Hurricane Charley
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Hurricane Charley was the first of four separate hurricanes to impact or strike Florida during 2004, along with Frances, Ivan and Jeanne, as well as one of the strongest hurricanes ever to strike the United States. It was the third named storm, the second hurricane, and the second major hurricane of the 2004 Atlantic hurricane season. Charley lasted from August 9 to 15, and at its peak intensity it attained Template:Convert winds, making it a strong Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir–Simpson scale. It made landfall in Southwest Florida at maximum strength, becoming the strongest hurricane to hit the United States since Hurricane Andrew struck Florida in 1992 and tied with Hurricane Ian as the strongest hurricane to hit southwest Florida in recorded history.
After moving slowly through the Caribbean, Charley crossed Cuba on Friday, August 13, as a Category 3 hurricane, causing heavy damage and four deaths. That same day, it crossed over the Dry Tortugas, just 22 hours after Tropical Storm Bonnie had struck northwestern Florida. It was the first time in history that two tropical cyclones struck the same state within a 24-hour period.<ref name="space.com">Template:Cite news</ref> At its peak intensity of Template:Convert, Hurricane Charley struck the northern tip of Captiva Island and the southern tip of North Captiva Island, before crossing over Bokeelia causing severe damage.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Charley then continued to produce severe damage as it made landfall on the peninsula in Punta Gorda. It continued to the north-northeast along the Peace River corridor, devastating Punta Gorda, Port Charlotte, Cleveland, Fort Ogden, Nocatee, Arcadia, Zolfo Springs, Sebring, Lake Placid, and Wauchula. Zolfo Springs was isolated for nearly two days as large trees, power poles, power lines, transformers, and debris filled the streets. Wauchula sustained gusts to Template:Convert; buildings in the downtown areas caved onto Main Street.
The storm passed through the central and eastern parts of the Orlando metropolitan area, carrying winds gusting up to Template:Convert. The city of Winter Park, north of Orlando, also sustained considerable damage since its many old, large oak trees had not experienced high winds. Falling trees tore down power utilities and smashed cars, and their huge roots lifted underground water and sewer utilities. The storm slowed as it exited the state over Ormond Beach just north of Daytona Beach. The storm was absorbed by a front in the Atlantic Ocean shortly after sunrise on August 15, near southeastern Massachusetts.<ref name="tcr"/><ref name=hpc />
Charley was initially expected to hit further north in Tampa and caught many Floridians off-guard due to the storm turning toward the Florida peninsula sooner than anticipated, within six hours before landfall.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Along its path, Charley caused 10 deaths and $16.9 billion in damage to insured residential property, making it the second costliest hurricane in United States history at the time.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Charley was a compact, fast-moving storm, which limited the scope and severity of the damage.
Meteorological history
Template:Storm path Charley began as a tropical wave that moved off the west coast of Africa on August 4.<ref name="tcr">Template:Cite report</ref> It moved quickly westward and steadily organized over the open Atlantic Ocean, with convection developing in curved bands.<ref name="tcr" /> The wave continued to develop as it approached the Lesser Antilles, and became Tropical Depression Three on August 9 about Template:Convert south-southeast of Barbados, near the island of Grenada.<ref name="tcr" /><ref name="2004wmo"/> Low upper-level wind shear and well-defined outflow contributed to further intensification, and the depression strengthened on August 10, despite being located in the eastern Caribbean, which is an area not particularly suited to tropical cyclogenesis.<ref name=hpc /> At this time, the National Hurricane Center in Miami designated the name Charley.<ref name="tcr" />
A strong ridge of high pressure to the system's north forced Charley to change track quickly to the west-northwest. It continued to strengthen and became a Category 1 hurricane on August 11, about Template:Convert south of Kingston, Jamaica.<ref name="tcr" /><ref name="2004wmo"/> The storm was being steered around the periphery of the high pressure area, and as a result, Charley changed direction toward the northwest. The following day, the core passed Template:Convert southwest of Jamaica, affecting the island on August 11 and 12.<ref name=hpc /><ref name="2004wmo"/> The storm then passed Template:Convert northeast of Grand Cayman, reaching Category 2 status just after passing the island.<ref name="tcr" /><ref name=hpc /> The hurricane continued to strengthen as it turned to the northwest and rounded the southwest portion of the subtropical ridge, becoming a major hurricane—a storm classified as a Category 3 hurricane or higher—just before making landfall on southern Cuba.<ref name="tcr" /> Charley came ashore near Punta Cayamas with maximum sustained winds of Template:Convert and gusts of up to Template:Convert, at about 0430 UTC on August 13.<ref name="2004wmo"/> It crossed the island, passing about Template:Convert west of downtown Havana before weakening to Template:Convert.<ref name="tcr"/>
