Devastation left by Hurricane Michael in Floridas Panhandle last month evoked comparisons to Hurricane Andrew in South Florida 26 years earlier, but business experts dont expect Michaels aftermath to be nearly as disruptive beyond the destruction zone. Andrews assault on South Florida in 1992 destroyed 25,524 homes, damaged another 101,241 and caused more than $26 billion in damage most in history at the time, according to the National Hurricane Center. The post-Andrew rebuilding effort sparked a construction boom and skyrocketing demand for workers in a wide range of trades, including general construction, furniture making, air-conditioning repair, plumbers, electricians, and roofers. Workers from across the nation trekked to South Florida, while prices increased for labor and building materials.
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