hurricane andrew homestead hurricane andrew homestead

Hurricane Andrew was the most destructive hurricane in Florida history and the costliest in U.S. history until Katrina in 2005, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. After the tiles or shingles were peeled off, the plywood and prefabricated trusses were exposed to the weather. NBC 6's Cristian Benavides reports. [69], Tides were generally between 4 to 6ft (1.2 to 1.8m) above normal in the Biscayne Bay area, though near the Burger King International Headquarters, tides reached as high as 16.9ft (5.2m) above normal. After turning northwestward and weakening further, Andrew moved ashore near Morgan City, Louisiana, as a low-end Category3 storm. I know some of my friends are putting elderly family members on planes. Neither President George H.W. Property damage alone in St. Mary Parish reached approximately $150million. Homestead Air Force Base, which then had 8,000 employees, was almost completely destroyed. After hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan, and Jeanne in 2004, a study conducted by the University of Florida in the following year noted that "Homes built under the new Florida Building Code that became effective in 2002 sustained less damage on average than those built between 1994 and 2001." Atlantic Oceanographic and Meteorological Laboratory, "Tropical Cyclone Report: Hurricane Michael", "Atlantic hurricane best track (HURDAT version 2)", Continental United States Hurricanes (Detailed Description), "The extratropical transitions of eastern Pacific Hurricane Lester (1992) and Atlantic Hurricane Andrew (1992)", "Andrew heads through Bahamas toward Miami", Hurricane Andrew special advisory number twenty-seven, Hurricane Andrew advisory number thirty-one, "Keys are islands in every sense after Andrew", Final Storm Report Hurricane Andrew correction for date, "Mayors of N.O., Grand Isle call for preparedness", Costliest U.S. tropical cyclones tables update, "Chapter 29. The Homestead Cybrarium will open a virtual exhibit to mark 30 years since Hurricane Andrew. Porter, 58, who was born and raised in this city of 65,000, said his house was destroyed by Andrew. And the interesting thing is that a lot of people have been heeding our advice and taking Irma seriously.. [11] After reaching that intensity, the hurricane underwent an eyewall replacement cycle. [124] By 2001, 230,710people had moved from Dade County to Broward County, while 29,125Dade County residents had moved to Palm Beach County. In the Everglades, 70,000acres (280km2) of trees were downed, while invasive Burmese pythons began inhabiting the region after a nearby facility housing them was destroyed. After leaving Florida, Andrew moved into the Gulf of Mexico and made a second landfall near Point Chevreuil, Louisiana, on August 26, 1992, as a Category 3 hurricane with winds of 115 mph and a central pressure of 956 millibars. Im coming back. Homes After Hurricane Andrew It was years before people began returning to Homestead and nearly two decades for the city to fully bounce back. [50] Four deaths in the country were attributed to the hurricane, of which three were direct;[4] the indirect fatality was due to heart failure during the passage of the storm. [4] Convection became more organized as upper-level outflow became better established. Twenty years ago, Homestead, Fla . Everybody in town is very nervous about Irma, she said. It moved west-northwest and remained weak for several days due to strong wind shear. Twenty-six schools were affected, with damage totaling $2.6million. + Caption. The American continent has experienced several tragic events and one of the fatal tragedies is the Hurricane Andrew which occurred in 1992 as a result of the tropical wave of the Atlantic Ocean. [13], As the eye moved onshore in Florida, the convection in the eyewall strengthened due to increased convergence, and Hurricane Hunters reported a warmer eyewall temperature than two hours prior. With sustained gusts of 165 mph, the Category 5 storm snapped utility poles, flipped semis, leveled. Rainfall from Andrew spread across the southeastern United States along the Appalachian Mountains corridor; totals of over 5in (125mm) were reported where Georgia and South Carolina meet North Carolina. So we will be watching those neighborhoods closely, said Porter, who will be working out of a command center in the new City Hall. [21] Before the hurricane passed through the Bahamas, forecasters predicted a storm surge of up to 18ft (5.5m), as well as up to 8in (200mm) of rain. An area of convection developed along the wave axis to the south of the Cape Verde islands, and on August 15, meteorologists began classifying the system with the Dvorak technique. Unsalvageable buildings were demolished. [82] Property damage in the county reached about $30million. [99] After the House of Representatives appropriated aid to victims