After crossing Cuba near Menelao Mora, Hurricane Charley accelerated to the north-northeast, toward the southwest coast of Florida in response to the approach of an unseasonal mid-tropospheric trough.<ref name="2004wmo"/> Charley passed over the Dry Tortugas at 1200 UTC on August 13, with maximum winds of about Template:Convert.<ref name="tcr"/><ref name=hpc /> The strike occurred only 22 hours after Tropical Storm Bonnie made landfall on St. Vincent Island, marking the first time two tropical cyclones hit the same state within a 24-hour period.<ref name="space.com"/> Then Charley explosively intensified, strengthening from a Template:Convert hurricane with a minimum central barometric pressure of Template:Convert to a Template:Convert hurricane with a pressure of Template:Convert in just three hours. It continued to strengthen as it turned more to the northeast, and made landfall near the island of Cayo Costa, Florida as a Template:Convert Category 4 hurricane with a pressure of Template:Convert at approximately 1945 UTC on August 13.<ref name=hpc /><ref name=fsem>Template:Cite web</ref> An hour later, the hurricane struck Punta Gorda as a Template:Convert storm and then passed up through Port Charlotte and the Charlotte Harbor.<ref name="tcr"/> The eye had shrunk before landfall, limiting the most powerful winds to an area within Template:Convert of the center.<ref name="tcr" />
Charley weakened considerably due to its passage over land, but still retained sustained winds of about Template:Convert as it passed directly over Orlando between 0020 and 0140 UTC August 14; gusts of up to Template:Convert were recorded at Orlando International Airport.<ref name="hpc" /> It cut a swath of destruction across Florida, also passing near Kissimmee.<ref name="tcr" /> The hurricane reemerged into the Atlantic Ocean after crossing directly over New Smyrna Beach as a Category 1 hurricane, but restrengthened slightly over open waters.<ref name="tcr" /><ref name=hpc /> Continuing to move rapidly to the north-northeast, Charley struck near Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge, South Carolina as an Template:Convert hurricane, moved offshore briefly, and made its final landfall near North Myrtle Beach as a minimal hurricane, with winds of Template:Convert.<ref name=hpc /> Charley then began interacting with an approaching frontal boundary, becoming a tropical storm over southeastern North Carolina.<ref name=hpc /> After moving back into the Atlantic Ocean near Virginia Beach on August 15, the storm became extratropical and became embedded in the frontal zone.<ref name="tcr" /><ref name=hpc /> The extratropical storm continued to move rapidly to the northeast, and was completely absorbed by the front shortly after sunrise on August 15, near southeastern Massachusetts.<ref name="tcr"/><ref name=hpc />
Preparations
Caribbean
Jamaica
On August 10, the National Hurricane Center (NHC), based in Miami, Florida, issued a tropical storm watch for the entire island of Jamaica as Tropical Storm Charley intensified over the eastern Caribbean. Later that day, the watch was upgraded to a warning as the storm quickly approached the island. Early on August 11, a hurricane watch was declared for the island as Charley neared hurricane intensity. Late on August 11, all watches and warnings for Jamaica were changed to hurricane warnings as Charley attained Category 1 status on the Saffir–Simpson scale. The warning was later discontinued on August 12 as Hurricane Charley tracked towards Cuba, no longer a threat to Jamaica.<ref name="tcr"/>
Following the issuance of hurricane watches, Robert Pickersgill, Minister of Transport and Works in Jamaica closed both airports, Norman Manley International Airport and Sangster International Airport, on the island and shut down all ports.<ref name="Jamaica1"/> A total of 33 flights were canceled or delayed by the storm.<ref name="Jamaica4">Template:Cite web</ref> Roughly 3,000 passengers from the Carnival Conquest cruise ship were diverted from their scheduled arrival in Montego Bay, resulting in millions of dollars in losses. Another cruise ship, The Triumph, carrying 2,700 passengers was also diverted. Most businesses on the island were closed on August 12.<ref name="Jamaica1">Template:Cite web</ref> Emergency shelters were set up across the island ahead of the storm; however, press reports indicate that no one sought refuge in shelters. Residents along the coast were urged to evacuate by the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management due to the risk of storm surge and large swells that could inundate low-lying communities.<ref name="Jamaica2">Template:Cite news</ref> Up to Template:Convert of rain fell in eastern portions of the island, triggering mudslides.<ref>Template:Cite web Template:Dead link</ref>
On August 11, the Jamaica Red Cross opened its Emergency Operations Center in preparation for Hurricane Charley<ref name="IFRC1">Template:Cite web Template:Dead link</ref> and placed the warning level at one, the lowest warning level.<ref name="RW2">Template:Cite web Template:Dead link</ref> Residents throughout the country stocked up on emergency supplies and non-perishable food, noted by an increase in sales at shops. In Saint James Parish, emergency officials activated all necessary agencies by August 11.<ref name="Jamaica3">Template:Cite news Template:Dead link</ref> Late on August 11, emergency officials quickly opened 50 shelters in the parish.<ref name="Jamaica8">Template:Cite web</ref> In Saint Elizabeth Parish, 100 residents sought refuge in the six shelters opened throughout the parish.<ref name="IFRC2"/> A total of $1.5 million (JMD; US$17,000) was allocated by the Ministry of Local Government for repairs after the storm.<ref name="Jamaica9">Template:Cite web</ref> The Jamaica Red Cross alerted local branches to be prepared as Charley approached.<ref name="IFRC2">Template:Cite web</ref>
Other areas
Cuban government officials issued a hurricane watch for the southern coastline on August 11, two days before the hurricane struck the island. This was upgraded to a hurricane warning on the 12th, 13 ½ hours before Charley made landfall.<ref name="tcr"/> Because of the threat, the government issued a mandatory evacuation for 235,000 citizens and 159,000 animals in the area of the expected impact.<ref name="cubevac">Template:Cite web</ref> An additional 3,800 residents were evacuated from offshore islands, while 47,000 in Havana were transported from old, unsafe buildings to safer areas.<ref name="cubass">Template:Cite journal</ref> The people were transported to shelters provisioned with supplies. In addition, the power grid in southern Cuba was turned off to avoid accidents.<ref name="cubevac"/>
