Skip to main content

Bahamas and U.S.A. - Hurricane Andrew Aug 1992 UN DHA Information Reports 1-3

Countries
Bahamas
Sources
UN DHA
Publication date


UNDRO 92/0612
BAHAMAS AND U.S.A. HURRICANE ANDREW
DHA-UNDRO INFORMATION REPORT NO. 1
26 AUGUST 1992

SITUATION

1. ON 22 AUGUST 1992, HURRICANE ALERTS WERE ISSUED COVERING THE NORTHWESTERN BAHAMAS, CUBA AND SOUTHERN FLORIDA ON UNITED STATES MAINLAND AS HURRICANE ANDREW, RATED AS FORCE 4, MOVED IN WESTERLY DIRECTION ACROSS THE CARIBBEAN AT AROUND 16 MPH (26 KPH) WITH MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS OF 120 MPH (193 KPH)

IMPACT

2. CARIBBEAN DISASTER EMERGENCY RESPONSE AGENCY REPORTED THAT ON 23 AUGUST 1992 AT 1800 HRS LT (21OO GMT) THE EYE OF THE HURRICANE PASSED OVER THE BAHAMAS (NORTH ELEUTHERA AND 30 MILES NORTH OF NEW PROVIDENCE) WITH WINDS OF 150 MPH. BAHAMAS RED CROSS INDICATED THA T THE STORM PASSED OVER NASSAU ON NEW PROVIDENCE ISLAND AT 21.00 HRS LT (0030 GMT) WITHOUT DOING MAJOR DAMAGE. ONE DEATH WAS CONFIRMED AND NEWS REPORTS MENTION A FURTHER 3 UNCONFIRMED DEATHS ON ELEUTHERA ISLAND, WITH SEVERE DAMAGE TO 36 HOMES. BAHAMAS NATIONAL DISASTER COORDINATOR ADVISED THAT NO EXTERNAL ASSISTANCE WAS NECESSARY.

3. HURRICANE ANDREW CROSSED THE SOUTH-EAST COAST OF FLORIDA, SOUTH OF MIAMI ON 24 AUGUST 1992 AT 0400 LT (0900 GMT), CAUSING WIDESPREAD DAMAGE TO HOUSING AND INFRASTRUCTURE. NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTRE REGISTERED GUSTS OF 152 MPH (245 KPH). STATE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE CONFIRMED EIGHT DEATHS AND DEATH TOLL IS EXPECTED TO RISE. UNCONFIRMED NUMBER OF PEOPLE INJURED AND HOMELESS. MORE THAN 1.2 MILLION BUILDINGS LOST ELECTRIC POWER IN SOUTH FLORIDA. COST WAS ESTIMATED BY WHITE HOUSE OFFICIAL BETWEEN USD 4 TO USD 6 BILLION FOR FLORIDA ALONE.

PROJECTED EVOLUTION

4. THE HURRICANE IS NOW MOVING WEST ACROSS THE GULF OF MEXICO AT 15 MPH (89 KPH) WITH SUSTAINED WINDS OF 125 MPH (201 KPH) AND GUSTS UP TO 135 MPH (217 KPH). IT IS EXPECTED TO REACH THE NORTHERN GULF COAST BETWEEN TEXAS AND MISSISSIPPI PROBABLY IN LOUISIANA ON TUESDAY NIGHT OR WEDNESDAY MORNING. EVACUATION OF RESIDENTS TO HIGHER GROUND HAS BEGUN.

NATIONAL RESPONSE

5. BOTH IN THE BAHAMAS AND ON THE UNITED STATES MAINLAND LOCAL AUTHORITIES PUT INTO EFFECT DISASTER PREPAREDNESS MEASURES INCLUDING ORDERING EVACUATION OF 1 MILLION RESIDENTS OF FLORIDA. NATIONAL RELIEF WORKERS AND RED CROSS ARE WORKING WITH THE VICTIMS.

INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE

6. TO DATE NO INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE HAS BEEN REQUESTED. DHA-UNDRO IS IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH THE AUTHORITIES MONITORING THE SITUATION.

