HURRICANE IAN

August 24th 2022 marked the 30th anniversary on the landfall of Hurricane Andrew on the east coast of Florida, a massive category 5 storm that destroyed 99% of the small town of homestead located south of metro area of Miami, causing an estimated $26 billion in damage in Miami-dade County, making it at the time the most expensive natural disaster in United States history, then Hurricane Katrina came, 13 years later but did not break that record.

As the east coast recovered from Andrew's wreck a lot has changed on how its citizens behave when facing a potential storm, how they prepare for storms, construction codes were fiercely revised, encouraging developers to build stronger structures, better roofing, enforcing code compliance strictly and take official warnings more serious. This was something new for many of the new Floridians pandemic era brought to the sunshine State, cheap housing, warm weather, sunny skies most of the year and no state tax created a big migration from upper states down to Florida, but they never got the warnings of how to deal with a potential hurricane landfall on their properties. and it seems never enough when officials order evacuations.

As of October 2022 more than 100 people had died because of the destructive winds and water surge that left FT. Myers, Naples and the Islands of the florida golf coast under water, more than 1 million people were left without power, no gas or water, a scene many had not witness before and only the countless images on TV and social media has taught many to come together once more, to rebuild a piece of America.

Hurricane Ian has left a new lesson, not only for folks new to the State but also a reminder that no matter where in Florida, it's a matter of WHEN, not IF, a storm will impact but you can and should be prepared and trained to listen when a Storm watch is released by the officials. For many of us who lived Andrew and its damage it seems a lifestyle but, after 30 years, Miami and South Florida have welcome many and now more that ever we need to be informed.

When investing in on a property in Florida, your licensed and certified General contractor could be a great guide on how to be construction-ready to face a storm or surge, please take time to ask what your property needs to be hurricane proof and secure.

The Better Business Bureau has produced an updated list of BBB Accredited Charities where you can donate and contribute for those most affected by the storm. https://www.bbb.org/article/news-releases/27672-bbb-tip-donating-to-hurricane-ian-or-fiona-relief-efforts

As South west Florida heals from Hurricane IAN, we pray for the souls, families and first responders attending this crisis.

For W.eagle

Luis Villegas

Photos Courtesy of: AP/Reuters and wttw news.