of Hurricane Iniki in Hawaii and Typhoon Omar in Guam, the cost was later increased to $11.1billion. [101] The state of Florida alone received $9billion through the disaster relief bill. Nobody came to our help, nobody brought water, there was no military, there was no police or anything. a crucial role before, during, and after Hurricane Andrew struck South Florida in the morning hours of August24,1992. - Articles from The Weather Channel | weather.com [135] The county had a net loss of about 36,000people in 1992, while Broward and Palm Beach counties gained about 17,000 and 2,300Dade County residents, respectively. [61][62], The storm surge from Andrew was very limited in its overall coverage due the compactness of the hurricane,[63][56] although it caused between $96million and more than $500million in losses to boats and buildings, based on various sources. Reports indicate that merchandise was stolen at damaged or destroyed shopping centers in southern Dade County. [106] Governor Chiles considered asking the Florida State Legislature to raise taxes, stating that "No matter how much Congress appropriates to repair damage from Hurricane Andrew, the state will face a substantial cleanup bill". [94], In Alabama, precipitation amounts in the state peaked at 4.71in (120mm) in Aliceville. In Broward County, on the north side of the storm's path, damage in several municipalities was primarily limited to downed trees, several of which fell onto roads and power lines. [91] Strong winds knocked down trees in the southwestern portion of the state. Hurricane Andrew made landfall in Homestead on August 24, 1992, as a monster Category 5 storm with sustained wind speeds as high as 165 mph and gusts as high as 174 mph. The 1926 hurricane compelled the elder Knaus brothers, Jess and Harley, to return to their farming roots. [4] The United States would not experience another landfall from a hurricane at Category 5 intensity until Hurricane Michael in 2018. In the days after the storm, federal and local response was slowed by bureaucratic snarls. Homestead is much better prepared this time. They keep saying we're going to get supplies. [96][97], Initially, the Bahamas National Disaster Coordinator believed that foreign aid was not required, but shortly after the storm, the Government of the United Kingdom began distributing blankets, food, ice, and water. National Hurricane Center Wind gusts reached up to 177 mph in some areas before the instruments failed. Florida Gov. There were no street signs. August 25, 2020 at 12:10 am EDT. [4] Offshore, a group of six fishermen from Alabama drowned. On March 5, 1994, the base reopened as Homestead Air Reserve Base. Congressman S. 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. The American Red Cross delivered 100tents, 100rolls of plastic sheeting, and 1,000cots. The site Though Andrew briefly weakened to Category4 status while traversing the Bahamas, it regained Category5 intensity before making landfall in Florida on Elliott Key and then Homestead on August24. [50] Rebuilding began quickly on the hardest hit islands. Homer Knowles was a pilot for Pan American World Airways in 1992. </br></br>The National Hurricane Center measured a peak gust of 164 mph. Hurricane Andrew, tropical cyclone that ravaged The Bahamas, southern Florida, and south-central Louisiana in late August 1992. Andrew made landfall at 4:40 a.m. in Elliott Key, Fla., just south of Miami. Photo Gallery of Andrew's Devastation This caused the hurricane to decelerate to the northwest, and winds decreased as Andrew approached the Gulf Coast of the United States. The base was partially rebuilt and is now home to the Homestead Air Reserve. [4], After hitting Florida, Andrew moved across the Gulf of Mexico and made landfall about 23mi (37km) west-southwest of Morgan City in south-central Louisiana; at landfall, the maximum sustained winds were 115mph (185km/h). After the upper-level low weakened and split into a trough, the wind shear decreased over the storm. [58] But most others (particularly the media, former National Hurricane Center director Max Mayfield) in retrospect stated that Andrew was hardly "The Big One",[59][60] but still very devastating. "Probably didn't start coming back until maybe 2000 because it was such a blow. The infrastructure was gone. "[132], The hurricane also transformed the demographics of Dade County. This one could do some serious damage.. These Valuable Pennies Are Worth Thousands, Pregnant Inmate Speaks in Court After Appeals Court Denies Petition to Release Unborn Baby, Viral Kids' Star Ms. Rachel Is Taking a Break From Social Media After Backlash Over Co-Star Who Uses They/Them Pronouns, Miami-Dade Mayor, State Attorney Announce New Measures to Protect HOA Residents. [24] Rainfall was projected to be between 5 and 8in (130 and 200mm) along the path of the storm. [140][141], On August 26, George H. W. Bush