Page 6-The Michigan Daily-Weekend etc.-January 14, 1993
Although news of
Hurricane Andrew fell
from national headlines
months ago, its devas-
tation remains a part of
many South Floridians'
daily lives. In a few dark
hours, early in the
morning of Aug. 24,
1992, Andrew mowed a
path 25-miles wide leav-
ing 250,000 people
homeless. The storm left
an estimated $16.5
billion worth of damage,
a total that increases
daily.
Since the devastation
was so wide-spread, the
rebuilding process is
slow. Unsalvageable
belongings lie mildewed
in uninhabitable homes.
Many families whose
houses were destroyed
are living with more
fortunate relatives and
friends. Others live in
rented trailers in front
of their homes. Some
have left the area for
good. Many people
found themselves too
worn out to celebrate
the holidays, but chil-
dren hope for prettier
days.
However, the storm
has left South Florida a
haven for workers affili-
ated with the building
industry. Roofers from
Alabama, electricians
from North Carolina,
and phone technicians
from Georgia find no
end to the work to be
done and money to be
made. As millions of
dollars are paid out by
insurance companies,
some reports say this
spending boom has
slightly boosted the na-
tional economy.
Miami boasts several
animal and plant parks,
all of which suffered
damage in the storm. As
Andrew's eye passed
over Monkey Jungle, a
zoo that specializes in
primates, most of the
fences and trees were
ravaged, but all of the
animals survived.
When frantic staff fi-
nally reached the park
the next day, Curator
Julio Perla mused,
"They had a ball ...
throwing tree branches
and stealing tools."
Though none of the
monkeys left its park
home, two thousand
monkeys escaped a
primate research center,
located near Monkey
Jungle. In the hysteria
following the hurricane,
the Miami press falsely
reported that the
animals were infected
with the AIDS virus.
About 400 monkeys
were shot and killed by
police and frightened
residents.
For most humans and
monkeys alike, life goes
on after Andrew. School
children run laps in
gym class amidst the
shells of their homes.
Adults have learned in-
surance agents' phone
numbers by heart. Four
months after the worst
natural disaster in
American history, the
inconvenience has be-
come routine.
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