25 Years After Hurricane Andrew and Lessons We Should Have Learned

Hurricane Andrew was a benchmark storm for a number of reasons beyond the meteorology and the pure dollar cost of the epic storm: Category 5 and the most expensive natural disaster in the history of the United States – more than three times as expensive as number two. It was also the first modern storm with constant media coverage through the event, the first time a cone-like graphic was used, and more. After the storm, the damage caused by Andrew upended the insurance industry, emergency management procedures, media coverage of future storms, and caused radical changes to building codes. Even though it has been 25 years since Andrew hit Dade County, Florida, many of the lessons resonate today. This talk discusses how communications with the public evolved during the storm, the lessons we learned, and what we’ve forgotten about that remarkable event.