What a strange person you are! 
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
I didn't say Bush was at fault, I'm just predicting the inevitable.
Great report..has anyone seen any reports about Sanibel or Captiva...are they still there?
I know after Andrew, the State had to step in because insurers refused to write new policies and created the JUA (Joint Underwriting A_____).
Anyways, like I said earlier, I'm not exactly sure what the post-Andrew tules are.
We have insurance on 5 homes in the Punta Gorda, Port Charlotte area, and I can tell you that getting insurance on any home in a Hurricane and Flood zone in Florida is a difficult proposition.
The insurance companies are reluctant to underwrite policies in this area, and only underwrite the value of the existing structure.
Since many of the homes were built in the 60's and 70's (crackbox houses by General Development Company), their value would be under $120,000.
That doesn't mean you can buy homes for $120,000 as the value of most of the homes in this area, especially the waterfront homes, is in the land under the home, not the structure.
So, it is not uncommon for a $350,000 home to only have $100,000 of insurance coverage. And unless that coverage includes wind and or hurricane damage, the insurance may not pay off.
But even if you do have insurance (wind/hurricane), it would usually pay far less than replacement costs - unless the home is relatively new.
Due to Florida's strict hurricane building codes, it will cost at least $180,000 to build a minimal house in this area (add $60,000 to meet Punta Gorda Isles codes).
So those people who do have insurance on older homes (and you'd be surprised at how many don't have insurance), will not get replacement value. They will get the value of the existing structure.
And in most cases, that will leave them well short of what it will cost to build a new home.
Of course with 1,000+ people now needing new homes built, you'll probably have to get on a waiting list.
PuntaGorda
Venice didn't receive any damage at all. The hurricane totally missed it.
Nothing damaged, just a little rain, and just a light wind.
PuntaGorda
Other way around -- people are grieved at the loss of life -- yet they do not realize that about 4000 unborn babies are killed each day.
There may be people who are truly grateful their pets are okay (not human life), but ignore the fact that the unborn baby has rights -- if you were aborted before you were born -- you would not be here today.
There is the Holocaust of Unborn Babies to consider.
Why was there an earthquake just an hour before a World Series in an area known for homosexuality -- in a World Series that had both teams of that area -- The San Francisco Giants and the Oakland Athletics?
I am very angry that any killing place is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, Christmas, Easter, any Jewish Holiday -- just so someone can kill an innocent baby.
Tampa was spared, which had a much larger population.
So many people in Tampa can be grateful today.
Unless you work for the Sanctity of Human Life, your opinion is void.
Howlin posted a picture of Captiva on another thread. Take a look at it.
I think you meant "every homeowner is now responsible..."
Yes, and some insurers (Allstate for one) pulled some fancy footwork after Andrew; dropping policies and setting up shell companies to pick up policies, at twice the rate. Look for home insurance rates to spike again, statewide -- even if you live in a concrete block home that meets the new building requirements and/or you are not in a vulnerable area.
Gives new meaning to 1st Thessalonians 5:3: For when they shall say, Peace and safety; then sudden destruction cometh upon them, as travail upon a woman with child; and they shall not escape.
Prophectic foreshadow of things to come? I think we will get a lot of answers soon. This election will tell us a lot about where America stands. It truly is an election about good versus evil.
The average age in Punta Gorda is 61, the average age in Port Charlotte is 52.
Mostly retirees. Not much need for abortion clinics in this area. None exist that I know of. Maybe in Fort Myers (30 miles to the south), but not in Charlotte county.
PuntaGorda
Someone let me know if the Bubble Room (Sanibel/Captiva) is okay when things calm down.
Mostly retirees. Not much need for abortion clinics in this area. None exist that I know of. Maybe in Fort Myers (30 miles to the south), but not in Charlotte county.
PuntaGorda
This mill was not that far from the Peace River, so I don't think 30 miles is the distance.
What a strange person you are!
"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"
Actually, it could be 2%, 5% or a fixed dollar amount on the wind coverage of a policy. You always pay a deductible in the event of a loss, even in a fire, it's just likely to be much less than when it's a windstorm.
LOL! He could take out San Francisco any day of the year.... I think it must mean God hates baseball.
I'm there, one of the few that didn't lose power. I lost cable, so I'm only getting channel 6, and the main damage seems to be to the small planes at Orlando Executive Airport. A lot of them ahave been tossed about and crumpled.
Democrats on DU are complaining about the Hurricaine because Kerry can't campaign in Florida. Unbelievable!!!
I wouldn't worry too much. FEMA will be there soon passing out federal tax dollars regardless of whether you had insurance or not.
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