DEPARTMENT OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS-UNDRO GENEVA

TELEPHONE NO: +41-22-731.02.11
EMERGENCY TEL.NO. (OUTSIDE WORKING HOURS): +41-22-733.20.10

DESK OFFICER: AART UDO, EXT: 3513
PRESS TO CONTACT UNDRO SPOKESPERSON: M. KHATIB, EXT: 2856

TELEX: 414242
FAX: +41-22-733.56.23
ELECTRONIC MAIL: UNIENET ID UNXOO8

UNDRO 92/0614

BAHAMAS AND U.S.A. HURRICANE ANDREW
DHA-UNDRO INFORMATION REPORT NO. 2
26 AUGUST 1992

SITUATION

1. ON 26 AUGUST 1992, HURRICANE ANDREW, ESTIMATED TO BE THE MOST DAMAGING TO HIT THE REGION THIS CENTURY, REENTERED USA MAINLAND IN LOUISIANA JUST AFTER MIDNIGHT (0500 GMT) ABOUT 100 KM (60 MILES) SOUTHWEST OF NEW ORLEANS. PRECEDED BY TORNADOS AND A 12 TO 16 FEET (3.6 METRES TO 4.8 METRES) STORM SURGE CAUSING FLOODING IN SOME URBAN AREAS. WINDS WERE DOWN TO 125 MPH (201 KPH) AND HURRICANE DOWNGRADED TO FORCE 3.

IMPACT

2. INITIAL REPORTS INDICATED APPROXIMATELY 55 PEOPLE INJURED AND MANY HOMELESS IN LOUISIANA. AN ESTIMATED 1.6 MILLION RESIDENTS OF LOUISIANA EVACUATED.

3. HURRICANE ANDREW CROSSED NORTHWESTERN BAHAMAS AND THE SOUTH-EAST COAST OF FLORIDA, SOUTH OF MIAMI ON 24 AUGUST 1992 AT 0400 LT (0900 GMT), CAUSING WIDESPREAD DAMAGE TO HOUSING AND INFRASTRUCTURE. US NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTRE REGISTERED GUSTS OF 152 MPH (245 KP H). DEATH TOLL STANDS AT 15 AND IS EXPECTED TO RISE. UNCONFIRMED NUMBER OF PEOPLE INJURED AND HOMELESS.

PROJECTED EVOLUTION

4. THE HURRICANE WAS MOVING NORTHWARD OVER SOUTH CENTRAL LOUISIANA AT 11 MPH (18 KPH) AND WAS EXPECTED TO WEAKEN DURING THE COURSE OF THE DAY.

NATIONAL RESPONSE

5. BOTH IN THE BAHAMAS AND ON THE UNITED STATES MAINLAND LOCAL AUTHORITIES PUT INTO EFFECT DISASTER PREPAREDNESS MEASURES INCLUDING ORDERING EVACUATION OF SEVERAL MILLION RESIDENTS OF FLORIDA AND LOWLYING AREAS OF LOUISIANA. NATIONAL RELIEF AGENCIES AND RED CROSS ARE PROVIDING RELIEF SERVICES TO VICTIMS.

INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE

UNITED KINGDOM
30 MAN ARMY ENGINEER PARTY PLUS EQUIPMENT, BLANKETS, TENTAGE FOR RELIEF IN ISLAND OF ELEUTHERA

6. TO DATE NO INTERNATIONAL ASSISTANCE HAS BEEN REQUESTED. UN HEADQUARTERS AMATEUR RADIO STATION 4U1 UN HAS BEEN IN CONTACT WITH SEVERAL RADIO AMATEURS IN THE AFFECTED AREA SINCE THE DISASTER ALERT. DHA-UNDRO IS IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH THE AUTHORITIES MONITORING THE SITUATION.

