Punta Gorda

As Hurricane Ian bears down on Florida, Punta Gorda residents and workers hope this won't be a repeat of 2004's Hurricane Charley.

“It’s days and days and days of the unknown. “It was scary,” Stewart said. “Half the town got wiped out,” Kevin Doyle said. “The wind was blowing, and you could see them bowing a little bit. Now it’s just a matter of watching and waiting to see what Ian does next. “I’m anxious,” she said. The good news: Punta Gorda is considered to be in much better shape than it was in 2004. “I would say I’m concerned,” Max Doyle said. But I wouldn’t say I’m anxious or scared.” After Charley, both he and his son Max Doyle rebuilt their bar with storm windows and a new roof made to Miami-Dade hurricane standards. Doyle remembers walking around downtown Punta Gorda afterward and seeing the destruction. “No landmarks, no street signs, no traffic lights.