Hurricane Charley Turns 10

August 13 marks the 10th anniversary of the day Tampa Bay dodged a bullet named Hurricane Charley.

On Aug. 12, 2004, all indications were the storm would continue on its projected path with Tampa Bay in its sights for landfall. About 800,000 people from Pasco, Pinellas and Hillsborough counties heeded warnings and tried to get out. But, then the reprieve came. In the early afternoon of Aug. 13, it was announced Charley decided to shift a bit to the south with Charlotte Harbor now its intended target.

With winds in excess of 145 mph, the storm wreaked havoc on Charlotte and Lee counties, leaving most Tampa Bay communities wind-blown and wet, but relatively unscathed in comparison.

The storm cost Charlotte County about $3.2 billion and the Florida an estimated $15 billion, according to CBS Miami. It also was responsible for the loss of 10 lives, the Tampa Bay Times points out.

In the counties hardest hit, officials say Charley and the storms that followed him – Frances, Ivan and Jeanne – taught some valuable lessons. Charlotte officials, for example, say they’ve invested in tougher, stronger, more-wind resistant buildings. They also say they’ve learned to take storms – not predictions – seriously.

“Every season starts out the same. We start with the same percentage chance that we have every year.” Charlotte County’s emergency management director Wayne Sallade told CBS. “We never let down our guard – or allow people to, if we can help it.”

Forecasters are predicting a lighter 2014 Hurricane Season than initially thought. At this time, the National Hurricane Center says there’s an all-clear in the Atlantic. While all is quiet at the moment, the Weather Channel points out, every storm is unique and there are still lessons to be learned. Hurricane Charley taught quite a few.

What lessons did you learn from Hurricane Charley? Share your thoughts by commenting below!