August 24th 1992 around 3:00 am the conditions were really bad, we were in our home trying to find a safety place to stay, meawhile the sound of a frieght train was blowing our ears, and the sound of bombs(every time a window broke). It was really frightten, all we could do was to pray. The storm moved fast about 20MPH but for us was like an eternity. When the storm was over around 6:00 am We could not believe our eyes, it was a war zone, I remember my son by that time he was only seven, saying Mami this is not our home. Our family and friends were very worry did not hear from us. The lack of communication between government agencies made the whole thing worst, We could'nt sleep, afraid of the looters, my husband was sitting all the time with his rifle ready to shoot, we had no doors, windows and more that half of our roof was gone. Finally after six days, the National guard went in that night we were able to sleep. People from all over the nation came to help for the cleanup. Religious groups were all around our neighborhood to give us a hand and to pray with us, It was an awfull day and it was a beautiful time too, seeing all these people giving their time to help us. Thank to God,thank you for all your help, Especial thank for a religious group from North Caroline, they helped us cleaning up and conforted us. Thank you God!!!!

I see that many of us had the same experience, We live in a beautiful state, and I think we have to pay a little bit the sunshine we have all year around, I know hurricanes are part of our lives but can they just stay in open water?

We were moving my hubby into our house in Panama City Beach at that time. He was on contract up there, and I worked in the Orlando area. My daughter and her husband were up there helping us, and she got called to return to the Space center where she works. It was a little frightening. Our place up there got hit by Hurricane Opal 3 years later. These are frightening to be in, as any of the Floridians that have been through them will tell you. Central Florida will well remember 2004 when we were hit with 3 of these storms, Charley, Francis and Jeanne - that was a year I don't want to relive. But, we learn to pick up and start over.

My husband had been stationed at Homestead AFB before Andrew hit. We went back twice in the late 90s and finally found the remnants of Homestead on the 2nd trip. We could still see the ruined houses around what had been Homestead then. And Homestead was so bad that my husband could not identify the dorm he had spent 2 years in. My heart still grieves for those of you who experienced it.

We lived in Miramar, FL at the time and my husband was working in Homestead where it was hit the hardest. He left to go down there to work and found his work was gone. The steel beams were bent and the roof down. At that time he worked for Scotty Hardware and just started handing tape, plastic - what ever they could get to. The Winn Dixie next door got a water truck and the survivors stormed the truck so he jumped up on it and started helping giving out water. Everyone was in need of the most essential food, shelter, and water. I still remember the tent city the army put up and all the destruction. Seeing shoes and kids toys impelled into fences and trees without leafs. Made me wonder how anyone survived. Since Andrew came during darkness it was even more stressful. We were OK but our house needed much repair. Not a natural disaster easy to forget. Every one was grateful for any help we received.

I was in south Florida about 5 years after "Andrew". It still looked like a war zone then. Here in Virginia, USA, we get our share of hurricanes. In 2003, "Isabel" came for a visit! And she wasn't a very nice guest! We were without electicity for 2 weeks! We live in a major metropolitan area about 100 miles from the coast, and didn't get the worst of that storm. Thank you for sharing that story with us. Hurricane season is upon us again.

Marci, my dear - that was a horrible time for a lot of people and I am so happy to hear that you made it through it and have a story to tell for other's to hear and for you to remember how fortunate you were to have survived it, but most of all that you know to Thank God.

I must have been terrifying. So glad help finally arrived. God saw you through it.

Mary, thanks for sharing this with us.
I can't imagine what you all went through.
Is it not wonderful how people stand together in times of need.
God Bless -hugs Yvonne

What a terrifying thing to live through. But it is awesome to see how wonderful people can be in situations like this. Looking back I'm sure you can see the Lords work through it all. God Bless you.

Isso é muito bom !

Hope it is never that bad again and happy you were safe! Mother nature can really change our lives. Take care and baton down the hatches!