The Cayman Islands issued a hurricane warning on August 11, a day before the hurricane passed near the archipelago.<ref name="tcr"/>
United States
Florida
On August 11, Florida governor Jeb Bush issued a state of emergency declaration due to the impending threat Charley presented to the state while the storm was still located south of Jamaica.<ref name="FL sit rep 01">Template:Cite web</ref> The National Hurricane Center issued hurricane warnings for the Florida Keys and from Cape Sable to the mouth of the Suwannee River a day prior to Charley's passage through the state, while tropical storm warnings were issued elsewhere throughout Florida.<ref name="tcr"/> Because of the threat, 1.9 million people along the Florida west coast were urged to evacuate, including 380,000 residents in the Tampa Bay area, and 11,000 in the Florida Keys.<ref name="flkeydam">Template:Cite report</ref><ref name="charprep1">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name="charprep2">Template:Cite news</ref> It was the largest evacuation order for Pinellas County history,<ref name="charprep2"/> and the largest evacuation request in Florida since Hurricane Floyd five years before. Many Floridians remained despite the evacuation order, as authorities estimated that up to a million people would not go to shelters;<ref name="VoA evacs">Template:Cite news</ref> instead, these residents boarded up their homes and bought supplies to ride out the storm.<ref name="charprep1"/> However, about 1.42 million people evacuated their homes in Florida, and approximately 50,000 residents were placed in shelters throughout the state.<ref name="FL sit rep 07">Template:Cite report</ref><ref name="noaa01">Template:Cite report</ref> Power companies mobilized workers to prepare for the expected widespread power outages. MacDill Air Force Base, home of U.S. Central Command (USCENTCOM) and the U.S. military center for the Iraq War, severely limited its staff on base, shifting most of its operations to its forward headquarters in Doha, Qatar.<ref name="charprep1"/> Similarly, Kennedy Space Center, which usually counts with 13,000 on-site personnel, reduced its staff to only 200 people in preparation for the hurricane, and secured all Space Shuttles by sealing them in their hangars. Many amusement parks in the Orlando area closed early, and Walt Disney World's Animal Kingdom remained closed. This was only the second time in history that a Disney park was closed due to a hurricane, with the other occurrence being after Hurricane Floyd.<ref name="charprep3">Template:Cite news</ref> The approaching hurricane also forced several cruise ships to reroute their paths,<ref name="charprep1"/> and forced rail service between Miami and New York to shut down.<ref name="NYTrail">Template:Cite news</ref>
The rapid strengthening of Charley in the eastern Gulf of Mexico caught many by surprise. Around five hours before its Florida landfall, Charley was a strong Category 2 hurricane predicted to strengthen its strongest winds to Template:Convert upon its landfall in the Tampa–Saint Petersburg area.<ref name="Chardisc17">Template:Cite web</ref> About two hours before landfall, the National Hurricane Center issued a special advisory, notifying the public that Charley had become a Template:Convert Category 4 hurricane, with a predicted landfall location in the Port Charlotte area.<ref name="Chardisc18">Template:Cite web</ref> As a result of this change in forecast, numerous people in the Charlotte County area were unprepared for the hurricane, although the new track prediction was well within the previous forecast's margin of error. National Hurricane Center marine forecaster Robbie Berg publicly blamed the media for misleading residents into believing that a Tampa landfall was inevitable. He also stated that residents of Port Charlotte had ample warning,<ref name="wnchar">Template:Cite magazine</ref> as a hurricane warning had been issued for the landfall area 23 hours before, and a hurricane watch had existed for 35 hours.<ref name="tcr"/>
Several local meteorologists, however, did depart from the official predictions of a Tampa Bay landfall as early as the morning of August 13. Jim Farrell of WINK, Robert Van Winkle WBBH, Steve Jerve of WFLA in Tampa, Jim Reif of WZVN in Fort Myers, and Tom Terry of WFTV in Orlando all broke with their national news forecasts and stated at around 1500 UTC that Charley was going to turn early, striking around Charlotte Harbor and traveling over Orlando, as would prove to be the case.<ref name="earlyturn">Template:Cite web</ref>
North Carolina
On August 13, 2004, a tropical storm watch was issued for Cape Fear, southward to South Carolina. The watch was extended northward to Oregon Inlet later that day; the watch further extended to Chincoteague, Virginia. The tropical storm watch from Cape Lookout to Oregon Inlet was changed to a hurricane warning. A hurricane watch was subsequently put into effect for coastal areas from Oregon Inlet to the North Carolina/Virginia border, although by August 15 all advisories were discontinued.<ref name="tcr"/> Flood watches were also placed into effect for portions of the state.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Governor Mike Easley declared a state of emergency in advance of the storm, and 200 National Guard troops were dispatched to Charlotte, Raleigh, Kinston and Lumberton, while 800 more were on standby.<ref name="preps2">Template:Cite web</ref> On Ocracoke Island, authorities ordered mandatory evacuations, while on Bogue Banks voluntary evacuations were in place. Officials in Wrightsville Beach drove along the streets with loudspeakers mounted on trucks, warning tourists that a storm was approaching.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The storm forced the University of North Carolina at Wilmington to suspend a planned opening for students moving into residence halls. Campgrounds at the Cape Hatteras National Seashore were closed by the National Park Service and three boat ramps were closed. Duke Power Co. prepared for Charley by lowering the level of hydroelectric lakes to make room for excessive rainfall. The state Department of Environment and Natural Resources advised hog farmers to pump out their waste lagoon.<ref name="preps2"/> About 60 Red Cross shelters were opened during the storm and during the peak of Charley, and roughly 1,600 people sought protection.<ref name="preps3">Template:Cite web</ref>