toured devastated areas of Louisiana with Governor Edwin Edwards. Bob and Meda Jensen decided not to stick around to find out. Twenty-five years ago, a monster storm called Hurricane Andrew focused its fury on a small south Florida city wedged between the Everglades and Biscayne Bay called Homestead and nearly wiped it off the map. Located some 35 miles south of Miami, Homestead sits in the southernmost section of the continental U.S., where the mainland gives way to the Florida Keys. Homestead was a town of about 26,000 people in 1992 when Andrew arrived. The cities of Florida City, Homestead, Cutler Ridge, and parts of Kendall received the brunt of Andrew. [52] Much of the northwestern Bahamas received damage,[51] with estimated monetary losses reaching $250million. The oil industry lost about $12million per day in the days following Andrew and $4million daily by three weeks later. [4][64][65] At the height of the storm, more than 1.4million people lost electricity and another 150,000were without telephone service. Meteorological history of Hurricane Andrew, landfalling tropical cyclones in the United States, Effects of Hurricane Andrew in The Bahamas, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, the establishment of breeding populations in Florida, The Wrath of Hurricane Andrew on Biscayne Bay, "Hurricane Andrew The Diary of Devastation", "By the numbers: Michael ranked as 3rd-most intense hurricane to hit continental US", National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Tropical Storm Andrew discussion thirteen, "A re-analysis of Hurricane Andrew's intensity", Bulletin of the American Meteorological Society. "[103] Some responsibility for the slow response must rest with Florida Governor Lawton Chiles, who waited five days to submit the formal request for Federal assistance that FEMA officials believed was required before they were empowered to act. Twenty-five years ago Thursday, the city of Homestead was in the eye of a Category 5 storm the highest category on the Saffir-Simpson hurricane wind scale that unleashed its wrath on South Florida on Aug. 24, 1992. In Key Largo, a 13-minute wind speed of 114mph (183km/h) was reported. Included in the warnings were Lake Okeechobee and all of the Florida Keys. In the An official website of the United States government Here's how you know Official websites use .mil [95] The rainfall caused flooding in low-lying areas and creeks, covering a few county roads but not entering many houses or businesses. However, Andrew weakened as it continued further inland, and after crossing southern Florida in four hours, the storm emerged into the Gulf of Mexico with winds of 130mph (210km/h). 'Friends, here's what I want you to do' It was later noted that if Andrew had been slightly larger or made landfall a few miles further north, it would have significantly affected Miami and Fort Lauderdale, which would have resulted in an even higher damage and death toll. "My sister lived in Miami so I went up and stayed with her and weathered out the storm there," Knowles told NBC6. [17], Although effects from Andrew were catastrophic, the extent of damage was limited mainly from Kendall to Key Largo due to the small wind field of the storm. At the Columbus Metropolitan Airport, buildings, billboards, and signs were damaged. A ridge of high pressure to its north caused the wave to move quickly westward. [33] About 1.25million people evacuated from the central and southeast Louisiana,[4] while approximately 60,000others fled parishes in southwest Louisiana. Hurricane Andrew was a small tropical cyclone, with winds of 35 miles per hour (56 km/h) extending out only . [8] An eye formed, and Andrew attained hurricane status early on August 22, about 650mi (1,050km) east-southeast of Nassau, Bahamas. [35] Three damaging tornadoes occurred in the state. [10] As it crossed over the warm waters of the Gulf Stream, the hurricane rapidly re-intensified as the eye decreased in size and its eyewall convection deepened. The storm category color indicates the intensity of the hurricane when landfalling in the U.S. An indirect death is defined as a fatality that can be linked to the hurricane, but not caused by its direct effects. [80] Storm surge flooded low-lying areas, particularly in Goodland, Everglades City, and Marco Island. [38] The New Orleans International Airport closed, with jumbo jets being flown to other airports. One death occurred in the parish due to electrocution. Weve been looking at whats been going on in Houston, so everybodys got in their minds what Mother Nature can do, he said. [142] President Bush remarked, "The destruction from this storm goes beyond anything we have known in recent years," but noted that damage was less severe than in Florida. In Pembroke Park, one of the worst affected cities in the county, approximately 260mobile homes were damaged. A house near Perrine initially reported