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FOX NEWS: HUNDREDS missing in Punta Gorda

We can PRAY that most of these folks evacuated and not in contact (in cars).

But a sad reality may be some of the missing may be in the Gulf of Mexico or the Peace River or buried under shattered buildings.

God, will you please help the families of those who have loved ones that are missing.

Reminded for Freepers that phones arent guaranteed during and after disasters....

Florida Power & Light reported that as of 7:30 p.m., 305,000 of its customers in Lee, Collier and Charlotte counties remain without power. The breakdown is 80,000 each in Collier and Charlotte and 145,000 in Lee.

Statewide, 536,000 FP&L customers are without power, down from 650,000 earlier in the day.

Thousands more customers with the Lee County Electric Co-op are dark as well.

About 250,000 Sprint customers — 200,000 of them in Southwest Florida — were without phone service Saturday as the phone company grappled with the power outage.

Many customers had phone service after the storm passed Friday, only to wake up Saturday and find the phone dead.

“We do have backup generators at our site, but some of the generators have given out,” Sprint spokeswoman Nanci Schwartz said. “We are bringing in additional generators, but it is difficult with roads like they are.”

Schwartz said the Sprint PCS wireless system faced similar challenges.

She said customers who do have phone service should limit their use to emergencies.

Members of the Florida National Guard patrol a damaged neighborhood in Port Charlotte, Fla., Saturday afternoon Aug. 14, 2004. Hurricane Charley came ashore Friday afternoon leaving behind a path of destruction.