Hurricane Andrew

Details the course and effect of Hurricane Andrew, which hit the southeastern United States in 1992, and describes the recovery efforts that followed the storm.

This book explores how social, economic and political factors set the stage for Hurricane Andrew by influencing who was prepared, who was hit the hardest, and who was most likely to recover. Employing unique research data the authors analyze the consequences of conflict and competition on disaster preparation, response and recovery, especially where associated with race, ethnicity and gender.

Looks at the course of Hurricane Andrew, which hit the southeastern United States in 1992, and describes the damage caused by the storm.

The story and personal accounts of 1992's Hurricane Andrew provide a backdrop for learning about hurricanes in general and the devastation they can cause. This book also examines the dynamics of hurricanes, the role of meteorologists, and the importance of timely, efficient relief operations in a hurricane aftermath. Includes a chronology that tracks Andrew's path, and a timeline of other major U.S. hurricanes.

Hurricane Andrew struck South Florida early on Monday morning, August 24, 1992. Widely described as the worst natural disaster in modern U.S. history, the storm left 38 people dead in South Florida, 80,000 homes destroyed, and damage estimates of at least $20 billion. The area devastated by the hurricane was approximately three times the size of Manhattan. Almost 250,000 people were left homeless by Andrew—roughly the population of the entire city of Las Vegas, Nevada. Garbage generated by the storm in a single night was equal to the projected landfill for Dade County for the next thirty years.

As Category 5 Hurricane Andrew was bearing down, people huddled in their closets and under their mattresses were tuned to "the man who talked South Florida through". This is the story of the storm that set the benchmark for damage - almost four times the previously most expensive U.S. disaster - and the TV coverage that kept people safe and sane through the hellacious night. Bryan Norcross was on the air with life-saving guidance for every minute of Andrew's onslaught. Cities in South Florida declared Bryan Norcross Days in his honor. This is the story behind the acclaimed TV coverage, and why Bryan was first to raise the alarm. Learn untold stories about the storm that rewrote our understanding of hurricanes. How will we deal with extreme storms in the future? Bryan considers the lessons we learned from Andrew, the lessons we should have learned, and what steps we need to immediately take. If you think you know the story of Hurricane Andrew, it is likely you do not. Relive the incredible event from Bryan's vantage point as the man who was connected to South Florida residents through the terror of the storm and the horror of what came after the Great Hurricane of 1992.

"[A] careful, nuanced approach in examining the effects of a hurricane on a region’s electoral politics at all levels of government, including localities sometimes neglected by American political science but central to disaster politics."--Political Science Quarterly "Twigg has thoroughly researched. . . . [and] assembled an impressive array of facts by pouring through scholarly documents, books, and back issues of magazines."--Florida Historical Quarterly "A rigorous study of disaster's impact on elected local and state political officials, on their electoral fortunes or misfortunes, and on the local political fabric of impacted jurisdictions."--Richard T. Sylves, George Washington University "A significant contribution to the field of disaster studies."--Naim Kapucu, University of Central Florida From earthquakes to tornados, elected officials' responses to natural disasters can leave an indelible mark on their political careers. In the midst of the 1992 primary season, Hurricane Andrew overwhelmed South Florida, requiring local, state, and federal emergency responses. The work of many politicians in the storm's immediate aftermath led to a curious "incumbency advantage" in the general election a few weeks later, raising the question of just how much the disaster provided opportunities to effectively "campaign without campaigning." David Twigg uses newspaper stories, scholarly articles, and first person interviews to explore the impact of Hurricane Andrew on local and state political incumbents, revealing how elected officials adjusted their strategies and activities in the wake of the disaster. Not only did Andrew give them a legitimate and necessary opportunity to enhance their constituency service and associate themselves with the flow of external assistance, but it also allowed them to achieve significant personal visibility and media coverage while appearing to be non-political or above "normal" politics. This engrossing case study clearly demonstrates why natural disasters often privilege incumbents. Twigg not only sifts through the post-Andrew election results in Florida, but he also points out the possible effects of other past (and future) disaster events on political campaigns in this fascinating and prescient book.