Here are some facts about Hurricane Andrew:
- Hurricane Andrew formed on 16th August 1992 and it came to an end on 28th August 1992.
- It mainly affected The Bahamas, and Florida and Louisiana (in the United States).
- When it happened in August 1992, Hurricane Andrew was the costliest hurricane to ever hit the United States. It has since been overtaken by Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Sandy, Hurricane Ike and Hurricane Wilma.
- The Bahamas was severely affected by Hurricane Andrew. More than 750 houses were destroyed by the strong winds and high tides. Four people lost their lives in the Bahamas and it is estimated that Hurricane Andrew cost the Bahamas $250 million in damage and destruction.
- The hurricane struck the Florida coast on 24th August 1992, before heading on to Louisiana.
- The disaster was directly responsible for the deaths of 26 people, with another 40 losing their lives as an indirect consequence of it. Some 250,000 people were made homeless.
- The damage in Florida alone was estimated as costing somewhere in the region of $25 billion.
- About 1.4 million people lost power to their properties, and around 150,000 had their telephone services knocked out.
- The hurricane damaged Florida’s wildlife and natural environment. It was estimated that around 70,000 acres of mangrove swamps were either completely destroyed or seriously damaged.
- When it struck in 1992, Hurricane Andrew was the third most powerful hurricane to hit the United States during the 20th century. The other two which were more powerful were the 1935 Florida Keys Hurricane, and Hurricane Camille, which took place in 1969.
- Hurricane Andrew led to a change in Florida’s building laws. New buildings must now be constructed to a higher standard, and improvements have been made to the way in which new buildings are inspected.
