Date: Fri, 04 Sep 92 00:45:19 GMT
From: mark@sunburn.InterLan.COM (Mark Christophel)
Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom
Subject: Re: Disaster Reporting on Usenet
Organization: TELECOM Digest
X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu
X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 12, Issue 682, Message 1 of 10

The Moderator has asked to hear what is happening in South Florida.  I
live in Broward County, 30-40 miles north of Andrew's path of
destruction.  South Florida (south Dade County mostly) was hit very
hard by Hurricane Andrew.  At last report the estimated damages are in
the area of $20 billion, 280,000 people are reported homeless and
twenty people are reported dead (four in the Bahamas, one in
Louisiana, the rest in Dade County, Florida).  These figures are
expected to continue to rise as rescue workers make it into some of
the areas worst hit.

The destruction is absolutely incredible to comprehend.  For those
familiar with the destructive force of a tornado which takes out
everything in its path of say 300 feet, imagine that swath being 30
miles wide!  Entire neighborhoods and cities have been leveled.  Most
of the destruction in north Dade County and in Broward County was
limited to downed power lines and trees being uprooted.  1.5 million
people were without electricity after the storm.  Many of them have
regained power, but those areas hardest hit may not have power for
many weeks.  Amazingly (or not? ;-)), 98% of the residents did not
lose telephone service, even in the height of the storm.

The storm hit Monday morning with top wind gusts of 164 miles per
hour.  Sustained winds were around 140 mph.  South Florida has the
strictest building codes in the nation, and all buildings are built to
withstand 120 mph winds.  Andrew's strength surpassed this.

The outpouring of support has been great.  For those of us in Broward
County, we see how close we came to being the ones needing help.  When
I went to sleep Sunday night (if you can call it sleep), the storm was
expected to hit north Dade/south Broward.  The needs are very great.
Everything basic to survival is needed: food, water, shelter.  Many
cities across the US are gathering goods to send down.  Check in your
area to see if you can participate in any way.  I can also forward a
list of organizations that are accepting donations.

The moderator mentioned cs.miami.edu.  University of Miami is in Coral
Gables, one of the areas hit hard by Andrew.  I don't know the status
of the University, but they are planning to start classes on Sept. 14,
only two weeks late, and expect to finish the Fall Semester by
Christmas.


Mark J. Christophel   mark@sunburn.interlan.com   Racal-Datacom, Inc.


[Moderator's Note: Thanks for your report. cs.miami.edu has started
responding to my nntpxmit calls once again; apparently they are back
in operation at least in a limited way. I've previously posted calls
for help to South Florida, and the Telephone Pioneers in Ft. Lauderdale 
are collecting from members of the telecom industry all over the USA.
If readers here have not yet sent emergency boxes consisting of house-
hold goods and supplies; clothes, food for babies and pets, etc. then
it is vital that they do so today.  Boxes of whatever you can spare
can be sent via Federal Express to "Telephone Pioneers Disaster 
Assistance, Ft. Lauderdale, FL" ... that address will be sufficient.
In addition, parcels can be sent to the City Clerk, Homestead, FL by
Federal Express.  Thanks very much, everyone!   PAT]