Andrew vs. Charley

In 1992, Kate Hale let out a cry of desperation: "Where in the hell is the cavalry?" The outburst from Miami-Dade County's emergency director was probably the most memorable thing said about Hurricane Andrew, the late-August disaster that destroyed much of southern Florida.

Hale voiced the frustration of thousands of victims waiting for the federal government to bring food, water, ice, temporary housing and financial aid.

Twelve years later, the Federal Emergency Management Agency is applying the lessons of Andrew as it responds to hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne. Its prompt aid and services have won praise from victims and from local officials, including Hale, who now heads the South Florida Mental Health Association.

Before Charley ever touched land on Aug. 13, the agency moved personnel and supplies to the surrounding area so they could be delivered quickly after the storm passed. FEMA also was better able to draw on other agencies within the Homeland Security Department: The Coast Guard brought in helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft, and Immigration and Customs Enforcement provided air support. FEMA also improved its coordination with state and local agencies, sending its Advance Emergency Response Team to the Florida State Emergency Operations Center in Tallahassee to expedite requests for aid. The first signs of relief, as the chart below shows, came much faster after Hurricane Charley.

Source: FEDERAL EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT AGENCY