It was 19 years ago today that Hurricane Charley made a destructive visit to Florida’s west coast. Check out these pics from the archives from preparation to recovery in Naples, St. Pete, and Punta Gorda. We’ve been fortunate so far this hurricane season in Florida, but we know there is plenty of time left for Mother Nature to wreak havoc.
Tropical Storms Bear Down On Southeastern U.S.
SharePASSE-A-GRILLE, FL - AUGUST 12: Tom Pitchford loads sandbags in his truck for the trip back to Eckerd College to secure his laboratory at the school against Hurricane Charley August 12, 2004 in Passe-a-Grille, Florida. Pitchford is one of hundreds of thousands of people in the Tampa Bay area preparing for the arrival of Hurricane Charlie, which is expected to hit the area August. (Photo by Tim Boyles/Getty Images)
Tropical Storms Bear Down On Southeastern U.S.
ShareST PETE BEACH, FL - AUGUST 12: A restaurant worker stacks outdoor furniture indoors against video games at Bennigan's in preparation for the arrival of Hurricane Charley August 12, 2004 in St Pete Beach, Florida. Hundreds of thousands of people in Tampa Bay are under mandatory evacuations in preparation for the storm, which is expected to land in the area August 13. (Photo by Tim Boyles/Getty Images)
Structures Destroyed In Wake Of Hurricane Charley
SharePUNTA GORDA, FL - AUGUST 15: In this aerial photograph, rescue personnel with a red vehicle conduct a search for victims of Hurricane Charlie in a heavily damaged mobile home park August 15, 2004 in Punta Gorda, Florida. At least 13 people were killed when Hurricane Charley left a path of destruction across Florida then continued north and struck the Carolinas. (Photo by Tim Boyles/Getty Images)
Tropical Storms Bear Down On Southeastern U.S.
ShareST PETE BEACH, FL - AUGUST 12: Chris Palmer and his daughter, Lucy, face the waves which are building in the Gulf of Mexico from Hurricane Charley August 12, 2004 in St Pete Beach, Florida. The Palmers were visiting the area from Birmingham, England but are going to have to leave early due to the pending evacuation of hundreds of thousands of people from the Tampa Bay area. (Photo by Tim Boyles/Getty Images)
Hurricane Charley Approaches Southern Florida
ShareNAPLES, FL - AUGUST 13: Surfers take advantage of higher than normal surf August 13, 2004 as Hurricane Charley nears Naples, Florida. Charley has had wind's of 110 mph and is expected to cause a storm surge of seven to ten feet flooding low coastal areas. (Photo by Daniel Barry/Getty Images)
Cleanup Begins After Hurricane Charley Hit Florida
SharePUNTA GORDA, FL - AUGUST 15: Jackie McCall (L) and her friend look at her overturned motorhome August 15, 2004 in Punta Gorda, Florida. The town of Punta Gorda received the blunt of the hurricane force. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
Cleanup Effort Continues In Florida After Hurricane Charley
SharePUNTA GORDA, FL - AUGUST 20: Tiffany Timmons (R to L), Jesha Timmons and Michelle Moore hold signs for free water August 20, 2004 in Punta Gorda, Florida. The teens work for a restaurant that is closed, but offering free water and ice to the residents of the area heavly affected by Hurricane Charley. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Cleanup Begins After Hurricane Charley Hit Florida
SharePUNTA GORDA, FL - AUGUST 15: Louis Little wipes off her stove in her mobile home which was demolished by Hurricane Charley August 15, 2004 in Punta Gorda, Florida. The town of Punta Gorda received the blunt of the hurricane force. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
Cleanup Effort Continues In Florida After Hurricane Charley
SharePUNTA GORDA, FL - AUGUST 20: Bobbie Taylor Rudman grieves as she goes through belongings in her grandmother's mobile home that was destroyed by Hurricane Charley on August 20, 2004 in Punta Gorda, Florida. Hurricane Charley has caused an estimated $7.4 billion in damage and has left thousands homeless. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Kerry Tours Hurricane Damage in Florida
ShareCLEVELAND, FL - AUGUST 20: Democratic presidential candidate U.S. Senator John Kerry (D-MA) (R) talks with Goerge Nies as he tours devastation from Hurricane Charley August 20, 2004 in Cleveland, Florida. Earlier in the day Kerry met with layed off workers and spoke at a community college in North Carolina about his plan to create and keep jobs. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
Floridians Struggle After Hurricane Charley
ShareARCADIA, FL - AUGUST 21: A boy on a makeshit surboard is towed through a flooded low-lying area by a friend driving an All-Terrain Vehicle August 21, 2004 in Arcadia, Florida. The area is still flooded due to the effects of Hurricane Charley. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Hurricane Charley Makes Landfall In Central Florida
ShareBONITA SPRINGS, FL - AUGUST 12: Kite boarders Marcus Leckeney (L) and Nick Sergeio take advantage of high winds and larger than normal waves due to the approaching hurricane, Charley, Thursday, August 12, 2004 in Bonita Springs, Florida. This Gulf Coast community is bracing for Hurricane Charley as the path is nearing the west coast of Florida. (Photo by Daniel Barry/Getty Images)
President Bush Departs Washington For Another Campaign Stop
ShareWASHINGTON - AUGUST 27: U.S. President George W. Bush boards Marine One with first lady Laura Bush on the South Lawn of the White House August 27, 2004 in Washington, DC. Bush will travel to Florida to receive a briefing on damage done by Tropical Storm Bonnie and Hurricane Charley. (Photo by Brendan Smialowski/Getty Images)
Punta Gorda Residents Continue To Recover From Charley
SharePUNTA GORDA, FL - SEPTEMBER 12: A television set is all that remains after the rubble was cleared from this mobile home site September 12, 2004 in Punta Gorda, Florida. Most residents of Punta Gorda had abandoned their recovery efforts to flee from Hurricane Ivan which could be the third hurricane to hit southwest Florida in a month. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
Punta Gorda Residents Continue To Recover From Charley
SharePUNTA GORDA, FL - SEPTEMBER 12: A few salvaged possessions are all that remain after the rubble was cleared from this mobile home site September 12, 2004 in Punta Gorda, Florida. Most residents of Punta Gorda had abandoned their recovery efforts to flee from Hurricane Ivan which could be the third hurricane to hit southwest Florida in a month. (Photo by Scott Olson/Getty Images)
Florida’s Southern Gulf Coast Continues Clean Up Efforts In Wake Of Hurricane Ian
ShareFORT MYERS BEACH, FLORIDA - OCTOBER 03: A home has a mark for the water level during Hurricane Charley in 2004 in the garage on October 3, 2022 in Fort Myers Beach, Florida. Hurricane Ian brought at least 10 feet of water to the same spot. The death toll in the state from Ian rose to at least 100 today following the storm making landfall as Category 4 hurricane, causing extensive damage along the coast as rescue crews continued the search for survivors. (Photo by Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
Tropical Storms Bear Down On Southeastern U.S.
