Hurricane History: Andrew (1992)

In 1992, one of the most powerful hurricanes in the United States struck the Bahamas, Florida, and Louisiana. Infamous for its intensity and damage, but was also critical in exposing infrastructure weakness. In this iteration of Hurricane History, we will discuss the 1992 category 5 Hurricane Andrew.

On August 16, 1992, Andrew would form as a tropical wave in the Atlantic Ocean. As it moved westward to the Bahamas and South Florida, it quickly intensified. When it made landfall in Homestead, Florida, it was already a category 5 hurricane with sustained winds of 165 mph. The storm's smaller size and intensive winds made it even more destructive, causing widespread power outages and destroying thousands of homes. Andrew would proceed to go through the Gulf and make a second impact in Morgan City, Louisiana as a Category 3 hurricane.

In the aftermath, Andrew exposed several weaknesses in building codes and enforcements leading to the implementation of stricter building regulations in hurricane prone areas. In surveying, Andrew led to more advancements in hurricane forecasting technology and emergency management. Hurricane Andrew is another reminder of how important being prepared is and the destructive nature of these storms.

We hope you found this information about Hurricane Andrew to be insightful on the power of hurricanes and how they can impact us. At AJS, we are committed to serving the Gulf Coast and beyond in moving, building, and leveling and we are here to help you and your properties. For lifting, construction, or moving, give us a call today to schedule a free consultation!