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Hurricane Andrew Timeline

(August 16 - August 26, 1992)

Hurricane Andrew was one of the most destructive hurricanes in United States history. Striking in August 1992 as a Category 5 storm, it caused catastrophic damage across the Bahamas, South Florida, and Louisiana, resulting in billions of dollars in losses and prompting major changes in building codes and disaster preparedness. Less

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Impact and Damage

Hispanic population grows rapidly in southern Dade County

Jan 1, 1990 - Dec 31, 2000

The Hispanic population in the southern part of Dade County climbed rapidly, with the Latino population in Homestead increasing from 30% to 45% between 1990 and 2000.

Image source: Hurricane Andrew

Hispanic population grows rapidly in southern Dade County

Dade County loses 36,000 residents in 1992

Jan 1, 1992 - Dec 31, 1992

The county experienced a net loss of about 36,000 people in 1992, while Broward and Palm Beach counties gained about 17,000 and 2,300 residents, respectively.

Widespread damage across the northwestern Bahamas

Aug 23, 1992

Much of the northwestern Bahamas received damage from Hurricane Andrew, with monetary damage throughout the country totaling about $250 million (1992 USD, $384 million 2008 USD).

Cat Cay severely impacted in the Bimini Islands

Aug 23, 1992

The private island of Cat Cay in the Bimini Islands was severely impacted by the hurricane, with damage estimated at $100 million (1992 USD).

Andrew strikes Florida as most intense hurricane since Camille

Aug 24, 1992

Andrew's barometric pressure made it the most intense hurricane to strike the United States since Hurricane Camille in 1969 and the strongest tropical cyclone to make landfall in Florida since the Labor Day hurricane of 1935.

Andrew among only four Category 5 US landfalls

Aug 24, 1992

Andrew is one of only four tropical cyclones to make landfall in the continental United States as a Category 5, alongside the 1935 Labor Day hurricane, Hurricane Camille in 1969, and Michael in 2018.

Andrew strongest and costliest US hurricane in decades

Aug 24, 1992

Andrew was also the strongest hurricane to make landfall in the United States in decades and the costliest hurricane to strike anywhere in the country, until it was surpassed by Hurricane Katrina in 2005.

Devastation across Dade County, Florida

Aug 24, 1992

In total, Andrew destroyed more than 63,500 houses, damaged more than 124,000 others, caused $27.3 billion in damage (equivalent to $65 billion in 2023), and left 65 people dead.

Florida damage estimates reach $34 billion

Aug 24, 1992

Some estimates in Florida put the damage as high as $34 billion (1992 USD, $78 billion 2026 USD).

Officials call Andrew worst Florida storm since 1935

Aug 24, 1992

Some officials in Florida considered Andrew the worst storm in the state since the 1935 Labor Day hurricane.

Storm Development

Hurricane watch issued for northwest Bahamas

Aug 22, 1992

At 1500 UTC on August 22, about 30 hours prior to landfall, the government of the Bahamas issued a hurricane watch for the northwest Bahamas, including Andros and Eleuthera islands, northward through Grand Bahama and Great Abaco.

Andrew reaches Category 5 near the Bahamas

Aug 23, 1992

A 2004 paper by Christopher Landsea and others concluded that Andrew became a Category 5 hurricane near the Bahamas on August 23 and reached maximum sustained winds of 175 mph (282 km/h).

Response and Recovery

Criticism of FEMA's response to Andrew

Sep 1, 1992

William Green of New York, a member of the Appropriations Committee, stated that he believed the agency learned little from its botched response to Hurricane Hugo in 1989.

Congress passes House Resolution 5620 disaster aid

Sep 18, 1992

The bill, which was the most costly disaster aid package at the time, was passed by Congress as House Resolution 5620 on September 18. It also included disaster aid to the state of Louisiana.

President Bush signs disaster aid into law

Sep 23, 1992

The disaster aid bill was signed into law by President Bush on September 23, 1992, providing the most costly disaster aid package at the time for areas affected by Hurricane Andrew.

Rebuilding efforts restore 36,000 homes by July 1994

Jul 1, 1994

Of the homes destroyed or severely damaged throughout Dade County, 36,000 had been restored by July 1994.

Legacy and Reforms

World Meteorological Organization retires name Andrew

Apr 1, 1993

Due to the destruction and loss of life caused by the storm, the World Meteorological Organization retired the name Andrew from its rotating Atlantic hurricane name lists in the spring of 1993, and it will never again be used for another Atlantic hurricane.

Governor Chiles establishes Building Codes Study Commission

Jan 1, 1996

In 1996 Governor Chiles established the Florida Building Codes Study Commission to assess and improve the system following the widespread building failures during Hurricane Andrew.

Florida Building Code established

Jan 1, 1998

The Florida Building Code was established in 1998 and put into effect by 2002, replacing local laws and regulations with universal statewide building codes.

Alex replaces Andrew for the 1998 season

Jun 1, 1998

Due to the hurricane's impact and damage, the name Andrew was retired by the World Meteorological Organization in the spring of 1993, being replaced by Alex for 1998.

New code proves effective after 2004 hurricanes

Jan 1, 2004

After hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne in 2004, a study by the University of Florida found that homes built under the new code sustained less damage on average than those built between 1994 and 2001.

2006 report confirms Florida Building Code is working

Jan 1, 2006

A report by the Florida Legislature in 2006 and after hurricanes Dennis, Katrina, and Wilma in 2005 also concluded that the Florida Building Code is working.

Key Facts

  1. Hurricane Andrew made landfall in South Florida on August 24, 1992, as a Category 5 hurricane with sustained winds of about 165 mph.
  2. It was one of only a handful of Category 5 hurricanes to ever strike the continental United States.
  3. The hurricane caused approximately $27 billion in damage, making it the costliest natural disaster in U.S. history at the time.
  4. Andrew killed around 65 people directly and indirectly across the Bahamas, Florida, and Louisiana.
  5. The widespread destruction led to significant reforms in Florida's building codes and improved hurricane forecasting and emergency response systems.

Source

This Hurricane Andrew timeline was generated with the help of AI, using information found on the internet.

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