Hurricane Andrew Anniversary

Floor Speech

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Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today with a heavy heart to recognize the 24th of August as the 23rd anniversary of Hurricane Andrew. On this date in 1992, the category 5 storm made landfall on Elliott Key, and then Homestead, Florida, killing 26 immediately, with dozens more fatalities from injuries stemming from the storm's aftermath. We continue to mourn this loss of life.

The winds of Hurricane Andrew were calculated at 164 miles per hour and completely wiped out Homestead Air Force Base. Until Hurricane Katrina in 2005, Andrew was the costliest storm in U.S. history, totaling $43.7 billion when adjusted for inflation.

As officials assessed the damage, they noticed that much of the destruction was due to substandard construction methods. As a result, Florida now has the strongest building codes in the Nation. Furthermore, homes are now required to have storm shutters or impact-resistant glass.

While we will never be able to fully prevent damage from a serious storm, we can mitigate the damage caused and thus reduce the costs of rebuilding our neighborhoods.

The National Hurricane Center, located at Florida International University in my congressional district, provides important research on the effects these storms have on our coastlines and maintains a continuous watch on developing weather patterns that could become a tropical storm. I was able to tour this center earlier in the year, and I commend their efforts.

The memory of Andrew forces us to remain cautious and vigilant so our communities and homes are protected. In the midst of this hurricane season, I strongly encourage all those in the potential paths of these storms to have a plan already in place to secure property and protect loved ones. By taking the appropriate preventative measures, we can assure that our families and neighborhoods remain safe.

KEY WEST TERRORIST DETAINED

Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to offer my sincere gratitude to the brave law enforcement officials who prevented a terrorist plot from unfolding in Key West.

On July 28, it was announced that a Key West man was arrested and charged with attempting to use a weapon of mass destruction. Key West is the southernmost point of not only my congressional district, but the entire United States. Anyone who has visited the Keys knows how truly special this part of our country is, not just for its natural beauty, but for the welcoming and creative people who call the Keys home.

A terrorist attack occurring anywhere in the United States is a cause for serious alarm, and I am glad the efforts of one lone wolf were thwarted.

It is important to recognize the FBI, the U.S. Attorneys Office, the South Florida Joint Terrorism Task Force, the Key West Police Department, the Monroe County Sheriff's Office, and other law enforcement agencies for working together to neutralize this threat to Key West and our country. Because of their efforts, an untold number of lives were saved.

Unfortunately, this incident reminds us that we continue to be targeted by those who wish to do us harm. We must remain vigilant against these ongoing threats and ensure our law enforcement agencies continue to have the necessary resources to execute their critical mission.

MIAMI DADE COLLEGE/JOB FAIR

Mr. CURBELO of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise to thank all those who attended the job fair in my district office hosted last month for employers and workers in the Kendall area of south Florida. We were able to connect over 1,000 of our friends and neighbors who are looking for work with hundreds of businesses, agencies, and nonprofit organizations. The feedback was positive from countless participants who said they were able to collect resumes from well-qualified potential candidates for job opportunities.

One of my main priorities here in Congress is helping those who are most in need, and events like this job fair are an excellent way for our communities to come together and find opportunities for people with all sorts of different skill sets.

I would also like to give special thanks to Miami Dade College for hosting this terrific event. They provide excellent opportunities to south Florida residents who are looking to further their education and learn new skills to enhance their job credentials.

I am also very proud to note that Miami Dade College was recently named a ``great college to work for'' for the seventh consecutive year by the Chronicle of Higher Education.

South Florida is fortunate to have a strong network of business leaders who work closely with educational institutions to help people find work. Every job is an opportunity, and today we celebrate the constituents in my district who have found gainful new employment as a result of the job fair at Miami Dade College.

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