Hurricane Andrew Essay Example For Students

Hurricane Andrew Essay Hurricanes are notoriously capricious. Andrew was a compact system. A little larger system, or one making landfall just a few nautical miles further to the north, would have been catastrophic for heavily populated, highly commercialized and no less vulnerable areas to the north. That area includes downtown Miami, Miami Beach, Key Biscayne and Fort Lauderdale. Andrew also left the highly vulnerable New Orleans region relatively unscathed. Andrew moved nearly due westward when over land and crossed the extreme southern portion of the Florida peninsula in about four hours. Although the hurricane weakened about one category on the during the transit over land, and the pressure rose to about 950 mb, Andrew was still a major hurricane when its eyewall passed over the extreme southwestern Florida coast. The first of two cycles of modest intensification commenced when the eye reached the Gulf of Mexico. Also, the hurricane continued to move at a relatively fast pace while its track gradually turned toward the west-northwest. When Andrew reached the north-central Gulf of Mexico, the high pressure system to its northeast weakened and a strong mid-latitude trough approached the area from the northwest. Steering currents began to change. 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. 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 direction. Finally on August 22nd, tropical storm Andrew became Hurricane Andrew, a category 4 hurricane. (Fig.3) August 23rd Hurricane Andrew had winds of 150mph. Hours later, being a category 4 hurricane, Andrews pressure fell and had winds of about 175mph. It was on August 24 when Hurricane Andrew arrived in South Florida. Andrews fury began early that day at 4:30am. Andrews power and magnitude was heard in every direction. Objects of every kind where airborne, roofs where flying, vehicles were being tossed around like toys. Boats were making their way from the water onto the streets. Total chaos would be the best description of what went on. By the time that the sun rose, the destruction was obvious. At 11am that same morning of the 24th Andrew was working its way across South Florida. The path of destruction that Andrew left was about 30 miles wide. Andrew wasnt finished yet, back into the Atlantic ocean Andrew regained some of the power that was lost in his South Florida visit and was now heading to Louisiana. Louisiana suffered the similar showdown that the South Floridians endured. Destructions were also brought about from tornadoes that came with Andrews power. (Fig.4) Social and economic impact of the disaster: In the aftermath of Andrew there seemed to have been a disappearance in social classes. Everyone was now in need. The rich were in line with the poor to accept donated food and supplies. It did not matter how much or how little money you had, everyone was treated the same. With 30 billion dollars in damage, help needed to come quickly to help rebuild. FEMA ( Federal Emergency Management Agency) came to the aid of thousands, President George Bush requested 7.6 billion dollars from Congress and Governor Lawton Chiles requested more since that would not be sufficient to rebuild all of the damage. Economic losses were due to businesses that were closed, people not being able to work and the damages. This had a very high negative impact on the economy of South Florida. Everyone relied on help from the government, donations from people in other parts of the country and organizations such as the Red Cross. Personal suggestion for prevention and recovery of disaster: There isnt a way of preventing a hurricane, but there are ways to prevent injuries. Family History And Its Effects On Children Essay They can evacuate or follow building codes. Its not a matter of intruding privately owned lands; its a matter of safety and protection. Governmental agencies should have the right to regulate the use of privately owned lands in hazard prone areas. It is the governments best interest to limit costs of damages as well as protect the lives of the people. The government has the power to dramatically reduce future hurricane damages. They have the money to fund different kinds of programs. They have the right to build new buildings that are able to withstand the strength of .