The winds had picked up during daylight, but after the sun went down, the waters pushed into the community.
Hurricane Helene passed more than 100 miles away, on a northward path that had it run into Florida’s Big Bend as a Category 4 hurricane. As of Friday evening, more than 40 people were dead in Florida and other states hit by the storm.
There were no deaths reported locally, but plenty of damage in its wake.
From Punta Gorda, through Charlotte Harbor, El Jobean, Englewood and up into Venice, Nokomis and Casey Key, the predicted 4-7 feet of storm surge crested off the Gulf of Mexico and swelled the Peace and Myakka rivers, their tributaries and canals in the region.
Those living in evacuation zones who hadn’t left on their own accord Thursday night were forced from their homes early Friday.
More than 100 people were rescued from Punta Gorda and Englewood, officials stated — with dozens more helped in other areas of the counties.
DAMAGE ASSESSMENT
Charlotte County Emergency Management Director Patrick Fuller said there was a lot left to do following Hurricane Helene, which gave what was expected to be a glancing blow to Southwest Florida on its way to landfall in the Big Bend as another Category 4 storm.