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"These people need a miracle... The survivors did need "a miracle", but what we got instead didn't resemble anything near it. "Quit playing like a bunch of kids and get us aid! Sort out your political games afterward!" On the same day Hale made the desperate plea, Miami Herald staff writers Martin Merzer and Tom Fiedler wrote: The question echoed through the debris Thursday: If we can do it for Bangladesh, for the Philippines, for the Kurds of northern Iraq, why in God's name can't we deliver basic necessities of life to the ravaged population of our own Gold Coast?" The short answer: because no single person or agency is in charge. The result: a planeload of food and equipment is still a rarity. Instead of delivering goods, helicopter pilots shuttle government officials who just sit idle. Metro police turn away individuals trying to bring in food or water to a barren South Dade. MEDIA UNDERSTATEMENT While we remained roped off from the outside world by Metro Dade Police and the military, the news media reported grossly understated information from the first day onward. On August 24, 1992, the morning hurricane Andrew ended, the Miami Herald broke with: Andrew Hits Hardest in South Dade. Five thousand people were left homeless by the storm, Metro Dade Police Director announced. They'll be moved into shelters in North Dade. Over subsequent days, the Miami Herald read as follows: August 25, 1992: Destruction at Dawn. Among worst hit in the Country Walk area of South Dade, few homes escaped at least minor damage and many were utterly destroyed. 10 killed in Dade. August 27, 1992: The Toll Rises. 22 dead as the search continues. 63,000 homes destroyed. 175,000 homeless. 1 million without ped vere On August 29, 1992, six days into the aftermath, the Miami Herald reported: Problems Plague Red Cross. The man rch on the phone wanted to donate 100 ed. electric generators, extension cords and out enough tools to build a small subdivi - A A sion. But the operator who took his call While we remained at the Red Cross Command Center in roped off from the Miami had no idea what to do with the col - . offer. on, outside world by "We get acall, we take a message, ore Metro Dade Police we give it to somebody who signs it to ty's ane somebody else," said the operator, pse and the military, the Melitta de Liefd. "We have no idea what happens to it. The whole place is being run by senior citi - zens and college kids." Welcome to Red Cross head - quarters—where the brains of Dade County rescue effort have been knocked almost unconscious most of the week. Callers offering services and supplies are put on hold. Others can't get through at all. The hurt and suffering plead for help over ham radio. news media reported grossly understated information from the first day onward. On August 29, 1992, one week after power. roped off from the outside world by Metro Dade Police August 28, 1992: roped of WE NEED HELP. Relief effort col - . lapsing due to United States inaction, outside Metro charges. Aid us now or more Metro D; will die, Feds told. As Dade County's hurricane relief effort neared collapse and the n Thursday, more than 1,500 air - news med borne US soldiers were ordered | into the county to cope with what gross! y ul is now being called the worst nat - informatic ural disaster in United States his - tory. The move came after a day of bitter sniping among agencies that share responsibility for the relief effort. United States aid official Wallace Stickler stated: "Andrew has caused more destruction and affected more people than any disaster America has ever had." Dade County's Emergency Director pleaded for federal help, one angry voice among many that spoke in dire terms of needs unmet. Frustrated to the point of tears, Kate Hale said that the relief project was on the brink of collapse, a victim of incompetence and politi - cal games: "Where the hell is the cavalry on this one? We need food! We need water! We need people! If we do not get more food into the south end [South Dade] in a very short period of time, we are going to have more casualties! "We have a catastrophic disaster. We are hours away from more casualties. We are essentially the walking wound - ed. We have appealed through the State to the Federal Government. We've had a lot of people down here for press conferences. But Dade County is on its own. Dade County is being caught in the middle of something and we are being victimized. first day and the military, the news media reported grossly understated information from the Cis On August 29, 1992, one week after hurricane Andrew struck, the Fort Lauderdale Sun Sentinel report- ed 250,000 people homeless in South Dade. A NUCLEAR INCIDENT Of course, the rather "insignificant" incident resulting from Andrew's winds bombarding the Turkey Point Nuclear Power Plant was not aired by the news media either nationally or abroad. Tom Dubocg reported in the Miami Herald of September 5, 1992: Demolition crews toppled a 400-foot smokestack at Turkey Point [Nuclear] Power Plant [owned by Florida Power and Light Company], Friday [September 4]. The stack, which had a gaping 200-foot crack, was dropped without a hitch, a Florida Power and Light [FPL] spokesman said. The other smokestack at the plant will be salvaged. Turkey Point will be shut down for several months while repairs are made. The 36 = NEXUS APRIL — MAY 2001 While we remained first day onward. www.nexusmagazine.com