a wind gust of 212mph (341km/h) before the structure and instrument were destroyed; this measurement was reduced to 177mph (285km/h), after wind-tunnel testing at the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University of the same type of anemometer revealed a 16.5% error. [4][67] Smaller tropical cyclones like Andrew or Charley tend to produce less overall coverages and damages from the storm surge, in contrast to hurricanes such as Hugo, Ike, Ivan, and Katrina. Were heading to my sons house in Georgia. For example, several of the victims died of a heart attack induced by the storm. FEMA spokesman Grant Peterson stated, "24 hours is not reasonable to expect to have all the resources of the federal government landing in the middle of a disaster. [126] Nearly two years after Andrew, about 70% of homes in Homestead that were damaged or destroyed were repaired or rebuilt. [17][18][19], Post-analysis on Andrew revealed that the storm was often stronger than operationally reported between early on August 22 and early on August 26. One person was injured by the twister. In the first few days following the storm, Louisiana National Guard members and local residents worked to remove debris such as downed trees, roofing shingles, and torn aluminum siding. [128] Stricter building codes were created in Florida in the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew. [4], At 08:30 UTC on August 26, the cyclone made landfall about 20mi (30km) west-southwest of Morgan City, Louisiana, with winds of 115mph (185km/h). Throughout the basin and Bayou Lafourche, 187million freshwater fish were killed in the hurricane. Many boats were damaged or destroyed by the rough seas and strong winds. [35], Tropical storm force wind gusts and damaging tornadoes extended eastward into Georgia. [95] Flooding was mostly limited to the inundation of minor roads and low-lying areas in several counties. [77] The county suffered the vast majority of the damage from the hurricane, totaling approximately $25billion. Social Sharing Areas in the Gasp region could see 90 . Heavy rainfall in other areas was sporadic, with precipitation reported as far north as Central Florida. Joan Wallach, left, and her daughter, Brenda, leave the Royal Palm Trailer Park in Homestead, Florida, where they lived, with suitcases they found in the debris from the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew, Monday, Aug. 24, 1992. There were no landmarks," Blakely said. Additionally, a tornado in Floyd County near Rome snapped and uprooted several trees, damaged several fences and homes, and flipped over a trailer, tossing it on top of four cars. [4] Embedded within the deep easterlies, the depression tracked west-northwestward at 20mph (32km/h). [133] Many of these families had used the money they received from insurance claims to relocate. However, after curving westward on August 22, the storm rapidly intensified to reach peak winds of 175 mph (280 km/h). Joan Wallach, left, and daughter, Brenda, leave their trailer park with suitcases they found in the debris. Though Andrew was moving fast, rainfall in Florida was substantial in a few areas (less in others); the rainfall peaked at 13.98inches (355mm) in western Dade County. [121] Prior to Andrew, the base employed approximately 6,500military personnel and 1,000civilians and annually added about $450million to the local economy. [4][56] Of the 44deaths attributed to the storm, 15were direct fatalities, while 29were indirectly caused by the storm. [88] The storm damaged 241oil and gas facilities and toppled 33platforms off the coast of Louisiana,[89] causing significant disruptions in production. In Homestead alone, the storm obliterated nearly 99% of all mobile homes, leaving the area unrecognizable. Then, when I did find it, I thought I'd made a mistake. [118] A panel of psychiatrists and psychologists at the University of Miami agreed that as many as 90% of residents in the worst impacted areas would experience at least a few symptoms of PTSD. But now theyre senior citizens with worried children who implored them to get out of Dodge. [4] A total of 800 houses were destroyed, leaving 1,700 people homeless. [146] House Resolution 5620 also included disaster aid to the state of Louisiana. All watches and warnings were discontinued on August 24. [58] The president quickly declared the region a disaster area, which provided public assistance to victims of the storm in Broward, Collier, Dade, and Monroe Counties. [74] The Cutler Ridge Mall suffered severe wind and water damage; after the storm, significant looting was reported at that location. Damage was heaviest in St. Mary Parish, about 32mi (51km) east of where Andrew made landfall. An aerial view of Homestead, Fla., taken on Sept. 7, 1992, two weeks after Hurricane Andrew's 165-mile-per-hour winds took out nearly every building in the city. However, trees and vegetation