I'm in Punta Gorda & would like to share what I learned from Charley's 145 mph winds.

(1) Protect your doors & windows. If wind gets in the house your roof will be damaged (at least) & rain will ruin your belongings. It's not necessarily the force of the wind itself - it's the flying debris that you need to think about.

(2) Brace your garage door. It's the weakest point & if it caves in wind will get in. (See #1)

(3) Gas up your car, not just for evacuation, but because finding gas after the storm will be difficult. If the power is out it's hard to pump gas. You'll need to drive for supplies.

(4) Cell phones don't work when towers have been blown over. Communication could be next to impossible & you'll need gas to drive in order to check on people & to try to arrange for assistance.

(5) If you don't want to go to a shelter before the storm, you may want to afterwards. We had no water or phone service for a week & no power for 10 days.

Please, if you are in a mobile home, do not stay. Our frame house, well-built in 1990, survived (I believe) because we have excellent storm shutters on every opening & a double-braced garage door.

I hope this info will help somebody.