How did the ‘Big One’ change Miami? Look back at Hurricane Andrew’s impact

August 1992 is a trigger for those who remember in Miami.

Hurricane Andrew.

The storm changed our landscape — and our lives.

Let’s look back at the storm that destroyed parts of South Miami-Dade, ripped families from their homes, turned us into survivalists with no power or landmarks — and gave us the determination to rebuild.

The “big one” was “knocking at the front door” on Aug. 23, 1992, and then caused “destruction at dawn” on Aug. 24.

What Hurricane Andrew did to South Florida

In this file photo from Aug. 25, 1992, residents at the Saga Bay apartment complex see firsthand what happened to their units after Hurricane Andrew blasted South Miami-Dade a day earlier on Aug. 24, 1992. Here, a man is seen inside his unit.
In this file photo from Aug. 25, 1992, residents at the Saga Bay apartment complex see firsthand what happened to their units after Hurricane Andrew blasted South Miami-Dade a day earlier on Aug. 24, 1992. Here, a man is seen inside his unit. Chuck Fadely Miami Herald File

In ‘Untitled,’ shot in 1992, Marjorie Conklin cools off in a tub of water filled with a hose, surrounded by what’s left of her south Miami-Dade County home several days after the destruction of Hurricane Andrew.
In ‘Untitled,’ shot in 1992, Marjorie Conklin cools off in a tub of water filled with a hose, surrounded by what’s left of her south Miami-Dade County home several days after the destruction of Hurricane Andrew. C.W. Griffin Miami Herald File

Flamingos huddling in the bathroom of Miami Metrozoo (later renamed Zoo Miami). Ron Magill along with the staff of then Miami Metrozoo) rounded up the flamingos and put them in the bathroom for safety against Hurricane Andrew in August 1992.
Flamingos huddling in the bathroom of Miami Metrozoo (later renamed Zoo Miami). Ron Magill along with the staff of then Miami Metrozoo) rounded up the flamingos and put them in the bathroom for safety against Hurricane Andrew in August 1992. Ron Magill

Hurricane Andrew hit South Florida with sustained winds of 165 mph and gusts over 200 mph as a Category 5 storm on Aug. 24, 1992. Andrew hammered Homestead and the rest of South Miami-Dade, killed 15 people in Miami-Dade and was indirectly responsible for at least 25 more deaths. It destroyed 25,000 homes in South Florida and damaged more than 101,000 others, as seen in this file photo.
Hurricane Andrew hit South Florida with sustained winds of 165 mph and gusts over 200 mph as a Category 5 storm on Aug. 24, 1992. Andrew hammered Homestead and the rest of South Miami-Dade, killed 15 people in Miami-Dade and was indirectly responsible for at least 25 more deaths. It destroyed 25,000 homes in South Florida and damaged more than 101,000 others, as seen in this file photo. Miami Herald File

Photo from the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew at a location in Florida City.
Photo from the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew at a location in Florida City. Charles Trainor Jr. Miami Herald File

Aerial of Countrywalk after Hurricane Andrew.
Aerial of Countrywalk after Hurricane Andrew. Bill Frakes Miami Herald File

Richard Colon, 11, sits by a tree at his house in South Miami-Dade, on Aug. 27, 1992. The family has not seen any officials or help since the storm destroyed their home. They plead for help by writing on their walls. Andrew made landfall on Aug. 24.
Richard Colon, 11, sits by a tree at his house in South Miami-Dade, on Aug. 27, 1992. The family has not seen any officials or help since the storm destroyed their home. They plead for help by writing on their walls. Andrew made landfall on Aug. 24. Charles Trainor Jr. Miami Herald File

Vivian and Lazaro Hernandez embraced after finding some salvageable memories, like wedding photos in the remains of what was their home in this file photo after Hurricane Andrew hit South Miami-Dade on Aug. 24, 1992.
Vivian and Lazaro Hernandez embraced after finding some salvageable memories, like wedding photos in the remains of what was their home in this file photo after Hurricane Andrew hit South Miami-Dade on Aug. 24, 1992. Bill Frakes Miami Herald File

