August 15, 2004 Charley's Wrath by Jane Smith The Holiday Inn in Punta Gorda was in the eye of the storm Last Friday it was Friday the 13th. It was also the day that Florida was faced with it's first hurricane of the season, Charley. Born a tropical depression, moved to a tropical storm and matured into a Category 4 hurricane with winds 145 miles per hour. Charley was due to hit Tampa so Tampa, St. Pete were all evacuated and sent out of the area. The scared and running families went to Orlando where they should have been safe but Charley turned at the last minute and Orlando was now in the direct path of his rage. What seems like days is only hours and Charley is gone. He left devastation wherever he touched and he touched many. Lives are lost, homes are gone, memories were blown away. What was once beautiful and lovely to look at is only a faded memory of the mind. Racetracks have been damaged but they can be rebuilt. Lives cannot be replaced so easily. Many lost everything they had, all the photos, their old love letters, their memories and their hopes. But with the help of each of us, maybe we can help each other and make new dreams and hopes. Florida is destined for hurricanes. We all know it but somehow we believe we are safe. None of us are safe, Charley proved that. But even when the chips are down and they are down for many, we can and will survive because we have each other. It has been five years since Brevard County got a real scare from Hurricane Floyd. We were made to evacuate the Island and Alex was only 6 years old. All he remembers is having fun at a motel but Friday I saw fear in his eyes. That is something every parent never wants to see but something we must deal with here in Florida. Charley was a lesson for all of us. Never take each other for granted, never take any hurricane lightly. Have an opinion on this story? Post a message on our Message Board! <news@karnac.org>or send a letter to the editor!