THE YEAR IS 1992- THE MOTH AUGUST HURRICANE
ANDREW COMES AND CHANGES OUR LIFES FOR EVER
My husband and I live in Fort Lauderdale
Florida-
My Mother and Father are retired my father is
89 years old and my Mother is in her 80’s
they have a town house in Cutler Ridge South
Miami.
My sister and her husband have two homes 5
blocks from our parents; they reside in one and
the other is rented (which is next door to
theirs)
My nephew my sister’s son has a town house
diagonally from our parents.
August 23-1992
4;pm
My sister is concerned about the hurricane;
they live in an area where it has become
mandatory for people to leave; they have started
to evacuate. She calls on the phone and is
anxious about our parents so we decide for her
to drive them up to our house.
5;pm
My sister's husband goes to Coral Gables
where his elderly mother lives by herself- he
takes the dog and the cats with him.
My sister’s tenants next door are a young
couple from up north and decided to stay home.
my sister begs them to leave; but no, they stay
Their decision to stay turns into devastating
consequences they had to ride out the storm in
the farthest corner of the garage covered up
with mattresses. We found them in the morning
terrorized actually traumatized by the
experience.
I think they packed what ever they could find
and went back up north.
It was a blessing that the garage was under
the house that saved their lifes
5;30
My sister’s son drives to Coral Gables with
his girl friend to her Parents house.
The traffic is horrendous and it takes my
sister almost 3 hours to arrive at our house.
During regular days it takes 45 to one hour from
her house.
7;pm
After we dine our parents retire to the guest
bedroom and we stay up
The winds become very strong and the noise of
things flying about is bad; but we are not
alarmed only a little nervous since we have gone
all the way through hurricanes before. Shutters
are coming off the windows and my husband is
fighting them, Hooking them, brazing them with
what ever we have at hand
The wind is to strong the porch shutters are
made out of steel But they are bowing as if they
where made out of cardboard………
6;am August 28
We loose power for a while and by 6 am the
news is devastating
TV is on….
the pictures from the helicopter show
everything leveled to the ground. Around our
house there are a lot of trees down a lot of
trash but things are ok.
8am my husband and my sister drive to Miami
I stay home with my parents which by now are
in shock. Not much talk only glued to the TV
screen. We are weeping; we sit there
incredulous…….. there are no communications and
we wait until my husband calls from a patrol car
they meet on the way home.
His voice is low; he is sobbing his only
words “nothing is left here everything is gone;
we had trouble finding the street…. no street
signs, no trees no color… everything is black
and white the storm took off all the paint from
everything trees are gone what is left are bare
black sticks laying all over-- nothing is left”
I hang up the phone Mother is looking at me and
she sees my face…
she falls to the floor saying “my house is
gone?” she passes out.
THE NEIGHBORHOOD
We could not find the street!
THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND SHOPPING AREAS 8 to 10
BLOCKS FROM OUR PARENT’S AND MY SISTER’S HOUSE
Collapsed Strip-mall Roof This damage
occurred at a short strip mall on the Turnpike
near Quail Roost Drive. Note the toppled precast
concrete roof support beams, with embedded
rebars. Here, 110+ kt east winds blew out the
east-facing plate glass windows of the
storefronts, and pushed the walls outward enough
for the roof to fall in.
Looking WNW
On August 24, 1992 at 5:00 A.M.
Hurricane Andrew hit the Florida Coast South
of Miami in Homestead Florida. With Sustained
winds of 145 mph, gusts were recored at 164 mph
in Coral Gables.
Andrew crossed the state moving at 18 mph.
Hurricane force winds extended up to Pompano Bch
Florida and Naples and South to Vaca Key. 48
total deaths were atributed to Andrew in the
Bahamas, Florida and Louisiana. Andrew was the
costliest and most destructive Hurricane so far,
with damage estimates of more then 25 million
dollars. Florida Agricultural industry loss was
1.04 billion. Ninety percent of all homes in
Dade County had roof damage and 117,000 homes
were destroyed or had major damage. Andrews
pressure bottomed out at 27.23 inches the third
lowest this century in the Atlantic Ocean.
Looking SSW.
The Holiday Inn along the Turnpike in south
Dade County. Almost every window, and a few
doors, were blown out; and much of the main roof
sign was gone. It took two direct eyewall hits
sandwiched around a short period inside the
northern part of the eye -- and remained largely
intact. Despite the ugly superficial damage,
this steel-reinforced concrete edifice stayed
structurally sound, and soon reopened for
business.
Rubble in a convenience store, with the roof
missing. This was on the S side of Quail Roost
at the Turnpike, part of a different strip mall
than the "Botanica" in the last photo. What a
mess. Parts of the roof fell into the store;
while other pieces were scattered for several
blocks westward. Insulation dangled loosely here
and there. All plate-glass windows were blown
out, with store contents turned into projectiles
and heaps of trash.
Looking SSW.
Aftermath- My parents never left our home;
we went back to see if we could find anything
that was worth salvaging but everything was wet
destroyed or too dirty to even Consider
picking up.
Family photos important papers everything was
gone;
sometime afterwards someone found papers with
my
fathers name on them; they where found blocks
from
their town house. My sister and her husband
went back home to no water, no lights no
gasoline, no food.
I had to walk my neiborhood asking for ice
because there was no ice to be had at any price
for miles around and my sister had no water for
months.