South Carolina
Prior to the storm, a tropical storm watch was issued for locations from the Altamaha sound, Georgia to the South Santee River on August 12. The next day, the watch was upgraded to a hurricane watch from the Altamaha sound to the South Carolina–Georgia border. As Charley approached the region, a hurricane warning was issued for the entire area.<ref name="report"/> A tornado watch was issued eastward from a line extending from Aiken to Lancaster County.<ref name="preps">Template:Cite web</ref>
Governor Mark Sanford declared a state of emergency as Charley approached landfall and issued a mandatory evacuation for residents on barrier islands and in coastal locations in counties Georgetown and Horry. In Georgetown County, this order was focused on residents and tourists east of U.S. Route 17, likewise for Horry County.<ref name="preps" /> 180,000 people evacuated the Grand Strand.<ref name="ncdc" /> Drawbridges in Beaufort and Charleston Counties were shut down, and bridges in Georgetown and Horry Counties were locked down. Hampton County requested 2,000 sandbags, that were provided by the Department of Corrections. The Wateree Correctional Institution also filled 30,000 sandbags for potential floods.<ref name="preps" /> State troopers directed traffic inland from Myrtle Beach.<ref name="charprep3" /> U.S. Route 501 used a lane reversal to allow for evacuations.<ref name="preps" />
Other areas
Following the Florida landfall, Georgia Governor Sonny Perdue declared a state of emergency as a precaution against a Template:Convert storm surge and price gouging.<ref name="Georgia preps">Template:Cite news</ref>
Impact
| Region | Direct | Indirect | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jamaica | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Cuba | 4 | 0 | 4 |
| United States | 10 | 20 | 30 |
| Total | 15 | 20 | 35 |
One death in Jamaica, four deaths in Cuba, and ten deaths in the United States were directly attributed to Charley.<ref name="tcr" /> Numerous injuries were reported, as well as 25 indirect deaths in the U.S.<ref name="tcr"/>
Property damage from Charley in the United States was estimated by the NHC to be $16 billion.<ref name="pastcost2">Template:Cite web</ref> At the time, this figure made Charley the second costliest hurricane in United States history, behind 1992's Hurricane Andrew's $27.3 billion.Template:Citation needed
Caribbean
Jamaica
On August 11, a Template:Convert yacht carrying three people was disabled roughly Template:Convert southeast of the Morant Cays. The Jamaica Defence Force Coast Guard rescued the crew members the following day and brought them to Kingston Public Hospital as they were severely dehydrated and exhausted.<ref name="Jamaica1"/> During the preparations, storms ahead of the hurricane knocked out power in isolated areas. After nearly completing restoration of the initial power outage, lightning struck a power line and left more residents without electricity.<ref name="Jamaica7">Template:Cite web</ref>
The community of Big Woods was significantly affected by flooding, with 30 families being isolated in the area.<ref name="IFRC2"/> The only fatality from the storm also occurred in this community after a man was washed away while trying to rescue a family.<ref name="RW1">Template:Cite web Template:Dead link</ref> The severity of damage in Big Woods prompted Jamaica Labour Party Area Council Four chairman to state that it should be declared a disaster area. Torrential rains during a two-hour span overnight triggered most of the flooding in the area, isolating many homes and inundating several.<ref name="Jamaica10">Template:Cite web</ref> In Westmoreland Parish, severe flooding inundated several homes and damaged roadways. One home sustained significant damage after a large tree fell on it.<ref name="Jamaica5">Template:Cite web</ref> In Kingston, high winds damaged power lines and some homes.<ref name="RW1"/> Water supply to most regions was cut due to damage to pipelines and high water turbidity. Widespread power outages occurred due to numerous downed trees and power lines.<ref name="Jamaica11">Template:Cite web</ref>
The banana industry sustained severe losses, with trees downed and fruit damaged and numerous livestock drowned in flood waters.<ref name="Jamaica6">Template:Cite news</ref> Initial assessments of agricultural losses from the storm reached $300 million (JMD; US$3.4 million). Residents requested the government for immediate assistance as families were without a source of food and income.<ref name="Jamaica12">Template:Cite web</ref> Official assessments in four parishes placed the damage to agriculture and livestock at $88.4 million (JMD; US$1 million), with roughly $73.5 million (JMD; US$835,000) of this accounting for 750 farmers in Saint Elizabeth.<ref name="Jamaica13">Template:Cite web</ref>
