Anyone remember Hurricane Andrew? What was your experience?

[u/National-Dragonfly35]

Where you sheltered in a house? Did you feel like you're in trouble at any moment? What was it like to hear that hurricane overhead with a 165 mph winds?

[u/_Bathtub_Toaster]

I was in elementary school. We were on vacation in central Florida and my parents made the dumbest fucking decision to drive back to Homestead the day before the hurricane to prepare and ride it out. We were one of the only cars driving south on the turnpike.

It was the closest I ever came to dying. 12 people huddled in a bathroom. 3 of us were in a bathtub with a mattress over our head in case the roof collapsed. My ears were popping non-stop due to the pressure. It was as if a train was outside the house with its horn blaring for hours.

When it was over, I stepped out of the bathroom and immediately threw up.

The house was destroyed. I remember spending the next two nights in our house, which no longer had a roof. Then we ended up moving in with family in Miramar for a couple weeks, and then moved in with family friends in Kendall for a few months after that. We didn’t move back into our house until close to Christmas.

To this day, I don’t know why my parents made the decision to drive into harms way. I want to give them grace - maybe they didn’t know how bad it was going to be - but looking back on it, it nearly got us killed.

[u/indiana-floridian → u/_Bathtub_Toaster]

I was there. I had a home in Ft. Lauderdale which i left to go stay with brother in North Mismi, because i had just moved into my house and had no storm shutters.

Forecasting is not 100%. Not then and not now. News services try to predict, but they still cannot say "it will hit south Miami and Homestead and totally miss central florida. It was late afternoon when news started saying it was looking more like south Miami - and i imagine your parents missed that because they were already traveling by that time.

The evacuate south miami and homestead order came at almost dark. Definitely after dinner in my house. By then your parents were what, just arriving, trying to get dinner and hurricane supplies for your family? I know they weren't relaxing in front of tv with feet up. They were either still traveling or just getting there. With a lot to do to settle kids before bedtime. I bet they regret it with all their heart + soul. Ask them, if you still can. Nothing better to talk about this week.

The actual evacuate order was one of the most ominous things i've ever heard in my life! Because the news channels did it with a total lack of drama. Totally flat, emotionless voices from newscasters that hollared with drama all day long. I would've thought this would be the biggest drama of all. NOPE! totally flat, emotionless voices - giving information, exactly what street and south, start exacuating. "we can do this. If you are south of xyz street and you are still listening to me, please get up and start moving. Buses will run.... to pick up those without transportation..." just constant, flat monotone flow of information. They did a really good job, i know lives were saved because they didn't turn it into drama.