Climate extremes: Hurricanes
Thanks to its coastal location and tropical climate, Florida is the American state most regularly hit by hurricanes. On average a hurricane happens along the Florida coast every 3 years. Most cause some damage to buildings and vehicles but some, such as Hurricane Andrew in 1992, can cause devastation. Andrew was the worst hurricane in America's history and caused 65 deaths and $26 billion worth of damage to property. Not surprisingly, Floridans spend a lot of money protecting their homes from hurricane damage. They prefer concrete walls to wooden or metal constructions, and most windows and doors have hurricane shutters. Some new houses are also being built with special reinforced rooms for sheltering from hurricanes.
