As someone who lives at ground zero, I can tell you that the official local body count is 4 (Punta Gorda and Port Charlotte).
The claims of higher body counts were made by a shocked senior citizen immediately after the storm, who saw all the mobile homes that had been damaged in just one park.
This claim has been repeated by the national newscasters without comment about whether it reflected the truth.
The search and rescue teams have been going door to door in the 31 mobile home parks in Charlotte county - using dogs trained to sniff humans (live or dead). They are looking for anyone trapped.
Today, they did find two people - both alive.
So far, only 4 bodies found, and about 90% of the homes checked.
Most people did evacuate the mobile home parks. Most of the mobile homes were empty as the snow birds were still up north this time of the year.
The morgue trucks were brought in as a precaution. Good planning - just in case.
The media news hounds are looking for something sensational to report - as if the destruction were not enough.
But there is good news. Water is running (although there is a boil order). Some phone lines have been restored, in fact long distance calls can be made and received. But no local calls or cell phones yet.
Electricity is being restored - slowly.
Some local stores (Home Depot, Sams Club) and others are in business. Two hospitials now have power. Food shipments are coming in.
No looting reported. Their is martial law, and a 9pm to 7am curfew.
It is hot, humid, and plenty of mosquitos. People without roofs and air conditioning and TV and radio and phones.
But not stacks of bodies being hidden somewhere . . .
I have been following your posts since the storm, and I very much appreciate that you have taken the time to give us your reports.
Best of luck to you and your neighbors.
Thanks for bringing accuracy to the conversation. God bless you all dealing with the terrible effects of Hurricane Charley. My in-laws lived in a development that used to be called "Independence Village", off Rte. 776. We spent many wonderful vacations visiting them, and your area. Do you have any information about that location, or about Lemon Bay (Sea Star)?