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Hurricane Andrew Facts & Worksheets

Andrew was the most powerful hurricane to hit South Florida in almost 30 years and it ended up being the costliest disaster in United States History.

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Andrew was the most powerful hurricane to hit South Florida in almost 30 years and it ended up being the costliest disaster in United States History. Andrew changed the landscape of South Florida completely, including the way in which Floridians prepare for hurricanes.

See the fact file below for more information on the Hurricane Andrew or alternatively, you can download our 20-page Hurricane Andrew worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

BASIC FACTS

  • Andrew formed on August 16, 1992, and dissipated on August 28.
  • The highest winds it sustained were up to 175 mph (280 km/h), causing 65 fatalities.
  • Andrew’s total damages cost $27.3 billion (1992, USD). That would be around $47.8 billion in 2018. The areas affected were The Bahamas, South Florida, Louisiana and other areas of the Southern United States.

BEGINNING OF THE STORM

  • On August 14, 1992, a tropical wave moved off the west coast of Africa towards the south of Cape Verde Islands. Meteorologists began classifying the system with the Dvorak technique the next day, assuming it would develop into a more severe weather disturbance.
  • Hurricane hunters initially failed to locate its center because of its decreasing circulation, leaving only the center to sustain winds.
  • A strong high-pressure cell then developed over the southeastern United States, which built eastward and caused Andrew to turn to the west. The “eye” eventually strengthened on August 22 with it obtaining the official storm name – Andrew.
  • Eleuthera, Bahamas, was the first place to suffer devastation. It was then predicted that the first U.S. landfall would be in Jupiter, Florida, on 25 August with winds of 105 mph.
  • The Bahamas experienced a low death toll, thanks to an early warning system.
  • 1.2 million Florida inhabitants were evacuated resulting in low fatality rates despite the intensity of the storm.
  • Due to the hurricane threat, workers fled oil platforms in the Gulf of Mexico, while the Coast Guard moved their boats inland.
  • In Louisiana, Governor Edwin Edwards declared a state of emergency. About 1.25 million people evacuated central and southeast Louisiana, while about 60,000 others fled parishes in southwest Louisiana.
  • Although Texas recalled its evacuation orders, school was canceled in many areas. Emergency workers were still on high alert.

THE DEVASTATING IMPACT

  • BAHAMAS – Hurricane Andrew brought hurricane-force winds, or maximum sustained wind of over 74 mph, to North Eleuthera, New Providence, North Andros, Bimini and Berry Islands – all in the Bahamas.
  • A total of 800 houses were destroyed, leaving 1,700 people homeless. The storm also caused severe damage to the sectors of transport, communication, water, sanitation, agriculture and fishing.
  • FLORIDA – At the height of the storm, more than 1.4 million people lost electricity and another 150,000 were without telephone service. Throughout Florida, the storm damaged 101,241 homes and destroyed approximately 63,000 others – the vast majority in Dade County – with about 175,000 people being left homeless.
  • Almost all of the damage in Florida was caused by strong winds. Of the 44 deaths attributed to the storm, 15 were direct fatalities, while 29 were indirectly caused by the storm.
  • LOUISIANA – In Morgan City, south-central Louisiana, maximum sustained winds were 115 mph upon landfall. Other areas also suffered a series of tornadoes and floods amidst the heavy rainfall.
  • The most devastated area was St. Mary Parish. Hurricane Andrew impacted 26 schools and destroyed 1,367 dwellings, 2,028 were severely damaged and 4,770 others were impacted to a minor degree.
  • Other areas experienced downed trees and power lines, tornadoes and wind damage to homes. Airports were also closed and general services were halted for everyone’s safety.

THE AFTERMATH

  • The effects of Hurricane Andrew in the Bahamas included three direct fatalities and $250 million (1992, USD) in damage – the heaviest being Eleuthera and Cat Cay. Within hours of the storm passing, international aid arrived to assess damage and provide help to the affected residents.
  • Andrew caused about $25.3 billion in damage in Florida, making it the costliest hurricane to hit the state. Almost all of the damage in Florida was caused by strong winds.
  • Losses in the state of Louisiana reached approximately $1.56 billion. A total of 17 deaths occurred in Louisiana, 8 directly and 9 from indirect causes. At least 75 injuries were reported.

Hurricane Andrew Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about Hurricane Andrewacross 20 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Hurricane Andrew worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the Andrew which was the most powerful hurricane to hit South Florida in almost 30 years and it ended up being the costliest disaster in United States History. Andrew changed the landscape of South Florida completely, including the way in which Floridians prepare for hurricanes.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Hurricane Andrew Facts
  • Costly Disasters
  • Storm Trail
  • Hurricane Terms
  • The Basics
  • Defining Meteorological Terms
  • Stor-M-atch
  • Pet Care
  • Drawing the Power
  • Disaster Preparedness
  • Man of the Hour
  • Facing the Storm

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Link will appear as Hurricane Andrew Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, July 25, 2018

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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