Help with CB

I drive a 2012 Prostar and have a Cobra 29. I replaced the stock antenae with 4and 1/2 Francis. al was fine until recently. The mike was not keying up when pressed unless I played with the wire. And then it would light the ground light on the radio. I replaced the mike and even though it works I still get the red ground light when keyed. I also noticed my SWR on the radio's guage is almost off the chart high. Before it was at about 1.2 on all channels. My thinking is that I messed up the mike connector socket as I kept fiddling with it. Any thoughts?

 

It also started the morning after hurricane Sandy. Could too much wind and rain cause a bad ground. I've also lost one of the rubber caps that go on the tip of the antenae

 

Must be a bugs antenae screwing with the radio antenna.... lol