Spirit of Punta Gorda - Punta Gorda, FL
Posted by: 
rogueblack
N 26° 56.471 W 082° 02.977
17R E 395804 N 2980353
Remembering when Hurricane Charley hit land on Friday, August 13, 2004.
Waymark Code: WM3D0Q
Location: Florida, United States
Date Posted: 03/17/2008
Views: 32
Hurricane Charley made landfall on Friday, August 13, 2004 at 4:29 pm at full speed, 140mph, as a Category 4 Hurricane in Charlotte Harbor on the city of Punta Gorda, Florida. It caused severe damage to the area, the barrier islands, and as far inland as Arcadia and Orlando.
Hurricane Charley was first reported on a path to Tampa, so when it changed path towards the Caloosahatchee River in Lee County and then suddenly changed path into Charlotte Harbor in the final hours before landfall, thousands of residents were caught off-guard.
The storm resulted in 10 deaths and cost over $17 billion in damages.
The artist this memorial was created by Peggy McTeague. Sitting at the scenic edge of where Charlotte Harbor leads into the Peace River in Laishley Park, it presents visitors with two palm trees: one bent to show the power of the hurricane winds and one standing tall to show the strength of the people of Punta Gorda to survive that storm. The sundial beneath it is permanently fixed to 4:29pm.
Laishley Park includes a Veterans Memorial in addition to this Disaster Memorial and is located next to the Charlotte County Justice Center in Downtown Punta Gorda, Florida.
Disaster Date: 08/13/2004
Date of dedication: 08/13/2007
Memorial Sponsors: Stock Development, Core Construction, Charlotte "SUN", Clear Channel Radio
Parking Coordinates: N 26° 56.347 W 082° 02.999
Disaster Type: Natural
Relevant Website: Not listed
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