We're getting all kinds of conflicting reports about where it's actually going to go. What's the latest you've heard?
The National Hurricane still has landfall somewhere around or just north of Tampa, then NE out into the SE Atlantic for a time before hitting South Carolina.
If Charley does what they are forecasting, there will be major damage to parts of TPA and surrounds. They are now expecting 14'+ Storm Surges which would flod major portions of the city. It's an extremely unusual track, but appears more and more likely now.
The evacuation orders are unheard of, the largest in history. It's an amazing effort... we seem to be better at it since 9/11, it's a good sign. In the late 90's there would have been no hope of evacuating 400,000 people in 24 hours.
The water in that part of the Gulf is about as warm as it gets. Charley could regain a lot of strength (it will lose some over Cuba) before hitting the coast.