Our brother that lived in Atlanta came down
with a big truck full of supply’s donated by all
his neighbors and friends there where loads of
batteries can food clothes, bed linens pots and
pans..........
Tools generators and best of all some of his
people came down to give a hand.
My sister’s house was a two story house on
the lake-
that day we both sat on top of the rubble and
cry looking at the lake full of her upstairs
furnish and
the books from their never to be recover art
library
with beautifull art from all over the world….
everything gone.
Today they have a new house in the same lot.
The house next door was sold as a lot the
same as the other two townhouses where our
parents and my nephew lived.
Two months after the hurricane our Father
died
from a broken heart after loosing everything
he had.
Today our Mother is 93 years old and lives in
Miami
with my sister and her husband.
The Untold Story- from the Journal of an Insurance Adjuster
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Aug. 29, 1992- I had one of my three sons drive me to the airport at 6:45 in the morning. I carried a heavy ladder, and the biggest suitcase I had. I was stuck on the last seat on the plane- right over the engine noise. It was a long flight from Seattle to Miami. I developed a terrible headache.
After arriving in Miami, I had a long wait for my luggage and then I had to pick up my rental car. By this time my head was throbbing. I had fifteen blocks to drive to get to the hotel, where I could take my aspirin. However, it was dark, flooded, and there were no street signs to guide me. It took me 45 minutes to reach my hotel.
Upon arriving at the hotel I was told there was no water to take my aspirin. I searched in vain for a machine with liquid of any sort. Finally I went down to the kitchen, where for $5.00 they give me a soda pop.
I checked in at the desk for messages. There were none. I lay awake wondering what tomorrow would bring.
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Aug. 30- I drove my car over to join my company team and receive instructions. Before setting off for my designated area, I buy bottled water, batteries, an umbrella, and a rain poncho.
My first assignment was 4 claims- on the same street. Then I drove toward Homestead. I was only halfway there when I began seeing the totally unbelievable destruction. I couldn't believe how bad it was, and I was only halfway there.
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August 31- I paid over $200,000 today in just one day. I found myself very emotionally upset at the severe destruction. Not only that- it was difficult to drive around without any street signs. Everywhere that I stopped the people would rush around my car, which had the signs of my insurance company on it, asking for help. People were sitting outside of what was left of their homes, with their insurance company's names and their policy numbers written on whatever part of their home was left standing.
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September 6th- I am being transferred into the hardest hit area of Hurricane Andrew. I write home "the only way to describe the destruction of this type of thing is to see it for yourself. I have seen a lot of storm damage in the past, but what sets this apart, is that it goes on for miles and miles. Today I was in a retired couples condominium. They were essentially camping out. The roof was gone, there was no air-conditioning, and they were living on a concrete floor. I have not seen these types of conditions since I left Mexico over 20 years ago".
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September 20th- A lot of people here are under a lot of stress. Many of the claims are difficult to do, because the owners have just left. There are so many, many claims, and the people that are still here are so desperate. The pressure to get them all done as quickly as possible is severe. There are not enough hours in the day, and we are all feeling the burden of the long, hours of endless work. Many adjusters have left- unable to take to strain. Some did not last for more than a few days. It's like being in a "war zone". I must try and take a day off to relieve my stress.
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September 28th- I called my wife tonight. It is hard on her for me to be gone so long. While I am talking to her, there is gunfire in the background. I hope she doesn't hear it. Yesterday, when I was doing a claim, 3 young men came up to the house with guns. The owner and I stood outside while they took away what was left in the house.
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Oct 5th- Finally I am going home- for a few days. Then I must come back. I don't want to, but I am needed.
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Oct. 8th- My son again drove me to the airport at 6:30 in the morning. This time I am prepared. I know what to expect. It does not make it easier. As I am flying away from Seattle again, I think of my wife and three sons, and how much I am going to miss while I am gone.
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November 6th- the work goes on and on, but I will not be here to do it. This is my last night. Tomorrow I am going home and will not be back. I pray for these poor people and all they have been through. It has been so stressful for everyone involved. So many people have left. One of the other adjusters from my company had his hair turn totally white while he was here.
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November 7th- I got up at 6:00 AM for my flight. After another very long day, I am finally home. When I got home, I found my luggage had been opened, and the money I had put in there was gone. After all I had done to help these people, it seemed a real "slap in the face". I was later to learn that luggage theft at the Miami airport was common. I wish I had known.
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November 8th- It's Sunday, and after going to Church, I rested all day. There will be no other rest for me, as I have to go back to my regular job tomorrow. Tomorrow I will tell my wife the things that I dare not tell her when I was in Florida. It would have upset her too much. When she knows the whole story, she will understand why I am going out tomorrow to buy a gun.
In life when tears must
fall
When heart is filled with woe
Place
to have this time I need
As saddened heart
will flow
Today I cried so many
tears
They seem to give me peace
Knowing
that each drop I shed
Would give my soul
release
Take away this pain I feel
Let
the hurt subside
Tears that fill an ocean
of
This sadness felt inside
Need this time to cast
away
The sorrow that's within
With every
tear the pain awash
The joy will then
begin
Tears in life give comfort
now
For all the hurt we feel
Cascading in
a pool of life
So each of us can
heal
Perhaps I cry these
tears for you
Perhaps they are for
me
Whatever reason for these tears
They
fall from heart's bounty.
~
Francine Pucillo ~
©used with
permission
The poem was specifically
written
to accompany THIS graphic
set.
Read more of her