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Report from Ground Zero - Charley destruction

Posted on 08/14/2004 12:41:23 PM PDT by Puntagorda

Here's a ground zero report from the Hurricane . . . from my observations as one who lives in the area that was hit.

Charley made a direct hit on Punta Gorda and Port Charlotte Florida.

These two cities sit at the mouth of Charlotte Harbor, and are separated by bridges that cross the Peace river which flows into the Gulf.

Neither city had been hit or threatened by a Hurricane in more than 75 years.

Hurricane Charley which was expected to hit Tampa, 120 miles north, unexpectantly veered into Charlotte Harbor, and followed the Peace River inland.

When Charley hit Port Charlotte and Punta Gorda it packed winds of 145 mph.

The downtown areas of both cities have been heavily damaged, with almost all businesses either being heavily damaged or destroyed. The closer the buildings were to the Peace River, the more the destruction.

Both hospitals heavily damaged. Seven Fire Stations heavily damaged. The Punta Gorda police station was destoyed. The Punta Gorda city hall was destroyed. Punta Gorda historic district was destroyed.

Almost every home in Punta Gorda Isles was heavily damaged (an upscale canal community on Charlotte Harbor).

Most mobile home communities were destroyed.

All radio stations off the air - towers down. The airport was destroyed (a small airport with no scheduled flights).

Thousands (maybe tens of thousands) of homes damaged - hundreds (maybe thousands) were totally destroyed.

Rescue workers are doing a door to door search to find the wounded.

Because local communication is down, including cell phone, no accurate numbers are available of who might be missing, or hurt, or who might be in rescue shelters, so door to door searches through the ruble are being conducted.

The lack of phone service, radio reporting, TV news, is causing major problems. And the downed trees and debris blocking roads, makes it difficult to move into the damaged areas - which include the main artery through town - Hiway 41 (also know as the Tamiami Trail).

Most local residents feared the storm surge most . . . the rising water. This is to expected since so many people live on canal front property.

But there was no storm surge. Charlotte Harbor averages 12 feet deep, so not much water in there in the first place. . . and much of it was blown out by the storm.

Almost all the damage was from the 145 mph winds.

The damaged area appears to be in a path about 15 miles wide - 30 miles long following the Peace river from Port Charlotte to Arcadia (30 miles inland).

The barrier Island communities of Sanibel, and Boca Grande suffered major damage.

Communities on the north side of the storm path were basically unaffected (other than the shock value of having a hurricane hit this area - first time in 75 years.)

Only minor damage to cities to the south - Fort Myers suffered some wind damage.

It will take years to rebuild Port Charlotte and Punta Gorda.

Many residents will discover that to rebuild to the now mandated Hurricane Building codes will cost much more than the insured value of their homes.

No one here expected the hurricane to hit, the forecasters kept telling us it was going to hit 120 miles north.

We were stunned when Charley was upgraded from a low category II to a dangerous category IV just hours before it hit.

Again this was the first time in 75 years that a Hurricane had even come close to this area. And many of the buildings built in the 60's and 70's simply could not stand the wind load.

FYI: Port Charlotte and Punta Gorda are (were?) ranked in the top ten fastest appreciating real estate markets in the US.

PuntaGorda


TOPICS: Extended News; News/Current Events; US: Florida
KEYWORDS: charley; hurricane; hurricanecharley
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To: Puntagorda
Neither city had been hit or threatened by a Hurricane in more than 75 years.

Check your history. Ask about Donna.

I was in Tampa at the time. Tampa has dodged another bullet. Punta Gorda and Port Charlotte were not so lucky.

101 posted on 08/14/2004 2:27:29 PM PDT by stboz
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To: Right-wing Librarian

Yes it is. I sent my contribution to GWB 2 today. One must do so before the convention or else it will be sent back.


102 posted on 08/14/2004 2:28:22 PM PDT by ZOTnot ("We're going to take things away from you on behalf of the common good."--Hillary)
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To: Puntagorda
Great information ... my neighbor (live in SW Ohio) just packed up a trailer with essential items, generator, pump, various tools, etc. and left for Puenta Gorda two hours ago. He and his wife have a condominium in Puenta Gorda, on one of the canals, or at least it's on the water, perhaps the river ... in any case they really didn't have specific information on what to expect because land lines and cell phones aren't working in that area. My neighbor is handy with tools so at the very least hopes to salvage what's left, or, if the condo is still intact, secure it as best he can. Wish I had this info earlier today when I was speaking to him ... but certainly appreciate your effort in keeping us informed here at FR.
103 posted on 08/14/2004 2:29:59 PM PDT by BluH2o
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To: stboz

According to Hurricane History, the last major storm to come close to Port Charlotte, Punta Gorda was in 1910.

See map at http://www.usatoday.com/weather/huricane/history/whfla.htm


104 posted on 08/14/2004 2:31:33 PM PDT by Puntagorda
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To: Puntagorda

Does anyone have any info on Fort Myers Beach? My sister has a beautiful house in Siesta Isles off SanCarlos BLVD there.


