Hurricane Charley — now a major category-4 storm — makes landfall… oh… within a few blocks of my parents house. I hope they evacuated a long time ago. With 145 mile an hour winds and an 18 foot storm surge, I don’t hold out a lot of hope for the house.
[Update: The eye of storm came ashore on North Captiva Island just before 4 p.m. with 145 mph (233 kph) winds and a storm surge in excess of 10 feet (3 meters). It then crossed Charlotte Harbor before pushing into Port Charlotte and Charlotte County, and then continuing inland (Florida assesses Charley’s toll).]
[Update: I found my parents. They’re alive, and well, and living in a motel in Fort Meyers. Still no word about the house.]
[Update: The house is undamaged. There are some trees down, there is no water or power, but otherwise things look as good as can be expected.]