Into the eye of the storm

Monday, August 16, 2004

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The video shows the screen porch being ripped off its foundation by Hurricane Charley.
Steve and Janet Swiatek live in a Pinellas County evacuation zone.

As Hurricane Charley raged closer to the Bay area, the couple packed up and left, thinking they were headed to safety.

"We couldn't go east 'cause it's gonna take that track," Steve said. "We said let's go to Punta Gorda where my father lives alone."

Swiatek started filming with his home video camera once he got to his father's house. As time passed Friday afternoon, rain moved in, then some wind ... then anxiety.

As the weather worsens, Swiatek can be heard on the video saying, 'Oh my god ... I think I hear, tiles are ripping off the roof.' "

Soon after, the video shows the screen enclosure on the porch blown away in a flash.

"It got progressively worse and worse," Swiatek said.

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Swiatek and his wife, Janet, couldn't believe the power of the storm.

His wife said she thought the house was going to be destroyed.

After more than 30 minutes of hurricane-force winds, the eye offers only a few short minutes for the family to regroup. The winds start to turn. It's only been two or three minutes, and the wind is going the other way.

After more than an hour of terror worrying about what might happen next, Charley moves north and finally there is a sigh of relief.

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Downed trees and debris left in Charley's wake.
Swiatek continued to record as he walked outside after the storm. The tape shows scattered trees and debris as far as the eye can see.

"Nothing compares to the fear that goes through you,'' Janet Swiatek said. "I still have it."

Swiatek said he's going to share the tape with as many people as possible so they can see nature's power.

Click on the link to the bottom right to watch the video.