[jpsb]

This storm did not go as planed, that is for sure, but the forecast was not off by much. It was clear that the storm was going to track up the coast, very close to land. This fact alone should have gotten everyone living along to coast packup and leave.

Fla, costal residents should thank G*d that the predicted 17' storm surge did not happen, thousands would have died had 18' of water rolled into Charlette bay and coatal plains that surround it.

[dawn53]

In fact, originally, they predicted the storm to make landfall between Fort Myers and Tampa, then on Thursday night and Friday all the models started converging on Tampa Bay.

Hey, anybody that's lived in Florida for any amount of time knows that hurricanes will do what they very well please to do.

Those folks in Punta Gorda were under the same evac rules as the folks in Tampa.

Only difference, they must have believed the predicted path was set in stone.