ANDREW QUESTIONS

[AnthonyC]

For anyone who went through the wrath of Hurricane Andrew, please answer the following questions:

1) How long did it take South FL to recover from the mess...meaning when did businesses/schools/work resume to normal schedule?

2) Describe your personal experience of the storm in a few sentences...what was it like, how did it affect your life, etc.?

3) Did you relocate (meaning move to a different location) after the hurricane?

Thanks!

Anthony

[ColdWaterConch]

For anyone who went through the wrath of Hurricane Andrew, please answer the following questions:

1) How long did it take South FL to recover from the mess...meaning when did businesses/schools/work resume to normal schedule?

2) Describe your personal experience of the storm in a few sentences...what was it like, how did it affect your life, etc.?

3) Did you relocate (meaning move to a different location) after the hurricane?

Thanks!

Anthony

1. We did not have power for over 40 days. I'd guestimate that we did not return to work for about 3 weeks. That was about the same time that garbage service resumed. I do recall going to work and coming home to no elec. However, I worked in the Keys, so I had a place to go to work. Many did not.

It took years for S. Fl. to recover.

2. The storm completely changed my life. I always describe the experience as playing russian roullette for 8 hours. Lost most of my possessions. Realized that it was only stuff, anyways. The storm put my life into perspective.

Oh, I never believed in PTSD until Andrew. The main fury hit about 3:30 am. For four months I woke up at 3:30 am every morning, sweating and heart pumping.

3. Relocated after 3 months. Just left the house as it was.

[Philly12]

Recovery was very slow. Harris field in Homestead housed a tent city for at least 6 months after the storm. Schools were postponed for at least a month. Went back to work after 2 weeks since the office was not in the worst of the storm. Remember, Andrew was a small storm. South Kendall was the northern extent of the eyewall and just 15 minutes north on the turnpike or around Flagler street things were much better. South Dade was a war zone for a very long time. It took a good 5 to 10 years to fully recover. There are still many abandoned lots where homes once stood. Flooding was not an issue after Andrew so the roads simply needed to be cleared, there was no wait for flooding to subside. As for personal experiance, the house fell apart around us. Our safe room was all that was left. The roof failed above much of the house and all windows were gone. We ended up in the bathroom with a mattress over our heads. We rebuilt in the same spot.

[snoopj]

Personally, it never did recover in some aspects.

Homestead AFB never did open back up.

It took a long time. Think about Ivan. Pensacola is STILL recovering. They've suffered set backs as well. South Florida didn't have to worry about another major storm after Andrew.

I mean, these newscasters are talking like it might be months before some people can get back to their homes/neighborhoods.

--snoopj

[Andrew'92]

1) It was a good 3 weeks before the schools let us back in here in SW Miami Dade County. Most work places were destroyed. It took a long while for things to get back to normal. However, there are still places today that are memories from Andrew that have never been fixed.

2) We were in the nothern eye wall of Hurricane Andrew. It was an experience I will never forget for the rest of my life. Our house was destroyed. It looked like a war happened when we walked outside. I can recall having WSVN 7 on the radio and they said not to go outside if it is calm in the area as we have only gone though half of the storm. At this time we knew we had problems because the roof was gone and there was water throughout the house. Thankfully Andrew had already been in the Gulf by this time as the hurricane center lost their satellites and were not 100% sure of where the storm was. We did not have power for close to four months. Everything we owned was destroyed. Hurricane Katrina of course brought back many memories of Hurricane Andrew for me when it hit here. We had roof damange, downed trees, tree limbs all over, down power poles, etc. It has been the first storm to come into this area to give me strong memories of Andrew.

3) The house was rebuilt and I am sitting in it as we speak. Of course it needs some work done on it again from Katrina but its nothing like the damage those in the Gulf states that just were hammered by Katrina. I know what they are going through and my thoughts are with them. I hope I can help out in some capacity.

[Ziplock]

Lost all my stuff.

Relocated 30 miles...extremely lucky to find housing so close...as there were 200,000 people displaced, and looking for housing.

Still cry after ten years when I go down south...landmarks missing...so unsettling to not remember exactly what is missing, but to know it is gone, and that "home" is unrecognizable.

Life is still "before Andrew" and "after Andrew".

Looks to me, as bad as ande\rew was, Katrina in many ways is worse. Never thought I'd say that.

Zip

[jujubean]

Lost all my stuff.

Relocated 30 miles...extremely lucky to find housing so close...as there were 200,000 people displaced, and looking for housing.

Still cry after ten years when I go down south...landmarks missing...so unsettling to not remember exactly what is missing, but to know it is gone, and that "home" is unrecognizable.

Life is still "before Andrew" and "after Andrew".

Looks to me, as bad as ande\rew was, Katrina in many ways is worse. Never thought I'd say that.

Zip

I'm a hurricane andrew survivor too and I said today andrew wasn't anywhere close to death and destruction I have seen today it is complete chaos down there and I have been praying for the victims since it hit