(I expect some radio stations are off air now in this area)

Friday August 13, 2004 (report in last few minutes)
The Associated Press

- Hurricane Charley strengthened to a dangerous Category 4 storm and
careened into Florida's west coast near Port Charlotte with 145 mph wind at
its core. Fearing treacherous storm surges, officials had urged nearly 2
million people to evacuate. Gov. Jeb Bush estimated that damage could exceed
$15 billion.

- The hurricane roared across Cuba early Friday, killing three people,
ripping apart roofs, downing power lines and yanking up huge palm trees. At
least 41 buildings in Old Havana's dilapidated neighborhoods collapsed,
civil defense authorities said.

- Major airports serving St. Petersburg, Tampa and Sarasota were closed.

- Florida's major theme parks were shut down by the afternoon. Busch Gardens
Tampa Bay, the major park closest to the hurricane's predicted path, didn't
open Friday.

- After crossing Florida, Charley was expected to head into open water off
Georgia, then strike land again in the Carolinas on Saturday. Campers were
asked Friday to leave Georgia's Cumberland Island, and South Carolina Gov.
Mark Sanford called for a voluntary evacuation of low-lying coastal areas.

- Tornadoes spun off from the remnants of Tropical Storm Bonnie touched down
in eastern North Carolina, killing three people and injuring more than two
dozen others. Buildings also were damaged, and power outages were reported.