Caunedo: When did you first realize that Hurricane Andrew might hit Miami?

Jacobsen: I realized it was first going to hit the Saturday before when we were out on our boat and we came back in and we saw the supermarkets crowded and people buying everything in the stores.

Caunedo: What preparations did you make?

Jacobsen: We put wood on our windows, and I took the most valuable items I could think of and put them in a box and I put them in the safest spot in the house which was the downstairs bathroom.

Caunedo: What did you think it would be like before the storm?

Jacobsen: Before the storm, my husband, Mike, and I went outside and looked around. He said ‘Take a look around because tomorrow it is not going to be the same’ and I said ‘No, it’s just going to blow over.’ I thought it was just going to curb and them go out to sea.

Caunedo: Where were you during the hurricane?

Jacobsen: I was crunched on the floor of my kitchen with a pillow in my stomach and a cat under my arm.

Caunedo: Who was with you during the hurricane?

Jacobsen: My cat, and my husband.

Caunedo: What happened to you during the hurricane?

Jacobsen: During the hurricane I was very scared, I was crying, I was shaking, and praying.

Caunedo: What were your concerns or thoughts during the hurricane?

Jacobsen: I thought my house was going to collapse because the whole house was shaking, and I didn’t know if we were going to survive it.

Caunedo: What did you do right after the hurricane and what was the first thing you thought about?

Jacobsen: The first thing I thought about was if everyone was okay and how was the house. The first thing we did was go outside and look around.

Caunedo: What was your first week like after the hurricane?

Jacobsen: The first week after the hurricane we had no power, we had no water, we had no batteries for out flashlights, we had a bunch of candles, and we filled as many things as we could with water so we could have fresh water to drink and bathe with.

Caunedo: Did you receive any help after the hurricane?

Jacobsen: We received different food items and water from the people at Liberty Mutual that donated and we got a lot of food items from my sisters in-laws.

Caunedo: Did you provide help to others?

Jacobsen: We helped our neighbors fix their bicycle. They had a problem with one of their bike’s and Mike went over and helped them fix it, and in exchange they brought back some cold drinks and ice.

Caunedo: What kind of effect did Hurricane Andrew have on your daily life?

Jacobsen: Well since I work for an insurance company we had to work overtime. We had to work seven, days a week, all vacations that were scheduled were canceled, and we worked from about eight to six every day.

Caunedo: Has the hurricane significantly changed your plans for the future?

Jacobsen: Not significantly, my house wasn’t badly damaged.

Caunedo: When did you first come back to work?

Jacobsen: I went back to work on Wednesday.

Caunedo: What was coming back like?

Jacobsen: Very depressing, because I saw the city of Miami just destroyed. I drove home everyday in tears because it was so devastating.

Caunedo: Please describe the impact that the hurricane had on your colleagues.

Jacobsen: A lot of peoples houses were destroyed that I work with and everybody felt really bad for their losses and everybody tried to help as much as they could. We helped my sister because she lost her house. We helped her move all the things out of her house. Everybody was so happy to be alive that it was just second nature to try to get everything back to normal.

Cauedo: And your job?

Jacobsen: A lot of overtime, a lot of long hours, and hearing about other peoples tragedies.

Caunedo: Please describe the role that your job may have played in rebuilding the community it serves.

Jacobsen: Liberty Mutual had their Gainesville office send like 180 boxes of different food and clothing supplies for people that really needed it. We were given an expense account and we bought different food items and as customers came into the office we gave them food and water and whatever they wanted or needed. We had generators and all kinds of things that people could use.

Caunedo: Are there any positive outcomes that you have seen as a result of the hurricane?

Jacobsen: The only positive outcome that I have seen is that though people may have lost a lot of things and their houses the insurance companies replaces it all.

Caunedo: Is there anything else that you would like to tell us that we have not asked you?

Jacobsen: I hope we don’t get another hurricane. I don’t think the city could handle it.