Roads in Saint Elizabeth sustained substantial damage, with 32 separate roads experiencing severe impacts. Throughout the country, a total of $7.6 million (JMD; US$86,000) was provided to repair the roads, $4.23 million (JMD; US$48,000) of which was used in Saint Elizabeth alone.<ref name="Roads2">Template:Cite web</ref> Widespread damage to crops also resulted in an increased price in store costs. The loss to farmers was untimely as it followed a three-month drought that was preceded by damaging hailstorms that ruined crops.<ref name="Roads1">Template:Cite web</ref> Following the storm, search and rescue teams were deployed, mainly in Saint Elizabeth Parish following reports of flooding.<ref name="RW1"/> Throughout the country, Charley caused $4.1 million in damage and one fatality.<ref name="2004wmo">Template:Cite web</ref>
Cuba
Operationally, forecasters estimated that Charley struck southern Cuba with winds of Template:Convert.<ref name="char15">Template:Cite web</ref> In post-hurricane-season analysis, Charley was determined to have struck southern Cuba with winds of Template:Convert hurricane; the original estimate was revised based on a report of a sustained wind measurement of Template:Convert in Playa Baracoa, meaning Charley was a major hurricane at landfall.<ref name="2004wmo"/> The hurricane produced a storm surge of up to Template:Convert in Playa Cajio;<ref name="tcr"/> on the other hand, Charley's quick passage caused small amounts of precipitation, with the largest total being Template:Convert in Mariel.<ref name="2004wmo"/>
Strong wind gusts downed nearly 1,500 power lines and knocked over 28 large high tension wire towers at a power plant in Mariel. As a result, more than half of the electricity customers in Havana Province were left without power for 12 days after the storm, and all of Pinar del Río Province was without power for over 11 days. Blackouts continued in areas where power returned. The power outages resulted in lack of drinking water for numerous people, including no potable water in the city of Havana for four days. As a result, the Cuban government sent water tanks to satisfy the short term need. Similarly, there was a lack of gas for cooking for over a week. However, one Cuban government official stated that it could take up to two months for basic utilities to be returned to many isolated villages.<ref name="cubass" />
Near its landfall location, Charley destroyed 290 of the 300 houses in the village, while over 70,000 homes in Havana were either damaged or destroyed. Numerous hotels reported damage, potentially impacting the important tourism industry in the country. Agricultural damage was heavy, with the hurricane damaging more than 3,000 agricultural institutions. Citrus officials estimated a loss of 15,000 metric tons of grapefruit on the Isle of Youth, while strong winds ruined 66,000 metric tons of citrus trees in the Havana area. Charley also destroyed around 57,000 acres (230 km2) of fruit trees in the Havana area.<ref name="cubass"/> Approximately 95% of the sugar cane, bean, and banana crops were affected in Cuban territory.<ref name="reliefweb1year">Template:Cite web</ref> In all, Charley was directly responsible for four deaths in Cuba, and was responsible for $923 million in property damage, primarily from agricultural losses.<ref name="2004wmo" />
Cayman Islands
In spite of the close approach that Charley made on the Cayman Islands, the islands were mostly spared, and were subjected to little damage.<ref name="ifrc">Template:Cite web</ref> Rainfall was light, peaking at Template:Convert in Grand Cayman, while Cayman Brac reported tropical storm force winds.<ref name="tcr" />
United States
Florida
Template:Strongest U.S. landfalling hurricanes Hurricane Charley severely affected the state of Florida. There were nine direct fatalities, 20 indirect fatalities, and numerous injuries attributed to the storm.<ref name="tcr" /> Property damage was estimated at $5.4 billion, and approximately $285 million in agricultural damage.<ref name=noaa01 /> However, due to Charley's speed (it crossed the Florida peninsula in approximately seven hours) and small size, rainfall along the eyewall was mostly limited to Template:Convert.<ref name=noaa01 />
While moving northward to the west of the Florida Keys, Charley produced moderate winds of Template:Convert with gusts to Template:Convert in Key West.<ref name="tcr"/> The winds toppled a few trees, power lines, and unreinforced signs. A boat, knocked loose by strong waves, struck a power transmission line, causing widespread power outages from Marathon to Key West. On Fort Jefferson in the Dry Tortugas, the hurricane produced an estimated storm surge of up to Template:Convert. The surge, combined with incoming waves, caused extensive flooding in the park and damaged numerous docks. In spite of this, property damage was minimal in the area, totaling $160,000.<ref name="flkeydam"/>
Hurricane Charley passed directly over Captiva Island near Cayo Costa with peak winds of Template:Convert.<ref name="tcr"/> The Category 4 hurricane produced an estimated storm surge of up to Template:Convert on the island, which is lower than expected for a storm of its intensity. The decrease in the height of the surge was due to the hurricane's small size and its rapid intensification just prior to landfall. Furthermore, the storm surge, combined with the strong pressure gradient, produced a Template:Convert inlet on North Captiva Island,<ref name="surge">Template:Cite web</ref> known as Charley's Cut. Strong waves and storm surge caused severe beach erosion and dune damage at various locations. The storm severely damaged five houses, lightly damaged many others, and downed many trees on Gasparilla Island. At least half of the 300 homes on North Captiva Island were substantially damaged, including ten that were destroyed. On Captiva Island, the strong winds severely damaged most houses, as well as several recreational buildings.<ref name="flchisl"/>
