind shear. [45] Andrew was the costliest hurricane in U.S. history at the time, but is now ninth following hurricanes Katrina (2005), Ike (2008), Sandy (2012), Harvey (2017), Irma (2017), Maria (2017), Ida (2021), and Ian (2022). Nobody came to our help, nobody brought water, there was no military, there was no police or anything. [69], Tides were generally between 4 to 6ft (1.2 to 1.8m) above normal in the Biscayne Bay area, though near the Burger King International Headquarters, tides reached as high as 16.9ft (5.2m) above normal. The Homestead, Florida newly built City Hall. Tropical storm force winds reached as far north as West Palm Beach. It had an extremely low central pressure of 922 millibars and maximum sustained wind speeds estimated at 165 miles per hour. I cant believe another big storm is coming, its so beautiful today, Hernandez said. [105] Lieutenant Governor Buddy MacKay flew over the impact area and described the scene as looking "like a war zone". "[132], The hurricane also transformed the demographics of Dade County. The Homestead resident said the airlines encouraged all of its employees to evacuate the suburb, located about 30 miles south of Miami. Many of our neighbors werent so lucky, he said. In Pembroke Park, one of the worst affected cities in the county, approximately 260mobile homes were damaged. Andrew first inflicted structural damage as it moved through the Bahamas, especially in Cat Cays, lashing the islands with storm surge, hurricane-force winds, and tornadoes. [21] Before the hurricane passed through the Bahamas, forecasters predicted a storm surge of up to 18ft (5.5m), as well as up to 8in (200mm) of rain.