Hurricane Kills at Least 15 in Florida

[0rion]

By MARK LONG

PUNTA GORDA, Fla. (AP) - Hurricane Charley's devastating tear across Florida flattened oceanfront homes, killed at least 15 people and left thousands more homeless Saturday before the weakened storm pushed north and struck the Carolinas.

It was the strongest storm to strike Florida in a dozen years, knocking out electrical service to an estimated 2 million homes and businesses as it crossed from the southwest coast at Punta Gorda to the Atlantic at Daytona Beach.


"I could hear the nails coming out of the roof. The walls were shaking violently, back and forth, back and forth. It was just the most amazing and terrifying thing," said Anne Correia, who spent two hours in a closet in her Punta Gorda apartment.


Hurricane kills at least 15 in Florida

[NewYorkerfromMass]

1. I just read there are 31 mobile home parks in the area

2 of them with over a thousand residents, and 35 morticians have been called in.

[0rion]

2. I'm sure the numbers will only increase.

These are just preliminary figures, we'll get a better picture of the real toll in a few more days. Alot depends on how many are missing.

[blackcat77]

3. A friend of mine who lives near Orlando...

...just reported in to my chat board about half an hour ago. I was scared to death for him since the eye of the storm passed about 10 miles west of his house which meant he was in the very strongest part of the storm. He lived in a "manufactured home," which is a glorified trailer and had to evacuate on about 10 minutes' notice. He and several others rode out the storm in a vacant brick home which one of his friends had up for sale -- no furniture or power, but at least it was solid. He got back to his house today and only minor damage.

Whew...

[NewYorkerfromMass]

5. "manufactured homes" are actually over designed and stronger

If you mean the "boxes" which are delivered on trailers and put together, they are actually stronger than traditional site framed houses because they are designed for being lifted by cranes.

[Heyo]

4. Best wishes to all those residents....

... and let's hope "Earl" gives them a break and goes someplace else...

Heyo