![]() ![]() Solid concrete blocks form the lower half of the building, with concrete walls poured on top. Oversized steel support beams seated eight-feet deep in concrete footings frame the building. ![]() Construction workers removed wreckage and poured the foundation. The project team, commissioners, and county residents watched excitedly as the new station rose from the rubble. 1 was so important to the County, the commissioners decided to rebuild it … to 170 mph standards,” noted Andrew Baker, the County’s facilities director. With the new dedication to implement above-code construction, the Board added $449,500 for hardening measures. Encouraged by its team of designers, facility and project managers, and consultants, the Board voted to exceed the 130 mph codes required in Charlotte County when rebuilding all critical facilities.īefore Charley struck, the County budgeted $1.5 million to construct a new facility for Firehouse No. The Board of County Commissioners agreed with the Chief’s resolve to rebuild stronger. Reflecting on the $17.8 million in damages to the County’s public facilities and lost equipment, Chief Didio vowed, “We won’t let this much devastation happen to us again.” The building itself suffered more than a 75-percent loss. The veteran crew emerged from the battered building, surveyed the damage, readied their equipment for response, and set off to perform their duties to ensure the safety of residents. There was also a power failure.Īfter about 15 minutes, the worst of the storm passed and the winds died down. Dumpsters were airborne and sheared the air conditioning compressors and generators from their pedestals. Winds in excess of 140 miles per hour (mph), with gusts up to 180 mph, tore bay doors from their rails and ripped the roof from its rafters. ![]() 1, the crew of 14 crowded together in four shower stalls with mattresses over their heads, as fierce winds and flying debris assaulted the building. Hurricane Charley made landfall shortly after 4:15 p.m. With equipment and personnel in place, crews stationed around the county awaited the storm. The 40-year-old structure seemed strong, having weathered many previous storms. The station serves a highly populated and economically vital 2.5-square mile area of the county, and its crew responds to the majority of medical emergencies in the area. One such post, located north of the river on US 41, was Firehouse No.1. Reacting to Charley’s new path and increased severity, Charlotte County Fire Chief, Dennis Didio, a 20-year resident and veteran of the department, assigned response personnel to key posts to respond to the new storm information. This unanticipated change left residents and emergency response personnel with an approximately one-hour warning to prepare for wind speeds that Florida had not experienced since Hurricane Andrew over a decade earlier. PORT CHARLOTTE, FL - On August 13, 2004, Hurricane Charley intensified, veered from its predicted course, and smashed into Charlotte County at the mouth of the Peace River. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |