Hurricance andrew recovery

Hurricance andrew recovery

INTRODUCTION

In the year 1992, on August 22 in Florida the world’s largest natural disaster in the nation’s history occurred. Andrew was the first tropical storm of the season that was the time when all of a sudden this natural disaster turns out to be the worst among all that happens before. This particular disaster even replaces Hurricane Hugo as the costliest disaster ever, which causes over five times the damage of that 1989 storm. It was the horrible disaster of all kinds. Besides the Chicago Flood, business’ biggest disaster ever, Hurricane Andrew wreaked a terrible human toll.

If we see this matter statistically it was observed that it was the fourth most intense land falling in America with a rate of 992 mbar (hpa). (The Advocate, pg 4)

Let’s look at the destruction caused by the Hurricane and has there been any recovery process? Yes than ok if no than why?

DESTRUCTION BY HURRICANCE ANDREW: –

This was the worst hit of 30 years; we can declare this as the worst condition of that particular era. People living in that zone were new to the region and never had experienced a storm like that before. Hurricane Andrew gave numerous sort of disaster in many ways.

According to research it was explored that at, that particular time the Category four hurricanes hit with winds gusting to speeds of approximately 175 miles per hour, and swells reaching 17 feet in height along the coast as well. Almost 250,000 peoples were homeless as the storm destroyed properties of entire society. In addition with this Sixty-Five peoples died as a result of this storm, and many more suffered injuries.

This vicious storm destroyed or we can declare that damaged due to this storm was so high in rate that it was estimated that almost 600,000 homes and businesses were destroyed and damaged. Fundamentally Hurricane Andrew was the third largest multiple recovery event in the company’s history.

It was also discovered that the staggering human cost, the valuation of destroyed property of hurricane Andrew was the largest in United States history as well. Besides these companies and home town this storm also effected natural stuff as well as according to research it was illustrated that due to this storm in Florida Everglades, 25%, 70,000 acres (280 km²) of trees were knocked down by the storm. (Morrow, B.H. 5-9)

Below is the table, which will provide you better understanding and clear your concept as well.

Item
Loss ($ Billion)
Notes
1. Common insured private property
15.0
From American Insurance Services Group, Inc., property February 1993 based on major insurers. Includes homes, mobile homes, commercial and industrial properties and their contents; boats; autos; farm equipment and structures; “time-element” losses of living expenses and “business interruption.”
2. Uninsured homes
0.35
From The Miami Herald (MH), 16 February 1993 for cost to rebuild. May not include contents.
3. Government property:

a. Federal Government:
i. Homestead AFB
0.5
From CARCAH
ii. Other
?

b. State Governments
?

c. County Governments
0.287
Uninsured loss to Metro-Dade reported by Audit and Management Services Department on 25 January 1993.
d. City Governments
?

e. Schools
0.358
MH, 10 September 1992 for K-12, FIU, Dade County CC and UM. FEMA estimate of $0.06 billion for school repair on 27 February 1993.

4. Agriculture
1.0
MH, 10 September 1992. Part of loss covered in #1. Excludes loss of row crops.
5. Environment:

a. Clean-up
2.0
Amount requested of Federal Government by State of Florida. FEMA estimate of $0.375 billion on 27 February 1993.
b. Parks, Marinas, Beaches and Reefs
0.124
MH, 10 September 1992.
6. Aircraft
0.02
From survey of aircraft underwriters.
7. Flood Claims
0.096
From FEMA Flood Insurance Administration.
(Source: Paul Fronstin, 389)

RECOVERY MEASURES: –

Annoyance with bureaucratic inadequacy was strengthened by what many south Dade inhabitants and officials of the local government saw as a negative response from Washington. In September of 1992, as part of a disaster bill, Congress assigned $8 billion in federal assistance for the areas which were affected. Also, President Bush Sr. declared to reconstruct the Homestead Air Force base, which, with its $480 million yearly impact and 8,700 workers, was the financial security of the society. In spite of latest noises about incomplete reconstruction of the base, it became obvious that President Clinton has little intent of keeping his forerunner’s operation assurance. Out of the $8 billion in assistance, less than quarter has been given to South Florida. But there were some very good things which happened with the recovery process.

As the storm approached on Sunday, Barnett Banks’ key personnel met at its operations center in Miami Lakes to establish contingency procedures for item processing and cash delivery. That became the central command post.

Once the storm had passed, Barnett Banks’ personnel used two helicopters to survey damage at 40 branches in the area. In most cases, rooftop satellite dishes, essential to the communication of deposit information from branches to the main office, still worked. Nine branches were severely damaged and needed priority attention, but vaults and safe deposit boxes survived intact even at these locations.