were expected to take years to recover. TRAGIC OCCURRENCE DISCUSSION-HURRICANE ANDREW 2 Introduction. Due to rapid reproduction and ability to prey on many species,[138] the population of Burmese pythons exploded, with possibly as many as 300,000 in the Everglades alone. [94] Along the coast, the storm produced flooding and high tides. Homestead Towne Square, a shopping mall on U.S. 1 and Campbell Drive in Homestead, stands today on the site of a mall destroyed by Hurricane Andrew 25 years ago. Corky Siemaszko is a senior reporter for NBC News Digital. In Cypremort Point State Park, several mobile homes were destroyed. Passing directly through the city of Homestead in Dade County (now known as Miami-Dade County), the hurricane stripped many homes of all but their concrete foundations and caused catastrophic damage. I thought that can't be my house, but it was," Knowles recalled. The most damaging tornado was spawned in Elmore County and moved from an area northeast of Montgomery to the south of Wetumpka and briefly lifted during its 0.5mi (0.80km) track. And that, Porter said, is the only silver lining to Hurricane Harvey. [46], In the Bahamas, Andrew produced hurricane-force winds in North Eleuthera, New Providence, North Andros, Bimini, and the Berry Islands. Andrew began as a tropical depression over the eastern Atlantic Ocean on August16. [4] On August 23, the storm attained Category 5 status on the SaffirSimpson hurricane scale, reaching peak winds of 175mph (280km/h) a short distance off Eleuthera island in the Bahamas at 18:00 UTC. As it moved ashore, the hurricane produced storm tides of at least 8ft (2.4m) above normal, causing flooding along the coast from Vermilion Bay to Lake Borgne. [4] At 08:40 UTC on August 24, Andrew struck Elliott Key as a Category 5 hurricane, with winds of 165mph (266km/h) and a pressure of 926mbar (27.34inHg). Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. [1][2] In Florida, Andrew killed 44 and left a then-record $25billion in damage. Prior to making landfall in Louisiana on August26, Andrew caused extensive damage to oil platforms in the Gulf of Mexico, leading to $500million in losses for oil companies. That statutory date means losses due to Hurricane Ian, or to any other calamity . Although Burmese pythons native to Southeast Asia had been sighted in Everglades National Park since the 1980s, the destruction of this facility contributed significantly to the establishment of breeding populations in Florida. A migration of mostly White families northward to Broward and Palm Beach County was ongoing, but accelerated after Andrew. [84] A total of 17deaths occurred in Louisiana, 8directly and 9from indirect causes. "It was a little breezy, to say the least, but it was nothing like what was going on down here.". Several counties in the northwest and west-central portions of the state reported downed trees and tree limbs and fallen power lines, causing scattered power outages, but structural damage was generally minor. Generally, single-family homes fared well, with most losing only roofing shingles, though others suffered severe damage after large trees fell on them. But were going to close. Las mejores ofertas para 1992 Foto de prensa de Bill Shaw en daos por huracn Andrew en Homestead, Florida estn en eBay Compara precios y caractersticas de productos nuevos y usados Muchos artculos con envo gratis! [37] In New Orleans, Mayor Sidney Barthelemy ordered the evacuation of about 200,000residents in the low-lying areas of the city. [129], In July 1996, Governor Chiles established the Florida Building Codes Study Commission, with the purpose of assessing the building codes at the time, as well as enacting improvements and reform to the system. [51] At the capital city of Nassau, sustained winds reached 92mph (148km/h), while gusts up to 115mph (185km/h) were reported. Additionally, the bill allowed South Floridians to keep an estimated $500million in sales tax generated by rebuilding efforts. Crop damage in Dade County totaled about $509million. Hurricane Andrew hit South Florida with sustained winds of 165 mph and gusts over 200 mph as a Category 5 storm on Aug. 24, 1992. [4] In Tennessee, thunderstorm winds and tornadoes associated with Andrew downed trees and power lines, but caused little overall impact to homes and buildings. [115] The hurricane also impacted Governor Chiles politically. [79] In addition to the damage at Everglades National Park, effects in Monroe County were significant, especially in the Upper Florida Keys. [4], The hurricane accelerated westward into an area of highly favorable conditions, and began to rapidly intensify late on August 22; in a 24hour period the atmospheric pressure dropped by 47mbar (1.388inHg) to a minimum of 922mbar (27.23inHg). [4] News reports indicated severe damage to 36 houses on Harbor Island. About 800houses were destroyed in the archipelago, and there