Hurricane (Typhoon) — Charlotte, Florida

2004-08-13 · Charlotte, Florida

Wider weather episode

The collective effects of Hurricane Charley in southwest and west central Florida during August 13th resulted in 8 direct fatalities, 16 indirect fatalities, 792 injuries, eight tornadoes, an eight foot storm surge in Lee County, an estimated $11.2 billion in property damage (estimated to be about twice that of the insured damage), and $460 million in crop damage. The fast movement of Hurricane Charley limited rain fall totals to 4 to 6 inches along the track of the hurricane's eye wall. River flooding of one to three feet above flood stage was found on area rivers south of Interstate 4. Hurricane Charley, a powerful but compact Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale, roared into Southwest Florida during the late afternoon of August 13th, then raced northeast through the central Florida peninsula, reaching the Atlantic Coast as a Category 1 hurricane near Daytona Beach in only seven hours. In all, 1.42 million people evacuated their homes in southwest and west central Florida because the forecasted path was parallel to the coast and Charley could have made land fall anywhere from Tampa to Fort Myers. Hurricane Charley made landfall just north of Captiva with sustained winds estimated at 145 mph. The winds damaged or destroyed thousands of homes, knocked down tens of thousands of trees, and took out power to more than 2 million Floridians. The most intense damage occurred in a band approximately 10 miles wide centered on the path of the eyewall. Additional damage was seen in a band approximately 35 miles wide centered on the path of the eyewall. Rainfall was limited to 3 to 5 inches in a 20 mile radius surrounding the center, and the areal extent of storm surge was limited by the lack of buildup of high seas as the storm raced northward. The center of Charley crossed the barrier islands of Cayo Costa and Gasparilla Island at 345 PM EDT, then moved up Charlotte Harbor before making landfall at Mangrove Point, just southwest of Punta Gorda, at 435 PM EDT. By 530 PM EDT, the center was 5 miles west of Arcadia (Desoto County); at 630 PM EDT, 1 mile west of Wauchula (Hardee County), and at 730 PM EDT, 4 miles west of Lake Wales (Polk County). At approximately 830 PM EDT, Charley had exited West Central Florida, and in 45 minutes slammed into Orlando International Airport.Charlotte County took the brunt of the destruction caused by Hurricane Charley. The airport in Punta Gorda recorded sustained winds of 87 mph with gusts to 112 mph before the wind equipment blew apart. Most of the buildings and airplanes at the airport were destroyed. An unofficial wind gust of 173 mph was reported from a tower on the Charlotte Regional Medial Center in Punta Gorda. Saint Joseph's Hospital in Port Charlotte lost its roof. No storm surge was reported but Charlotte Harbor reported a four foot drop in the water level. There were four direct fatalities that were a result of blunt force trauma from flying debris. The estimated 700 injuries were a result of additional trauma caused to the 450 patients that were evacuated from damaged hospitals. An estimated 250 people were treated by three different remote medical teams dispatched throughout the county. In Lee County, Hurricane Charley caused an estimated eight foot storm surge that cut a new pass 300 yards wide across North Captiva Island. The storm surge was estimated at 4 to 6 feet at Fort Myers Beach, Horseshoe Key, and Port Boca Grand. Two direct and two indirect deaths were blamed on this hurricane. Sustained winds of 61 mph with gusts to 78 mph were recorded at the Fort Myers Regional Southwest airport. A personal weather station in Fort Myers recorded a wind gust of 95 mph. The winds damaged or destroyed 41% of the homes in Cape Coral, ripped the roof off of the post office in Fort Myers, and lead to 1.9 millions cubic yards of debris in Lee County. There was one direct death attributed to the storm when a tree fell on a person outside smoking. There were three indirect fatalities due to carbon monoxide poisoning from a generator, a candle burned down a mobile home, and one heart attack. In DeSoto County the storm shelter at the Civic Center in Arcadia lost one wall and the roof pealed back while 1,200 evacuees were inside. A wind gust of 104 mph was recorded in Arcadia where the storm downed a water tower. The majority of Arcadia's downtown was heavily damaged or destroyed and a mobile home park along State Road 72 was flattened. There was one direct fatality in a tool shed that was destroyed by the wind. In Sarasota there was one direct fatality a wind gust blew a car off the road and it hit a tree. Downed trees knocked out power and damaged homes in the eastern part of the county. In Manatee County an unofficial report of 100 mph was reported in the southeast tip of the county. Downed trees and power lines in the eastern part of the county forced officials to close the Myakka City Elementary School through August 20th. The damage total listed was estimated by doubling the insured losses. The doubling accounted for uninsured losses and damage to the public infrastructure.

Source: NOAA Storm Events Database, event_id 5417269. Narrative written by the NWS forecast office that issued the report.