Category 5 Hurricane Andrew devastated South Florida in 1992
Twenty-five years ago today Miami-Dade County was indelibly marked by a compact but devastating Category 5 hurricane named Andrew. Andrew’s impact shaped our County in significant ways and we apply the tough lessons learned still today. Recent community surveys tell us that there seems to be a correlation between the intensity of past storms experienced by individuals and their likelihood to take preparedness actions now. If this is true, then those who experienced the impacts of Hurricane Andrew are likely amongst our most prepared in the community today.
The National Weather Service (NWS) partly credits the relatively low loss of life from Hurricane Andrew to preparedness programs. Limiting the loss of life and enhancing our community’s ability to quickly rebound after a disaster depends on every one of us being informed and engaged. It should not take the experience of the next Category 5 hurricane that finally drives us to act.
Technology improvements have greatly influenced our ability to educate the public and communicate risks. While we still produce hurricane guides for public distribution, the internet and government websites are the primary place people go for information.
So, it is through our web page, initiatives like ReadySouthFlorida.org, a presence on social media and the development of apps that we push information and encourage whole community action.
Remember, we have not yet reached the height of the 2017 Atlantic Hurricane Season and everyone is encouraged to become familiar with the tools that will keep you safer and help us all recover from the next storm faster.
About Ready South Florida
Ready South Florida is a regional campaign which focuses primarily on Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe Counties, and is designed to educate and empower individuals to prepare for and respond to emergencies including disasters. Ready South Florida encourages you to:
- Stay Informed
- Make A Plan
- Build A Kit
- Get Involved
- Visit their website: ReadySouthFlorida.org
