[stlnative]

CNN is showing pictures of a small airport that is just wasted.

[NautiNurse]

Charlotte Co. airport. Buidling collapsed with evacuees inside. Aircraft destroyed. One plane was anchored at both wings. All that was left of the plane were the wings. The body of the plane was missing.

[nwctwx]

This was a radar Image taken right before the storm came in:

The 165 KT wind speed, on a normal day, would translate to 150-160mph winds winds.

Within the inner lines there was likely Category 4 to Category 5 wind. Hurricane Andrew showed us that these wind speeds will rip homes from their foundations. These types of winds will level whole towns. Punta Gorda is centered on that white dot within the inner most lines. It was in the middle of the strongest part of the eyewall of the storm, if anyone saw 160mph winds, that's the spot. The outer lines indicate areas affected by the outer eyewall. They all likely saw gusts to 100mph+.

I fear there is unthinkable devestation within the most affected region. I don't know if I want to go too much further into what may have happened right now.