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Port Charlotte, Florida - post Hurricane Charley |
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Pictures from Port Charlotte.8/28/04
Return to Port Charlotte pictures.
Most people see Port Charlotte while traveling along US Highway 41. "Mom and pop" stores seem to go on forever during the trip through this pathway laden with traffic lights. Hurricane Charley took a route perpendicular to the highway but ended up smashing much in its path.
Port Charlotte neighborhoods look much like the neighborhoods in its sister city, Punta Gorda. The FEMA blue roof tarps are everywhere. Power poles are leaning or have been snapped in half. Trees have been blown down, falling on houses and in the streets, those that remain standing have branches and leaves stripped from their trunks. Roadsides are filled with debris piles awaiting pickup.
The wreckage was significant here and it will take some time for Port Charlotte to recover. Old landmarks along the drive from Punta Gorda to Murdock have been damaged and some may have to go, changing the face of this small community.
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Port Charlotte Commercial buildings. |
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| One of Port Charlotte's best remembered features is the long expanse of "mom & pop" businesses along US-41. Hurricane Charley was very unkind to these older structures and many may need to be demolished. |  |
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| Oddly, most of the badly damaged structures were on the south side of US-41. | |||||
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| Businesses along US-41 were badly beaten by Hurricane Charley. All the way to Murdock the carnage was easily visible. Stores still lacked power during our visit and cash was required for most purchases - if an open business was found. | |||||
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Port Charlotte Condos |
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Port Charlotte Houses |
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Other Port Charlotte Scenes. |
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A former shady, alluring park on the Peace River looks eerie. |
This truck was manhandled by Hurricane Charley. |
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Trees (above) did not fare well. |
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Electrical transformers stored in this neighborhood lot. |
The view driving down US-41. |
The Charlotte Harbor Inn had been an emergency shelter. About 1600 people had to flee when the roof was torn off. | |||
