Hurricane Andrew's Varying Effects on Miami

Zooming in on one of the most influential moments of Miami History, Hurricane Andrew, is the perfect opportunity to utilize anecdotes from local survivors and personal reactions to the somewhat surprising after effects of the storm. How did Hurricane Andrew’s effect on the mobiles, locals, and exiles influence Miami’s culture? Downtown Miami and Miami Beach, areas with high concentrations of tourists, mobiles, and non-local business owners, were barely touched by the storm while local residents of Florida City, Homestead, Kendall, and Cutler Bay were left homeless or dead. Overall, through its different effects on Miami locals, exiles, and mobiles, what contribution did Hurricane Andrew make to Miami's identity?

I identify with Hurricane Andrew because my mom was pregnant with me during the storm and I was born into and grew up during the aftermath. What was it like being a baby during this devastating time? What was it like being a mother, father, grandmother, neighbor, etc.? How does the aftermath of Andrew illuminate and/or alter the tension between locals, mobiles, and exiles of Miami? How did that tension change Miami's identity?


Hurricane Andrew’s devastation seen on the streets by residents south of Miami and on the news by tourists, mobiles, and non-local business owners made Miami a place to avoid at all costs: local residents moved to areas considered safer, mobiles left their condos and houses by the water, and entrepreneurs took their businesses elsewhere because of Andrew’s massive
blow to Miami’s tourist industry. The aftermath of the storm left residents feeling alienated, homeless, and lost. Like its locals, Miami experienced a loss of identity and was forced to start anew and rebuild its neighborhoods, towns, and local way of life; however, although restoration was long and difficult, buildings, like the local Miami residents, were rebuilt stronger and
prepared for the next big storm.



Sources:

http://www.nytimes.com/1993/12/28/business/a-year-after-hurricane-andrew-insurers-maneuver-to-lower-risk.html?pagewanted=all&src=pm

http://www.hurricanecity.com/andrew.htm

http://water.usgs.gov/nwsum/WSP2425/andrew.html

http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=352881460399&topic=15257

http://www.bariumblues.com/deadly_silences.htm