Local officers were hard to obtain so officer from Atlanta and Jacksonville were brought in to serve and protect, not only because of increased demand but also because many were preoccupied with the loss of their own homes or simply could not yet be located. Within a day or two generators were brought in for lighting and to keep ATMs, now in huge demand, in operation.

Recuperation and evaluation teams comprising of safety, inspection, bank, and real estate staff visited each of the 9 branches. They recorded damage with a video camera for insurance purposes. The teams then removed, as necessary, cash, consignment items, teller records, and night deposits and brought them back to the operations center by armored car. In some cases the National Guard and local police offered additional protection.

Company efforts were coordinated through the central command. The local police and Federal Emergency Management Agency were used as sources of information. Before money and people were moved, bank personnel checked with these contacts to determine which routes might be unsafe because of looters or obstacles, such as downed power lines.

The media was kept informed of progress, and hurricane hot line numbers were publicized for both customers and employees through a local radio station, direct contact, and word of mouth. The company provided employees in need with lodging and food.

IBM Business Recovery Services which is also declared as (BRS) in Tampa, Florida started their activity on that Saturday by utilizing their maximum resources equipments and with all stuff they can to survive in that particular worst circumstance. Tampa was used as the focal point to communicate with all customers by utilizing there all customer call centers, alerts and all the resources that can spread the news of disaster.

Teams were designed in a manner that have all the skilled specialists in various technical disciplines to form technical assessments, scheming the path of the storm, estimating options as well as who can plan for the various scenarios that were likely to unfold.

Similarly many of the individuals involved in the recovery of this situation and spent there time away from their homes and as well as there families during a time of extreme psychological uncertainty. These individuals provide their complete assistance as when staff members were physically not capable to relocate or find some issues in managing   due to the impact of the storm; they were present there and work on behalf of them as well, to insure successful recovery.

In addition numerous sorts of losses and disaster were occurred in this situation, as countless businesses suffered physical and financial losses from the hurricane. To overcome this disaster complicated plans were formed by effected companies, not only his theses companies who were saved by this disaster even form such plans in order to assist there employees who became the victims of hurricane.

Brotherhood Commission of the Southern Baptist Convention of Memphis, Tenn., and the Texas Baptist Men of Dallas, Texas were the two prominent groups who supported and provided there full assistance in order to overcome that situation. Fundamentally the utilize Global Water Technologies water purification techniques and power generators in combination with mobile kitchens that were utilize in order to assist society in there emergency situations.

Several organizations of students were also formed and seen working in Hurricane Andrew, as School of Architecture recognized the Architectural Recovery Center and initiated the point to assist suffered peoples and society as an umbrella organization for a diversity of activities. Computer labs were used in order to store data, which can support various recovery efforts.

Besides this the Salvation Army sent in 37 mobile food storage faculties that served almost 40,000 meals, to help those who could get little or no food as well as Aids were provided by Pentagon in form of 750 kilowatt generators, 2,500 cots, and 30,000 MRE’s, or prepackaged meals. In addition with this almost 1279 Natioanl guard surve the effected areas by providing their assistance and time as well.

Below does the diagram, which will give you better, understand and clear your concepts that how steps were taken within in 10 years to overcome that worst condition and due to such steps what percentage were surf and provided assistance by numerous groups, companies and organizations like FEMA and many NGOS as we as individuals.  (Berke, P.R., J. Kartez and D. Wenger, pg 33-37)

                Source:   (Peacock, W.G., B.H. Morrow and H. Gladwin, pg 99)

Conclusion:

We can wrap up our document by concluding the fact that this Andrew won’t soon be forgotten as it has again reminded us that nature’s wrath is a thing that can’t be handled by humankind even if we have all our technologies, techniques or any latest procedures in order to stop such disaster. Building codes should be constructed in a manner that if in case such disaster harm us all buildings remain static or minimum disaster seen by the result of such problem. There were some hurdles in the rebuilding process but it went really well and to this day some of the rebuilding is still going on.

REFERENCES: –

·         Berke, P.R., J. Kartez and D. Wenger. “Recovery After Disaster Andrew, 1999 pg 32-39

Paul Fronstin, the Determinants of Residential Property Damage Caused by Hurricane Andrew, Southern Economic Journal. Volume: 61. Issue: 2. 1994. Page Number: 387+.
Morrow, B.H. “Identifying and Mapping Community Vulnerability of Hurrican Andrew.” Disasters. 1999 23(1):5-14.
Peacock, W.G., B.H. Morrow and H. Gladwin. Hurricane Andrew: Ethnicity, Gender and the Sociology of Disasters. London: Routledge. 1997.
Hurricane Andrew. The Advocate. Publication Date: November 24, 1998. Page Number: 4.

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