A familiar photo from the Miami Herald archive shows ruins left in Hurricane Andrew’s wake. The calamity led to changes in rules governing construction.
A familiar photo from the Miami Herald archive shows ruins left in Hurricane Andrew’s wake. The calamity led to changes in rules governing construction. Miami Herald File

Harold Keith, 69, returned to his Florida City trailer park to find his home flattened by the 165-mph sustained winds of Hurricane Andrew. The Category 5 storm roared through South Miami-Dade on Aug. 24, 1992.
Harold Keith, 69, returned to his Florida City trailer park to find his home flattened by the 165-mph sustained winds of Hurricane Andrew. The Category 5 storm roared through South Miami-Dade on Aug. 24, 1992. C.M. Guerrero Miami Herald File

In this file photo from Sept. 4, 1992, after having cleared the tree debris from his front yard left behind by Hurricane Andrew a little over a week earlier, then-14-year-old Chris Schere erected his personal symbol of “hope” at his South Miami-Dade home high in a trimmed tree.
In this file photo from Sept. 4, 1992, after having cleared the tree debris from his front yard left behind by Hurricane Andrew a little over a week earlier, then-14-year-old Chris Schere erected his personal symbol of “hope” at his South Miami-Dade home high in a trimmed tree. Candace Barbot Miami Herald File

THE MAPS

Bryan Norcross, the famous TV meteorologist who broadcast throughout Hurricane Andrew in 1992, debuted the first version of what is now the hurricane cone of uncertainty the week before Andrew hit Florida.
Bryan Norcross, the famous TV meteorologist who broadcast throughout Hurricane Andrew in 1992, debuted the first version of what is now the hurricane cone of uncertainty the week before Andrew hit Florida. Bryan Norcross

Photo from NOAA satellite showing Hurricane Andrew making landfall near Homestead Air Force Base in Florida at 5 a.m. EDT, Aug. 24, 1992, with sustained winds at 145 mph and gusts of 175 mph.
Photo from NOAA satellite showing Hurricane Andrew making landfall near Homestead Air Force Base in Florida at 5 a.m. EDT, Aug. 24, 1992, with sustained winds at 145 mph and gusts of 175 mph. National Hurricane Center

Front page news

Cover page of the special edition of the Miami Herald published Monday, Aug. 24, 1992, on the day Hurricane Andrew arrived in South Miami-Dade.
Cover page of the special edition of the Miami Herald published Monday, Aug. 24, 1992, on the day Hurricane Andrew arrived in South Miami-Dade. Miami Herald Staff Miami Herald File

The Miami Herald section front on Aug. 25, 1992, the day after Hurricane Andrew decimated South Miami-Dade. “Destruction at Dawn.”
The Miami Herald section front on Aug. 25, 1992, the day after Hurricane Andrew decimated South Miami-Dade. “Destruction at Dawn.” Miami Herald File

The Miami Herald front page on Friday, Aug. 28, 1992. “We Need Help” as Hurricane Andrew aftermath overwhelmed during relief efforts in Miami-Dade.
The Miami Herald front page on Friday, Aug. 28, 1992. “We Need Help” as Hurricane Andrew aftermath overwhelmed during relief efforts in Miami-Dade. Miami Herald File

Front pages from the first week of Hurricane Andrew in 1992.
Front pages from the first week of Hurricane Andrew in 1992.

READ MORE

Hurricane Andrew’s legacy: Five ways one storm forever changed South Florida

‘I saw things that defied physics.’ What it was like to survive Hurricane Andrew in Miami

What Hurricane Andrew did to South Florida on August 24, 1992: destruction at dawn

How nine people survived Hurricane Andrew as it destroyed their South Miami-Dade motel

Leonard Pitts Jr.: We’ve moved on from Hurricane Andrew, but not as far as you might think

What was it like to go through Hurricane Andrew? See for yourself with these pictures

SEE MORE

Follow More of Our Reporting on Uniquely Miami

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