NCJ Number
149738
Journal
Federal Prisons Journal Volume: 3 Issue: 3 Dated: (Winter 1994) Pages: 41-45
Date Published
1994
Length
5 pages
Annotation
In the aftermath of Hurricane Andrew in August 1992, the Federal Bureau of Prisons acted quickly to reduce the impact the disaster had on two of its facilities, the Federal Prison Camp (FPC) located on Homestead Air Force Base and the Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC) in Miami, which both suffered major damage.
Abstract
The day before the Hurricane hit land near Miami, Bureau staff at both facilities began to prepare for the storm. All 146 FPC inmates and 63 institution staff were moved to MCC Miami, where staff and inmates worked to fortify buildings in the prison compound. As the hurricane progressed, staff continuously moved inmates out of damaged and flooded cells and evacuated unsafe areas. Communication between MCC Miami and the Atlanta office, maintained by ham radio, was disrupted during the worst part of the hurricane, but MCC Miami staff continued to assess the damage and set up procedures to ensure security. After the hurricane passed through, MCC Miami and FPC inmates were evacuated to several Federal and non-Federal other facilities in the region. Within 6 months of Hurricane Andrew, the MCC Miami facility was rededicated, demonstrating the positive effects of good emergency planning.