DEPARTMENT OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS-UNDRO GENEVA

TELEPHONE NO: +41-22-731.02.11
EMERGENCY TEL.NO. (OUTSIDE WORKING HOURS): +41-22-733.20.10

DESK OFFICER: J. DE RIVERO, EXT: 3513
PRESS TO CONTACT UNDRO SPOKESPERSON: M. KHATIB, EXT: 2856

TELEX: 414242 DRO CH+
FAX: +41-22-733.56.23
ELECTRONIC MAIL: UNIENET ID UNXOO8

UNDRO 92/0670

BAHAMAS AND USA HURRICANE ANDREW
DHA-UNDRO INFORMATION REPORT NO. 3
22 SEPTEMBER 1992

SITUATION

1. HURRICANE ANDREW, ESTIMATED TO BE THE MOST DAMAGING TO HIT THE REGION THIS CENTURY, CROSSED NORTHWESTERN BAHAMAS AND THE SOUTH-EAST COAST OF FLORIDA ON 24 AUGUST 1992 CAUSING WIDESPREAD DAMAGE TO HOUSING AND INFRASTRUCTURE. ON 26 AUGUST 1992, HURRICANE REENTERED USA MAINLAND IN LOUISIANA ABOUT 100 KM (60 MILES) SOUTHWEST OF NEW ORLEANS, PRECEDED BY TORNADOS AND A 12 TO 16 FEET (3.6 METRES TO 4.8 METRES) STORM SURGE CAUSING FLOODING IN SOME URBAN AREAS. WINDS WERE DOWN TO 125 MPH (201 KPH) AND HURRICANE DOWNGRADED TO FORCE 3.

IMPACT

2. THE DEATH TOLL IN THE BAHAMAS STANDS AT 4, WITH 1700 HOMELESS, FIVE SCHOOLS AND 800 HOMES DESTROYED, WATER, SANITATION, AND TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS, AIRPORT AND PORT INSTALLATIONS SEVERELY DAMAGED. AGRICULTURAL AND FISHING INDUSTRIES SEVERELY AFFECTED.

COUNTRY LEVEL INTERNATIONAL RESPONSE

3. MEETINGS OF REPRESENTATIVES OF UNITED NATIONS AGENCIES, DONOR COUNTRIES AND THE GOVERNMENT OF THE BAHAMAS WERE HELD AT THE OFFICE OF THE UN RESIDENT COORDINATOR IN KINGSTON, JAMAICA, TO COORDINATE RELIEF RESPONSES.

4. CONTRIBUTIONS - ASSISTANCE TO BAHAMAS (TOTAL REPORTED TO DHA-UNDRO)

UN SYSTEM
US DLRS
DHA-UNDRO
CASH GRANT FOR LOCAL PURCHASE
20,000
UNDP
CASH GRANT
50,000
GOVERNMENTS
CANADA
CASH THROUGH IFRC (CAD 25,0000)
21,008
JAMAICA
RELIEF ITEMS, ASSESSEMENT TEAMS
++
JAPAN
CASH GRANT
50,000
UNITED KINGDOM
30 MAN ARMY ENGINEER PARTY PLUS EQUIPMENT, BLANKETS, TENTAGE FOR RELIEF IN ISLAND OF ELEUTHERA
++
UNITED STATES
CASH GRANT
25,000
NON-GOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS
AMERICAN RED CROSS
100 TENTS, 100 ROLLS PLASTIC SHEETING, 1,000 COTS, 2,000 BAHAMAS RC STICKERS
CASH GRANT OF US DLRS 10,000
32,298
PAN-AMERICAN DEVELOPMENT FOUNDATION, CITIBANK BAHAMAS
RELIEF SUPPLIES
++
TOTAL CONTRIBUTIONS
198,306
(++ VALUE NOT REPORTED TO DHA-UNDRO)
  1. FOR COORDINATION PURPOSES, PLEASE INFORM DHA-UNDRO IMMEDIATELY AS INDICATED BELOW OF PLEDGES/CONTRIBUTIONS.

6. THIS IS THE FINAL INFORMATION REPORT ON THIS EMERGENCY UNLESS FURTHER SIGNIFICANT DEVELOPMENTS OCCUR.

DEPARTMENT OF HUMANITARIAN AFFAIRS-UNDRO GENEVA

TELEPHONE NO: +41-22-731.02.11
EMERGENCY TEL.NO. (OUTSIDE WORKING HOURS): +41-22-733.20.10

DESK OFFICER: J. DE RIVERO, EXT: 3513
PRESS TO CONTACT SPOKESPERSON: M. KHATIB, EXT: 2856

TELEX: 414242 DRO CH FAX: +41-22-733.56.23
ELECTRONIC MAIL: UNX 008