105 posted on 08/14/2004 2:40:05 PM PDT by Ladytotheright (Right is Right)
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To: Puntagorda
Check again.

http://web.naplesnews.com/hurricane/donna1.html

106 posted on 08/14/2004 2:42:19 PM PDT by stboz
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To: KC_for_Freedom
I stayed at an airsteam park named Paradise Park inland from Punta Gorda, any news out of there?

My guess? Shredded aluminum as far as the eye can see.

107 posted on 08/14/2004 2:43:52 PM PDT by bikepacker67 (Sandy wasn't stuffing his socks, he was stuffing A sock.)
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To: bikepacker67
My guess? Shredded aluminum as far as the eye can see.

That unfortunately is my guess too.

108 posted on 08/14/2004 2:47:21 PM PDT by KC_for_Freedom (Sailing the highways of America, and loving it.)
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To: topher

So, in your view, God is so inept--or is simply injust?-- that to "punnish" the evil abortion clinic, he dropped a hurricane on 100s of 1000s of innocent people?

The Creator and Ruler of the universe doesn't have the equivilent of JDAMS??

How sick and sickening your post of this here.

Seem like when He destroyed Sodom & Gommorah, he didn't need something that also took out Luz, Jericho, and the rest of the cities and towns in the greater region.

I'm glad the God I love and worship is an all-powerful, wise, just, and loving God.


109 posted on 08/14/2004 2:48:46 PM PDT by ApplegateRanch (The world needs more horses, and fewer Jackasses!)
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To: stboz

DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY INFORMATION ABOUT WAUCHULA?


110 posted on 08/14/2004 2:56:03 PM PDT by groanup (Our kids sleep soundly because soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines stand ready to die for us.)
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To: HairOfTheDog
And why should they, really?

They shouldn't - but they should be crystal clear about what they do/don't cover. IMHO, I think casualty policies should require a full inspection/appraisal of the house being insured, to say THIS is what it would cost to replace what you have, THAT is what it would cost to rebuild it according to current codes, and THERE is the amount of insurance you should REALLY be buying.

Most people I know are willing to pay what's necessary to be fully covered in such a case, but few take the extra steps to make sure they REALLY have enough insurance, or even realize that there ARE extra steps - and it's amazing how many agents don't follow through, either. (But for some prior calamities, I wouldn't have done so, either.)
111 posted on 08/14/2004 2:57:54 PM PDT by beezdotcom (I'm usually either right or wrong.)
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To: groanup

Can't help on that. I'm in Fresno. My employer has (had?) a store there and not too far from the Peace River. Time will tell. Most of Hardee and Desoto Counties are without power from what I've read on other threads.


112 posted on 08/14/2004 2:58:20 PM PDT by stboz
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To: Puntagorda

Have you heard anything about damage on Pine Island?


113 posted on 08/14/2004 3:06:17 PM PDT by nunya bidness (Live Strong)
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To: kittymyrib

Lotta' po folks down South here. Who can buy a $300,000 home on $10 per hour?


114 posted on 08/14/2004 3:13:48 PM PDT by snopercod (Has anybody noticed that Iraq is using Saddam's "God is Great" flag again?)
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To: Puntagorda

I spent a lot of time in Punta Gorda as a kid. I live in Osprey now, just up the road from you. Punta Gorda is a nice little town and I pray for the safety of all there. God be with you.


115 posted on 08/14/2004 3:15:55 PM PDT by dukeman
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To: jpsb; sinkspur
I, in no way think the forecasters could have done a better job.
The hurricane was paralleling the coast and any small change in direction meant a huge difference in landfall. Frankly, I have been very impressed with the 5 day forecasts and projected paths.
Every national forecast I saw predicted Tampa Bay as ground zero. period

I think there has to be a scapegoat and the Chief forecaster is going to be it.

Had I been living in a mobile home in Punta Gorda, I would have gone to a shelter.

116 posted on 08/14/2004 3:21:29 PM PDT by Vinnie
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To: Vinnie
"I think there has to be a scapegoat and the Chief forecaster is going to be it. "

Sorry I misunderstood you, yea scapegoat is a real possibility, the forecasters did a really good job. And as we all know no good deed goes unpunished.

117 posted on 08/14/2004 3:24:23 PM PDT by jpsb (Nominated 1994 "Worst writer on the net")
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To: nunya bidness

Pine Island was hit bad. My next door neighbor's parents live on Pine Island and rode out the storm there.

Their home was damaged, so they came over here today.

According to their eyewitness account, the storm damaged or destroyed many homes there - all the mobile home parks suffered major damage.

Pine Island is pretty exposed and was right in the path of the storm.


118 posted on 08/14/2004 3:24:42 PM PDT by Puntagorda
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To: Puntagorda

I'm sure Bokeelia was hit hard but do you know if St. James City fared better? I've got to book a flight and come down (from MD) to check on my place but I've heard the bridge in Matlacha is blocked.


119 posted on 08/14/2004 3:36:04 PM PDT by nunya bidness (Live Strong)
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To: beezdotcom

Yeah, I was in Hurricane Andrew (Category 5) and my stepfather is a State Farm agent. I was well aware of what was going on, and State Farm paid out billions to replace destroyed houses.


120 posted on 08/14/2004 4:04:42 PM PDT by Guillermo (It's the 99% of Mohammedans that make the other 1% look bad.)
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