Hurricane Charley aftermath photos

[RagingInMiami]

On my road trip back to Miami last August, I stumbled directly into the path of Hurricane Charley, the first of four hurricanes that ravaged Florida this year. Charley was suppose to make a direct hit on Tampa, which is why I made a beeline to the coastal city. I ended up in a cheap motel as close to the bay as possible. Most of other residences and hotels in the area had been evacuated.
As crazy as it seems, my goal was to run out into the storm with my camera and take photos.
But what ended up happening was Charley make a sharp turn to the right more than a hundred miles south of Tampa, making landfall in Punta Gorda instead, before tearing it up through central Florida. The following day, I drove down the path of Charley's destruction, taking photos. Here are a few.





Downed power lines




Broken church windows





Homeowner in Punta Gorda





Main street traffic light



Central Florida residents, who were left with no running water, taking advantage of broken fire hydrant.


What was left of a house in central Florida. Note the exposed toilet.





One of the few houses that was spared from damage in a central Florida town.



This person wasn't so lucky.


This mobile home used to be stationed next to this lamp post.



A store in central Florida trying to clean up the damage and cater to the local community.



The store's owner surveying the damage from inside.



An overturned SUV in Punta Gorda.

[RagingInMiami]

1. A self-portrait in a cheap motel in Tampa as I waited for the storm

Note the flashlight and radio beneath the TV. I also had plenty of batteries and water. I am standing inside the closet, which was going to be my shelter, if the storm got real bad. As a veteran of Hurricane Andrew, I was prepared for the worst.

[amazona]

2. wow nice photos

I'm glad you got out of there OK!