What?
Hurricane
Andrew was the most costly hurricane to hit America.
When?
Andrew first became a tropical
depression on August 16 1992 and on August 17, became the first
tropical storm of the season. On August 22 it reached hurricane
strength. It reached the south east coast of the USA on August
24th.
Where?
Hurricane Andrew first hit the north-western part
of the Bahamas, which are part of the Caribbean islands. It then
went on to affect the southern Florida peninsula and south-central
Louisiana, which form part of the main land of the United States
of America.
Why?
Like all hurricanes Andrew formed
in the Atlantic Ocean. Sea temperatures have to be 27c or over
for one to occur. It actually started as a tropical wave off the
west coast of Africa. It then moved towards the tropical part
of the North Atlantic Ocean, where sea temperatures are high.
The warm humid air began to rise, which then cooled, condensed
and formed clouds. The gap left was filled with air from outside
the system. This process continues giving the hurricane more and
more energy. The air then begins to spiral because the earth is
rotating. The whole hurricane then swirls in an anticlockwise
direction and begins to move sometimes hitting land. Andrew was
the first tropical storm of the 1992 hurricane season.
So
What?
As already stated Andrew was the most costly hurricane to hit
America. In simple words the devastation it caused cost a lot
of money to repair. People were surprised that the loss of life
was not greater considering the force of the hurricane. The number
of deaths totalled 26 as a direct result of the hurricane but
the number rose to 65 as indirect losses occurred. The total damage
was estimated to be $25 billion. Andrew reportedly destroyed 25,524
homes and damaged 101,241 others. In Dade County 99% of mobile
homes were destroyed. Storm Surges also caused problems with surges
of up to 16.9ft hitting Burger King international headquarters.
Rainfall reports said that several inches fell in just a few hours.
The death toll remained low in America because of the hurricane
precautions they are able to take. One thing that is available
is the satellite equipment that enables them to track the hurricanes
and give people warning about when it will hit. Another factor
that saved lives was the massive evacuation programme. Around
55,000 people left the Florida Keys. Another 517,000 People left
Dade County, 300,000 in Broward County, 315,000 in Palm Beach
County and 15,000 in St, Lucie County. Afterwards due to America
being an MEDC they were able to clear up the affects of the hurricane
and provide alternative accommodation whilst homes were rebuilt.
|