was substantial damage to the transport, water, sanitation, agriculture, and fishing sectors. But I dont see a lot of people pulling out of Homestead. [100][101] In early December, the Small Business Administration (SBA) approved $33.2million worth of low-interest loans for repairs to homes and businesses. U.S. [4] An analysis by the American Meteorological Society indicated that unlike most hurricanes, wind damage from Andrew was mostly north of the geometric center and occurred primarily on the eastern edge of the storm. "They finally got people coming down with water and some supplies for the people, like ice and things like that, it got a lot better.". Storm surge on the west coast was widespread but generally light, with a peak height of 6ft (1.8m) in Everglades City and Goodland. Despite the support of Bush's response and his proposal to rebuild Homestead Air Force Base, he benefited little politically and trailed 4842% against Bill Clinton in another poll taken in September. Eventually, the plywood and the trusses suffered structural failure, leading to roof collapses. The Homestead resident said the airlines encouraged all of its employees to evacuate the suburb, located about 30 miles south of Miami. Hurricane Andrew became South Florida's most devastating hurricane after it hit the Homestead area, south of Miami, 28 years ago Monday. After entering Mississippi, the cyclone deteriorated to tropical depression status early on August 27. With 23,000houses damaged, 985others destroyed, and 1,951mobile homes demolished, property losses in Louisiana exceeded $1.5billion. A total of 250members of the Louisiana National Guard patrolled the streets during the storm. In total, Andrew left 65dead and caused $27.3billion in damage. [83] Collectively, 14tornadoes were reported in the parishes of Ascension, Iberville, Pointe Coupee, and Avoyelles, as well as in Baton Rouge. [84], Across the state, the hurricane damaged 23,000homes and destroyed 985homes and 1,951mobile homes; private property damage was estimated at $1billion. All watches and warnings on the Gulf Coast were discontinued late on August 26 after the hurricane moved inland over Louisiana. Overall, losses in the state of Louisiana reached approximately $1.56billion. [49][nb 5], Overall, Andrew caused about $25.3billion in damage in Florida,[4] making it the costliest hurricane to hit the state at the time. This event resulted in damages which cost about 26 million dollars. Its not so much because this might be worse, its just the fact that were so much older, Meda Jensen said, reached by telephone in bumper-to-bumper traffic outside Orlando. Andrew hit just northeast of Homestead with a slightly lower pressure of 922 mbar. [90] Overall, Hurricane Andrew caused about $500million in damage to oil facilities. [30] Many colleges and universities in southeast Florida also closed. [119] Within six months, the circumstances related to the aftermath of Andrew led to at least five suicides and four homicides. Funnel clouds were observed near the path of the storm,[91] along with 26tornadoes. On the west coast of Florida, sustained winds remained just below tropical storm force on Marco Island, though a wind gust of 100mph (160km/h) was reported in Collier County. Built in 1942, Homestead Army Airfield was destroyed three years later, on Sept. 15, 1945, by a hurricane with winds of 145 miles per hour.HAAF was officially abandoned three months later. However, Chiles was able to recover prior to the 1994 gubernatorial election. Once considered a "jewel" of the Air Force, according to former Homestead Mayor Tad DeMilly, Homestead Air Force Base became a ghost town. Winds were generally light in the state, reaching 30mph (48km/h) in Port Arthur. Despite reconstruction efforts and the small number of resort lodgings affected (around 2%), officials expected a 1020% decline in tourism. [117] Dozens of children in the area attempted suicide, while counselors reported that between 50 and 60children discussed killing themselves between December 1992 and January 1993. Porter said they have spent the past few days making sure Homestead residents know where the shelters are and making sure the families of key city workers and police officers are in safe places. [120], Although proposals to rebuild Homestead Air Force Base were initially rejected,[71] the United States Department of Defense eventually expended over $100million to begin repairs. The remnants of Andrew also spawned several tornadoes in Maryland. [4][83] The tornado was on the ground for about 10minutes, during which it damaged or destroyed 163structures, leaving 60families homeless. [10] This barometric pressure made Andrew 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. Tropical storm force winds reached as far north as West Palm Beach. College of the Mainland, Galveston College, and Texas A&M University at Galveston were also closed.