ShareST PETE BEACH, FL - AUGUST 12: Drivers flood gas stations along Gulf Boulevard in preparation for Hurricane Charley August 12, 2004 in St Pete Beach, Florida. Hundreds of thousands of people in Tampa Bay are under mandatory evacuations in preparation for the storm, which is expected to land in the area August 13. (Photo by Tim Boyles/Getty Images)
Hurricane Charley Aftermath
SharePORT CHARLOTTE, FL - AUGUST 15: Men attempt to salvage bottles of liquor from a destroyed liquor store August 15, 2004 in Port Charlotte, Florida. Hurricane Charley destroyed many businesses in the area. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Hurricane Charley Aftermath
SharePORT CHARLOTTE, FL - AUGUST 15: A building inspector peeks into a store next to a gun shop with a makeshift sign reading "Looters Will Be Shot" August 15, 2004 in Port Charlotte, Florida. Hurricane Charley ripped through the center of Florida and has caused damages estimated to be as high as $15 billion. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Cleanup Effort Continues After Hurricane Charley
SharePUNTA GORDA, FL - AUGUST 16: A tree worker (L) walks past a downed banyon tree in the front yard of a home August 16, 2004 in Punta Gorda, Florida. Thousands were left homeless and 16 people were killed when Hurricane Charley left a path of destruction across Florida then continued north and struck the Carolinas. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Cleanup Effort Continues In Florida After Hurricane Charley
SharePINE ISLAND, FL - AUGUST 19: A worker repairs power lines damaged by Hurricane Charley with an American flag behind him August 19, 2004 in Pine Island, Florida. About 388,000 Floridians remain without power following the storm. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Church Destroyed by Hurricane Charley Moves On
SharePUNTA GORDA, FL - AUGUST 22: Volunteer Buddy Shipp sits in the destroyed Peace River Church of Christ August 22, 2004 in Punta Gorda, Florida. The church's roof was blown off by Hurricane Charley but church members have vowed to rebuild. The 25-member congregation held their first service since the storm beneath a makeshift tent in the church parking lot today. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Punta Gorda Residents Clean Up After Hurricane Charley
SharePORT CHARLOTTE, FL - AUGUST 25: Ronald Key stands beside the RV his son-in-laws brought down for him to live in while his home behind him is repaired August 25, 2004 in Punta Gorda, Florida. An estimated 12,000 homes were destroyed and thousands severely damaged in Florida by hurricane Charley which struck the state on August 13. (Photo by Tim Boyles/Getty Images)
Cleanup Following Hurricane Charley Continues
SharePUNTA GORDA, FL - AUGUST 22: Workers repair power lines damaged by Hurricane Charley August 22, 2004 in Punta Gorda, Florida. About 102,000 customers in Florida still had no power Saturday because of Charley. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Cleanup Following Hurricane Charley Continues
SharePUNTA GORDA, FL - AUGUST 22: Heavy damage is seen to the Windmill Village retirement community damaged by Hurricane Charley August 22, 2004 in Punta Gorda, Florida. About 102,000 customers in Florida still had no power Saturday because of Charley. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Family Living in Tents Due to Hurricane Charley
SharePUNTA GORDA, FL - AUGUST 20: Curtis Bartlett holds his dog Peanut in his front yard where he is living in tents with eight other family members August 20, 2004 in Punta Gorda, Florida. Bartlett's trailer home was severely damaged by Hurricane Charley but other family members have moved into his front yard with him because their house was completely destroyed by the hurricane. Bartlett and his longtime girlfriend are both unemployed and live off of Bartlett's disability payments.
Cleanup Begins After Hurricane Charley Hit Florida
SharePUNTA GORDA, FL - AUGUST 15: Ron Bello stands near his car which he painted, "Thanks Charlie" at the Park Hill Estates trailer park where his home suffered damage by Hurrican Charley August 15, 2004 in Punta Gorda, Florida. The town of Punta Gorda received the blunt of the hurricane force. (Photo by Mark Wilson/Getty Images)
