Hurricane History
Hurricane Andrew History: Wind Damage, Building Codes, Forecasting, and South Florida Recovery
What Hurricane Andrew changed, including extreme wind damage, building codes, insurance, evacuation, and hurricane preparedness.
Quick answer: Hurricane Andrew is remembered for catastrophic wind damage and its influence on building codes, insurance, and hurricane preparedness.
Wind damage
Andrew produced extreme wind damage in South Florida.
The storm showed how vulnerable buildings could fail under intense hurricane winds.
Code changes
The disaster helped drive stronger building-code conversations and insurance changes.
Recovery revealed weaknesses in construction and preparedness.
Forecast lesson
Track, intensity, and last-minute preparation all mattered.
Hurricane history shows why readiness cannot wait until landfall is imminent.