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
Replacement to the same standards or new standards?
check mail.
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.)
We have friends in Englewood and when we called to check on them were surprised to hear that they had no damage and hardly noticed the storm's impact even though they were very close to Charlotte Harbor, but like you mentioned they were on the north side of the storm.
As to rebuilding: we recently added an addition but had to meet Miami-Dade code (that's the code our county uses) and the cost of our addition was so much more than was originally projected. We called our State Farm Ins. guy and had them raise the replacement value on our home because we realized we simply were not insured for enough due to the new cost of complying with codes when rebuilding. I think (I'm working from memory here, so this might be wrong) they figure building costs with this code are about $100 per sq. ft.
Sadly, many stayed in their homes. The news services said that if you haven't evacuated by now then "hunker down you've made your decision". Should have been get out and run for your life. So far 1 refrigerated truck has arrived with 60 body bags. This isn't going to be enough. Everyone needs to contact the Salvation Army or Red Cross to see what you can do.
Do you have any about Venice?
My aunt and uncle have a mobile home in North Port. They were informed that there was little, if any damage. My mom has an apartment in Venice. No problem there. Prayers for the people who were in the path of this storm.
Well, Jeb Bush was on TV at about 10:30 on Friday AM telling the entire state if you are under a mandatory evacuation notice, get out now, don't wait any longer.
The folks in Punta Gorda (barrier islands, mobile homes, low lying areas) were ordered to evacuate on Thursday at 3PM.
Now as to the unexpected path of the storm up the middle of the state, there's lots of damage, but if you live in Florida you know you may have to deal with hurricanes, and better pay close attention when one's coming. But loss of property can't be prevented in a hurricane.
As one local forecaster said yesterday, I have an AMS after my name, not a GOD.
Same goes with the governor, he's a good guy, but he's not GOD.
He takes care of about 20 boats at the marina and reports that all of those under his personal care survived without damage - but almost every other craft was destroyed. He began preparations 3 days before, so no whining about no warning from him. He tied down equipment and secured the lines. All held during the storm. The cleanup will take a long time.
It was an answer to prayer that he is safe and was able to set word.
See my #29.
Just for comparison, 145 mph sustained winds is in the upper portion of the F2 tornado scale:
F2 - 113 - 157 MPH
Considerable damage. Roofs torn off frame houses; mobile homes demolished; boxcars overturned; large trees snapped or uprooted; light-object missiles generated; cars lifted off ground.
This was a very serious storm.
They can also boast of having a 24x7, 365 days a year abortion mill in nearby Fort Myers to help 15 and 16 year girls dispose of their problems...
I had never heard of a 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year abortion mill until I checked for area abortion mills in the path of this storm.
Satan would be proud of this facility. I imagine there are some Witches in the area that are proud to offer the unborn babies in sacrifice for spells.
You pay for the replacement value listed on your policy (our replacement value is listed for each structure we have, i.e. house, shed, workshop, plus what they would pay to replace furnishings, and pay for rental to live in while rebuilding). At least in Florida that's how it works.
My replacement value was too low, and when I realized it, I had my agent raise the replacement value. Of course, the cost of my policy went up, but in an emergency it would be a pittance compared to what I would lose if I hadn't upped the replacement value.
After Andrew another FUN thing was added to our homeowners.
Every homeowner is not responsible for a 2 percent hurricane deductible on their property. So if your property is destroyed by fire, you won't be charged the deductible, but if it is destroyed by a hurricane, you're responsible for 2% of the homes insured value.
I wonder why the Hurricane made a right turn?
Could it be that Heaven is not pleased with such facilities?
Why you would think that was an appropriate post for this thread is beyond me. Some people's agendas truly border on the fanatical.
To the legal standards.
I'm talking about Florida.
I went through Hurrican Andrew and my step-father is a State Farm insurance agent, and those were the rules back then.
Thanks for the info. I know someone who recently moved there.
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