1992 - Between 4:00 and 5:00 a.m. on this date, Hurricane Andrew struck South Florida with winds of 145 mph. Some gusts of 164 to 175 mph were recorded. Andrew was one of only three category 5 hurricanes to hit the United States. As it made its way across the state, the wind velocity dropped to 125 mph, but soon elevated to 145 mph when the storm entered the Gulf of Mexico. Andrew exacted a heavy toll in human life (more than 40 persons) and in physical damage. Up to one-quarter million people were left temporarily homeless in the Miami-Dade area alone. The damages inflicted by this great storm are estimated at more than $60 billion in today's dollars. The agricultural sector sustained more than $1.05 billion alone. Some 12.7 million cubic yards of debris were eventually cleared from the hurricane area. Homestead Air Force Base was demolished, approximately 920 vessels were destroyed, and the Turkey Point Nuclear Facility sustained damages near $100 million.