An "open house" in Miami after Andrew

On August 24, 1992, one of the worst natural disasters in U. S. history wreaked extensive damage on the homes and lives of south Florida residents. In the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew, regional and national policy implications are being addressed by the construction industry.

Andrew, the first Atlantic tropical storm of the 1992 hurricane season hits Florida with winds of 145 M.P.H., causing damages estimated on 25 billion Dollars, destroying 53,000 homes and changing overnight the local sense of a strong home.

Both homebuilders and home owners started looking for safer and stronger construction systems. Home steel framing becomes immediately the best alternative to the traditional wood-framed homes.