The city of Arcadia in DeSoto County saw extreme damage, despite being relatively further inland.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> About 95% of the buildings in the downtown area saw some sort of damage. The only shelter in the town had its roof torn open by the wind, leaving 3,500 evacuees inside unprotected from the onslaught of the storm.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Hardee County saw property damage estimated at $750 million, along with six injuries, but no deaths were reported. Charley caused blackouts in the entire county, as well as damage to 3,600 homes and the destruction of 1,400. A radio tower near Sebring was toppled, along with numerous trees and power poles along the north and east side of Highlands County. Additionally, there were several reports of severely damaged homes in Polk County near Babson Park and Avon Park. In Lake Wales, Florida, a sand mine lake encroached into State Road 60 due to wave action and swallowed a car. Additionally, Lake Wales saw 23,000 buildings damaged, as well as the destruction of 739 structures. Seven deaths were reported in the county, one of them determined to be direct.<ref name="NCDC SW FL">Template:Cite web</ref>
Throughout the rest of the islands in Sarasota, Charlotte, Lee, and Collier counties, strong winds from Hurricane Charley caused severe damage to hundreds of buildings and trees.<ref name="flchisl">Template:Cite web</ref> Lee County also endured an Template:Convert storm surge.<ref name=noaa01 /> These counties were exposed to Charley's eyewall, so they saw the most damage. Due to its small size, the area of most intense damage was located within a Template:Convert band centered on Charley's track, with additional heavy damage forming an outer band extending Template:Convert to each side of the inner swath of damage.<ref name="NCDC landfall area" /> In Charlotte County, 80% of buildings were damaged.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
On mainland Florida, Charley produced a peak storm surge of Template:Convert at Vanderbilt Beach near Naples, along with a much lower surge at its Punta Gorda landfall.<ref name="surge"/> The hurricane dropped generally light rainfall across Florida, with the maximum amount of Template:Convert occurring in Bud Slough in Manatee County, east of Myakka River State Park.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> In Punta Gorda's airport, where the hurricane made landfall, wind speeds of up to Template:Convert were measured, alongside gusts of up to Template:Convert, before the instrument was blown apart, along with most of the planes and the airport itself.<ref name="tcr" /><ref name="NCDC landfall area" /> The Charlotte Regional Medical Center recorded an unofficial peak wind gust of Template:Convert.<ref name="tcr" /> In Port Charlotte, Charley's strong winds blew off the roof of Saint Joseph's Hospital and Fawcett Memorial Hospital.<ref name="NCDC landfall area" /><ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Due to the compact nature of the hurricane, the storm's radius of maximum sustained winds only extended a short distance from its center. In comparison, Fort Myers, which is only Template:Convert from where Charley made landfall, experienced sustained winds of only Template:Convert with gusts of Template:Convert.<ref name="tcr"/> In South Florida, Charley spawned several tornadoes, including a long-lived F2 that struck Clewiston,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and five weak tornadoes near the point where the hurricane made landfall.<ref name="tampanws">Template:Cite web</ref>
The most severe damage from Hurricane Charley occurred in Charlotte County. In Boca Grande, numerous houses sustained extensive roof damage, while thousands of trees and power lines were uprooted or snapped. In Port Charlotte and Punta Gorda, many buildings, RVs, and mobile homes were completely destroyed, while other buildings suffered roofing damage due to the powerful winds.<ref name="tampanws" />
Charley devastated Southwest Florida, causing $14.6 billion in property damage on the peninsula of Florida alone. Many towns such as Punta Gorda and Port Charlotte were leveled by the hurricane. Trees were downed and trailer parks were obliterated as far as Ormond Beach.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Charley also caused considerable damage in the central and eastern parts of the state. Several possible tornadoes occurred, with severe thunderstorms during the duration of the storm. Winds were estimated to be at Template:Convert sustained near, and to the north of Okeechobee, while winds at Orlando International Airport topped out around Template:Convert in a gust.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> At Orlando International Airport, debris littered two runways and lashing winds tore the roofs off three terminals and shattered two giant glass panels in the main terminal.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The winds also ripped the roof right off of Brookside Elementary in Winter Park, leaving damage to the school, as well as the school's cafeteria.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The storm caused 2 million customers to lose electricity in Florida.<ref name="NCDC landfall area">Template:Cite web</ref> In some areas, power was not restored for weeks: 136,000 residents had no electricity a week after Charley's landfall,<ref name="FL sit rep 27">Template:Cite web</ref> and 22,000 customers, primarily from cooperatives, were still waiting for their service to be restored on August 26.<ref name="FL sit rep 38">Template:Cite web</ref> Citizens in Daytona Beach, New Smyrna Beach, and Port Orange in Southeastern Volusia County also dealt with storm surge from the St. Johns River and Halifax River, and Intracoastal Waterway as Charley passed over before re-emerging into the Atlantic Ocean. Further inland, Seminole County experienced some of the highest winds ever recorded from a hurricane in the area, with a gust of Template:Convert in Longwood at 04:07 UTC on August 14 and Template:Convert in Altamonte Springs.
