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Hurricane Charley
Strikes Cuba, Heads for US
Jim Teeple. Miami, 12 Aug
2004. VOA
News.
Hurricane Charley struck Cuba late Thursday
and forecasters say the storm will strike
the west coast of the U.S. State of Florida
on Friday. Charley is forecast to strengthen
as it moves closer to the United States
and evacuation orders have been issued for
those living in low-lying areas along Florida's
southwest coast.
Hurricane Charley could be the first major
hurricane to strike the west coast of Florida
in more than 30 years and forecasters are
warning of heavy flooding and storm surges
of higher three meters.
A major concern is Tampa Bay, where the
storm is expected to strike on Friday. Evacuation
orders have been issued for hundreds of
thousands of people living in low lying
areas of the cities of Tampa, St. Petersburg
and Sarasota.
Further south in Key West, Mayor Jimmy
Weekly said many residents remember Hurricane
George, the last hurricane to strike the
keys, and are taking no chances. "You
know five years ago, it is still fresh in
people's memories of what we went through
in Hurricane George. So, they are taking
it a lot more seriously. People started
preparing a lot earlier than they did five
years ago, so hopefully they understand
although we do not know what is going to
happen, they do need to get prepared now
and not wait until the last minute,"
he said.
Charley is the second major storm to strike
Florida in 24 hours. Tropical storm Bonnie
brought heavy rains and surf to Florida's
panhandle before moving inland late Thursday.
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
forecasters say 2004 will be an above average
year for Hurricanes and tropical storm activity,
predicting a total of 12 to 15 tropical
storms, including six to nine hurricanes,
with two to four becoming
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