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Charley: It woke up the region
to the power of hurricanes
STAFF REPORT
Editor's note: This is an abbreviated account of the dam-
age done by Hurricane Charley in 2004. A previous version
of this story ran in the Charlotte Sun on Aug. 14, 2004, the
day after Charley made landfall.
Punta Gorda, Port Charlotte and Arcadia took the brunt of
Hurricane Charley's Category 4 blast Aug. 13, 2004.
Three hospitals sustained major damage to roofs, windows
and upper floors. Half of Charlotte County's fire stations were
lost, hundreds if not thousands of residents lost their homes
and dozens of businesses were leveled.
The eye of the hurricane wobbled throughout the day be-
fore barreling straight up Charlotte Harbor and following U.S.
17 to Arcadia, battering hundreds of buildings in its wake and
leaving thousands homeless.
Charley would rival the long-remembered storm Hurricane
Donna for its viciousness and impact on the region.
The hurricane marched up the harbor, destroying dozens
of mobile home parks, killing several people and injuring
hundreds.
Winds in Charlotte County reached 140 to 145 mph, with
even higher gusts.
In DeSoto County, large portions of downtown Arcadia were
leveled as the hurricane rode a path up U.S. Highway 17.
Hurricane Charley impacted
Punta Gorda, Port Charlotte, Arcadia
FILE PHOTO
Hurricane Charley destroyed many mobile home parks in Southwest
Florida.
SUN FILE PHOTO
The clock in downtown Punta Gorda stopped when it was damaged by
Hurricane Charley on Aug. 13, 2004.
