[4][5] In August 1992, Alvarez, was one of nine people to survive the destructive effects of Hurricane Andrew, as they rode-out the storm in a small motel, fleeing to another room as the roof was ripped off where they tried to shelter themselves.
Her husband, (who was her boyfriend at the time) was also a reporter for The Miami Herald; they were both part of the staff awarded the 1993 Pulitzer Prize for Public Service, for coverage of Hurricane Andrew and its aftermath.
[6][7] In 1995, Alvarez and fellow journalist, Lisa Getter, won the Goldsmith Prize for investigate reporting on, Lost in America: Our Failed Immigration Policy.
She and her husband signed a petition and offered their testimonials, supporting the effort;[9] Alvarez wrote: "Being fair is one of the principles sought by professional journalists in the exercise of their profession.
She has worked for over two decades with the organization, beginning as an assignment reporter at the Metro-desk, in New York, and as of 2020, the Miami bureau chief, since 2011.