Public schools in some counties in the path of the hurricane were scheduled to be closed for two weeks.<ref name="jaagdam2">Template:Cite news</ref> In some areas this was necessary because the school buildings were damaged or destroyed: all 59 of Osceola County's schools were damaged, and one-third of Charlotte County's were destroyed by Charley's impact. DeSoto County schools saw $6 million in damage, while Orange County Public Schools saw $9 million in damage to their educational infrastructure.<ref name="NYT school">Template:Cite news</ref>
Agricultural losses were heavy. In Florida, the second-largest producer of oranges in the world, damage to the citrus crop was estimated at $200 million, and caused a 50% increase in the price of grapefruit juice. Charley, along with the other storms that hit Florida during 2004, caused a total agricultural loss of $2.2 billion. Other crops, nurseries, buildings, and agricultural equipment also suffered.<ref name="Ag loss">Template:Cite news</ref>
North Carolina
Hurricane Charley produced moderate to heavy rainfall over the state, peaking at Template:Convert near Greenville; other rainfall amounts ranged from less than Template:Convert–more than Template:Convert.<ref name="tcr"/> The outer rainbands began affecting the region in the early hours of August 14.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Due to widespread debris, storm drains became clogged which left flooding in some areas.<ref name="ncdc"/> Freshwater flooding was reported in seven counties along the coastal plain.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> State highways 42<ref name="ncdc3">Template:Cite web</ref> and 581, as well as numerous county and local roads, were covered with at least Template:Convert of water.<ref name="ncdc4">Template:Cite web</ref> Wilmington and surrounding towns were forced to close a total of 20 streets. The heavy precipitation also caused the Neuse River to swell to flood stage.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> A few businesses throughout the region were damaged;<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> two in downtown Greenville and five others were flooded.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
The storm produced estimated storm surge of Template:Convert, along with waves of up to Template:Convert in height. However, there were isolated reports of Template:Convert surge, particularly along the beaches of Brunswick County.<ref name="noaa">Template:Cite web</ref> This produced minor beach erosion along the coastline. Winds gusted from Template:Convert, causing minor wind damage. The hurricane spawned five weak tornadoes across the state,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> including an F1 in Nags Head that damaged twenty structures.<ref name="nctorn">Template:Cite web</ref> Charley destroyed 40 houses and damaged 2,231, 231 severely, including 221 damaged beach homes in Sunset Beach. Damage was the greatest in Brunswick County, where wind gusts peaked at Template:Convert. The winds blew down chimneys and damaged a roof on one building, and ripped the siding off another.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref> Crop damage was also heavy in Brunswick County, with 50% of the tobacco crop lost and 30% of the corn and vegetable fields destroyed. Strong winds downed trees and power lines, leaving 65,000 homes without power.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Damage in North Carolina totaled to $25 million (2004 USD).<ref name="tcr"/>
South Carolina
The strongest storm to make landfall in the state since Hurricane Hugo in 1989,<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Hurricane Charley struck near Cape Romain, South Carolina as an Template:Convert hurricane, moved offshore briefly, and made its final landfall near North Myrtle Beach as a minimal hurricane with winds of Template:Convert<ref name="hpc"/> and gusts of Template:Convert. In Myrtle Beach, Charley also produced a storm tide that was unofficially measured to up to Template:Convert.<ref name="tcr" /> With the landfalling system, five tornadoes were reported in the state.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> However, only two were confirmed; one moved through the Francis Marion National Forest, downing trees along its path.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Storm surge ranged from Template:Convert,<ref name="ncdc2"/> although only minor beach erosion occurred.<ref name="report"/> A buoy situated Template:Convert southeast of Charleston recorded Template:Convert seas and Template:Convert winds.<ref name="rain"/>
Peak winds in the state were clocked at Template:Convert at the Isle of Palms. The storm spawned winds of Template:Convert at Folly Beach and Template:Convert in downtown Charleston. Trees, limbs and electrical poles were knocked down in those regions.<ref name="ncdc2">Template:Cite web</ref> Trees were blown onto U.S. Route 17 in Mount Pleasant, and awnings were torn off of a few structures.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> A total of 2,231 houses were damaged; 2317 of these were severely damaged and 40 were destroyed. Two-hundred and twenty-one of those damaged were beach front structures on Sunset Beach.<ref name="ncdc"/> Businesses had broken windows, six hotels had roof and outer wall damage.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> This led to $30 million (2004 USD) in hotel profit loss in Myrtle Beach, primarily along U.S. Route 17.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
