Panel: Resiliency post-Ian will take commitment, consistency

While Hurricane Ian is fresh on most people's minds, many in Charlotte County can still recall another massively destructive storm: Hurricane Charley in 2004.

In talking about Ian recovery, Mitchell Austin, principal planner of urban design for the city of Punta Gorda, in Charlotte County, says Charley was the push the community needed to adapt. The city came up with a master plan and climate adaptation plan and started making enhancements like the flood basin improvements in the downtown area, which keeps water from the harbor from flooding the storm water system when it’s high tide.