Punta Gorda

FEMA held a press conference in Punta Gorda to discuss disaster relief assistance for those impacted by Hurricanes Helene and Milton. Officials emphasized the importance of registering for aid, addressed concerns about the Disaster Relief Fund, and announced an extended grace period for residents with lapsed National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) policies.

Punta Gorda is grappling with the aftermath of two major hurricanes in just two weeks—first Hurricane Helene, and now Hurricane Milton. As floodwaters receded into Charlotte Harbor, WGCU’s Mike Braun spoke with residents returning to assess their homes and businesses.

Hurricane Milton's surge caused significant flooding in parts of Punta Gorda. Helene did the same thing less than three weeks ago.

The Visual Arts Center in Punta Gorda has been hosting art exhibitions and conducting classes for children and adults for 63 years. Over that span, it has truly become a vibrant community gathering space.

Whether you walk, bike or drive around the town of Punta Gorda, Florida, you’ll notice large murals at every turn. They are the product of the Punta Gorda Historic Mural Society, a non-profit started 30 years ago, and have contributed mightily to the town's nickname of ”Mural Town."

Major upgrades along two key corridors in Punta Gorda will be getting underway this fall.The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) District One will start work on a project affecting both S.R. 35 (U.S. 17) and Tamiami Trail (U.S. 41) aimed at enhancing road safety and traffic flow.

Pineapples were such an important money crop in this part of the country in the 1880s, that Fort Myers put the pineapple on its official seal when it incorporated in 1885. Picking up on that theme, the Visual Arts Center in Punta Gorda is hosting an art show opening in September that pays homage to this region’s long-forgotten heritage as a major pineapple producer.

Neil Durrant moved to Charlotte County in 2019 and it didn’t take him long to learn about Hurricane Charley.“It was one of those central moments,” he said. “There was before Charley and there’s after Charley. Charley wasn’t just an event, it is always going to be a big part of Punta Gorda’s history, Charlotte County’s history. It’s always going to be one of those standout moments.

Sunseeker Resorts is a new line of luxury resorts planned to have locations throughout the U.S. Publisher Karen Moore spoke to employees and visitors about the future of the first resort that opened in Port Charlotte this past December.