As dry air from northern sections of the state wrapped into the circulation of the storm, a band of convection developed along a frontal boundary stretching from Newberry northward.<ref name="rain">Template:Cite web</ref> Widespread rainfall peaking at over Template:Convert fell to the west of the storm's track.<ref name="hpc">Template:Cite web</ref> In downtown Charleston, Template:Convert of rainfall was reported, while in Hampton Template:Convert of rain fell. However, the bulk of the rainfall remained offshore. With the soil still saturated from Tropical Storm Bonnie, some flooding in low-lying areas of Charleston County occurred.<ref name="report">Template:Cite web</ref> Up to Template:Convert of water accumulated on South Carolina Route 17 and on local streets.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Flash floods were also observed in Mount Pleasant.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> High winds spread vegetative debris, clogging storm drains and caused further flooding.<ref name="ncdc">Template:Cite web</ref> A bridge in Union County washed out following rainfall from Charley and Tropical Storm Bonnie.<ref name="rain"/> 135,000 customers were without power,<ref>Template:Cite news</ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref> and storm damage totaled $20 million (2004 USD).<ref name="tcr" />
Following the storm, Progress Energy Carolinas assembled 1,200 tree and power line personnel to assist in damage recovery.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Federal disaster funds were approved for the counties of Georgetown and Horry. The declaration covered damage to public property on August 14–15. The funding covered state and local government costs for debris removal and emergency services related to the hurricane.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Other areas
Tropical Storm Charley produced wind gusts of up to Template:Convert at Chesapeake Light in Virginia, causing scattered power outages. Rainfall was light, ranging from Template:Convert.<ref name="vadam">Template:Cite web</ref> Charley produced one tornado in Chesapeake and one in Virginia Beach. In Rhode Island, one man drowned in a rip current.<ref name="tcr" />
Aftermath
Cuba
In Cuba, Hurricane Charley had disconnected the entirety Pinar del Río province from the Sistema Eléctrico Nacional (SEN).<ref name="LC">Template:Cite book</ref>Template:Rp This damage to Cuba's electricity infrastructure became part of the impetus for Cuba's Energy Revolution campaign, which decentralized the country's electricity infrastructure, promoted renewable energy sources, and drastically decarbonized its economy.<ref name="LC" />Template:Rp
United States
President George W. Bush declared Florida a federal disaster area. He later reflected on the government response to Charley:
<templatestyles src="Template:Blockquote/styles.css" />
...the job of the federal government and the state government is to surge resources as quickly as possible to disaster areas. And that's exactly what's happening now. We choppered over and saw the devastation of this area. A lot of people's lives are turned upside down. We've got ice and water moving in, trailers for people...are moving in. The state is providing security...There's a lot of compassion moving in the area, the Red Cross is here.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
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U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson released $11 million in additional aid and other assistance to Florida, with $10 million to be earmarked to Head Start facilities that need repair or new supplies, another $1 million was provided to the DeSoto Memorial Hospital in Arcadia and Osceola Regional Medical Center in Kissimmee, and $200,000 would be spent to provide services to senior citizens. Across Florida, 114 food service operations and eight comfort stations were set up. FEMA opened four disaster recovery centers.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>
FEMA’s response to Charley won plaudits, and was crucial to Bush winning the state of Florida, and thus, re-election, in the 2004 United States presidential election.<ref>The hurricane that could swing the election, Politico, October 4, 2024. Retrieved April 18, 2025</ref>
Retirement
Template:See also Because of the hurricane's effects in the United States, the name Charley was retired from the rotating lists of tropical cyclone names in the spring of 2005 by the World Meteorological Organization, and will never again be used for an Atlantic basin tropical cyclone.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The name was replaced with Colin for the 2010 season.<ref>Template:Cite report</ref>
See also
- List of Florida hurricanes (2000–present)
- List of South Carolina hurricanes
- List of retired Atlantic hurricane names
- List of Category 4 Atlantic hurricanes
- Hurricane Donna (1960) – Another Category 4 hurricane that crossed Florida from southwest to northeast
- Hurricane Irma (2017) – A hurricane that made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane on the southwest side of Florida
- Hurricane Ian (2022) – A hurricane that also made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane at the same location
References
External links
- Template:NHC TCR url
- Hurricane Charley Advisory Archive
- NHC August Monthly Tropical Weather Summary—includes figures for damages and fatalities
- Lack of a standard places Charley's deaths in question
- Air Photos of Charley's Damage From FloridaDisaster.org
- Wildlife and Habitat Damage Assessment from Hurricane Charley: Recommendations for Recovery of the J. N. "Ding" Darling National Wildlife Refuge Complex
Template:Category 4 Atlantic hurricanes Template:Retired Atlantic hurricanes Template:2004 Atlantic hurricane season buttons
- Pages with broken file links
- Hurricane Charley
- 2004 Atlantic hurricane season
- 2004 in Cuba
- 2004 in Florida
- 2004 in Jamaica
- 2004 in North Carolina
- 2004 in South Carolina
- 2004 in the Cayman Islands
- August 2004 in North America
- Category 4 Atlantic hurricanes
- Charlotte County, Florida
- Hurricanes in Cuba
- Hurricanes in Florida
- Hurricanes in Jamaica
- Hurricanes in North Carolina
- Hurricanes in South Carolina
- Hurricanes in the Cayman Islands
- Retired Atlantic hurricanes
- Tropical cyclones in 2004