MIAMI, Aug. 18 (UPI) -- The cleanup in west-central Florida is getting down to routine in the aftermath of Hurricane Charley, but the frustration level is still high.
Residents of Sanibel and Captiva Islands, the first areas hit by the Category 4 hurricane Friday, are finally getting their first look at their homes.
Most were evacuated from the barrier islands the night before Charley hit. The storm cut a new channel through North Captiva Island and left heavy damage.
The death toll from Charley has risen to 20. The latest victim was an 86-year-old man who evacuated his home but died from a fall at a Polk County motel, the Orlando Sentinel reported Wednesday.
Carla Gaskin, a state emergency management spokeswoman, said as of 6 a.m. Wednesday, there were still 438,799 customers without electric power.
Officials feared power would not be fully restored until late next week.
Charley roared over Sanibel and Captiva Friday afternoon and then slammed into Charlotte Harbor. Most of the damage was in Charlotte County and Punta Gorda, but Charley also caused death and destruction elsewhere as it swept across the state.
