NEWS: Category 4 Storm Hurricane Charley Makes Landfall, Massive Damage and Casualty Reports

The Category 4 Hurricane known as Charley has made landfall in Florida tearing vast swathes out of the State. Damage is high and casualty reports are still coming in. Winds of over 145mph have been observed battering the Floridian Gulf coast then moved inland to central Florida, only to move on into the Atlantic hours later. Hurricane Charley made landfall at Sanibel Island and hit the mainland between Fort Myers and Charlotte County causing massive amounts of damage to the respective areas, the storm surge was up to 15ft high.

It took as little as an hour to pass before cleanup operations begun in Floridas ravaged counties alongside the search and rescue teams.

Casualty estimates have not been released yet but are expected to be high as the Charlotte County Emergency Director told CNN that he had ordered at least 60 bodybags.

"Clearly, there was major devastation,"

Governor Jeb Bush

The Office of the Governor has declared a Major Declaration for the entire State of Florida for disaster relief as a result of the direct effects of Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane Charley. These events have produced, and are expected to produce, significant damages associated with coastal storm surges, high winds, torrential rainfalls, and inland flooding. This request is for direct federal assistance and emergency protective measures.

The following counties affected are: Collier, Lee, Charlotte, Sarasota, DeSoto, Monroe,
Hardee, Manatee, Polk, Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco, Hernando, Sumter, Lake, Citrus, Marion, Levy, Dixie, Lafayette, Suwannee, Hamiliton, Gilchrist, Alachua, Putnam, Flagler, St. Johns, Clay, Bradford, Union, Columbia, Baker, Duval, Highlands, Osceola, Orange, Seminole, Volusia, Flagler, Nassau
Source: NBC2Orlando



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PROJECTED COURSE *updated*
RADAR IMAGE: 1pm EDT


STAY HERE FOR UPDATES - ATSNN WILL KEEP YOU INFORMED.



FT MYERS WEBCAM: 2PM EDT




[edit on 8-14-2004 by Valhall]

[edit on 14-8-2004 by Nerdling]

[edit on 14-8-2004 by Nerdling]

[edit on 8-15-2004 by Valhall]

I was hoping charley got upgraded to a catagory-4 just because I want to see some kool pics of it in action. Sure some people will be pissed cuz their house got blow away but i live up in the northeast all I have to worry about is some rain Anyone know what are the chances of Charley going up to Category 5?

I started a post on the storm a few days ago.

check it out here...

www.abovetopsecret.com...

Westpoint,

Hurricanes are nothing to laugh about. My aunt & cousin almost got hit by a flying 40ft container once when hurricane Louis was over St Maarten. Their roof blew off and then they ran to the neighbours basement, about 100ft away. In that short time that container missed them by a hair. A few second after that, my cousin saw a big house litterally get flattened by the powerful winds in a few seconds time.... A ship from another island ended up on top of a hill of about 1000 feet. I saw that ship on top of that mountain, I was there about 8 months after the hurricane.

Hurricanes are no joke, and no laughing matter.

yea and im getting hit by it in like 1 hour!!!! im going to die!!!!!

TORNADO ALERT:
ORLANDO, FL

Reports of Tornado at Haynes City outside ORLANDO, storm is moving North North West @ 45 MPH, tornado is to the north at 30 mph. Orlando near International Airport battening down.

im in tampa!!!! im scared. its a catagory 4 and there are tornados, anything else we should know about???

[edit on 13-8-2004 by demonhunter]

Everyone please be safe and use your head about this!!!! Charley is now coming over Central Florida up I-4..No Joke!!!! he has 145 MPH winds and is a Cat 4 storm..everyone is under evacuation... If u are in a moblie home or low lying area LEAVE!!!!! Go to a shelter. Will keep u posted as i hear.

Here is a good linkHurricane Link

Check it out and be safe!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hey WestPoint,

Try getting in your car and going as fast as your car will go, stick your head out the window. Now ad about 40 MPH to that. That's what this storm feels like.

My aunts house and bait camp was turned into a scattering of boards during a storm back in 83. There was nothing left. That storm only had about 85 MPH winds.

everyone stay indoors, this hurricane can pick your car off the ground, i am serious as a heartbeat

Is this your FIRST hurricane?

There is usually a TON of wind ... it goes on for HOURS... only few small tornadoes and some water. The power may go out for a day or two... but generally it is the wind that drives you crazy.

I stayed through Hurricane Andrew went right over us and nothing compared to that one. The power was off for three days and some trees were down, but not much else.

They are saying this one does compare to Andrew..And no this isnt my first hurricane been in Florida for 20 yrs!!

Originally posted by demonhunter
everyone stay indoors, this hurricane can pick your car off the ground, i am serious as a heartbeat

This is really starting to sound like those stock scam boards where the shorters are declaring the demise of the stock to scare people into selling.

And don't think that once the eye passes over and it gets calm that it's over. Because you still get the back end which is sometimes stronger then the front.

So you don't believe it then??? Go talk to anyone in the caribbean who have been through Louis. Like I said, I saw a ship on top of a huge hill. The ship came from Anguilla. A radar that was on top of another hill in St Maarten ended in Anguilla. St Maarten and Anguilla are about 6 miles apart if I'm not mistaken.

A few years ago, a hurricane was close to Aruba. It didn't hit, but it was close. It took a 150ft shipwreck from the bottom of the ocean and placed it on the beach as a gift.. I'm not joking... It's close to where my gf lives.

Florida ATSers, please play it safe. The winds are heavy but the flooding is what will get you.

If you are near the coast or any large body of water, you are in for a serious dunking. It's too late to leave now, but please prepare yourself for wind and waves.

Those who have been through a few of these know that it's a crap shoot. You may see no trouble at all, or you may have your house blown to pieces around you, or find yourself awash in ten feet of frothy salt water.

It's not alarmism to respect the very real dangers a deadly storm brings.

I wasn't trying to make light of your situation but panic attacks won't help.

Are you in the mandiatory evacuation areas?

We were supposed to leave before Andrew came but the hotels were full from new orleans to Shreveport. The nearest place was about 4 hours away and there just wasn't a practicle place to go so we decided to stay home instead of stuck on some road in the middle of high winds.

Yes, Side TWO is alot more rougher than side ONE. More tornadoes.

I live in Volusia county ( Deltona ) near Daytona Bch!!! This storm is coming up I-4 and it's no joke!!!!!

is there anything we can do for you?

if it does get bad the power may go out and you won't be able to contact us. Anyone got any suggestions for him since he is stuck there? How far is the tallest building?

This may sound silly, but if you have life jackets from a boat handy, hurricanes are a good time to keep them at hand.

In addition to helping keep your head above water in the event of flooding (which may or may not be a threat where you are), they also provide significant protection for your neck, back of your head and upper body from flying debris, and can help cushion you if you get tossed around a bit or have a structure collapse on you.

Lifejackets or no life jackets, it's important to be mindful of things like glass windows and furniture that might fall on you, like bookshelves. Be sure to protect your eyes, turn off gas to your appliances and minimize electricity use.

There's plenty of other armchair advice, but you've probably memorized it by now. Don't go running around outside, you are almost always safer indoors.