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STEVE THOMPSONA rubber sealant gives way, forcing out about 200 as the nine-story Sea Castle floods.
NEW PORT RICHEY - In a chaotic scene Monday morning, about 200 residents of Sea Castle condominiums had to find shelter elsewhere after rain flooded the high-rise's upper floors.
"Prepare to leave the building," said a sign by the elevator. "The roof is almost off."
The rubber covering that was supposed to seal the roof had been shredded by the wind. It flapped uselessly with each gust as rain poured in underneath it.
While firefighters went to each of the building's nine floors telling people to go, residents dragged suitcases down through the lobby out into the squall.
Those who looked for hotels found them full. Some went to stay with friends and family. Others went to shelters.
George Dulin, 80, had been trying all night to keep up with the water seeping into his top-floor condo.
"Sheet rock from the ceiling was coming down," he said, "and water was running down all the walls."
He set up pots and pans to catch the drizzle and tried bailing water into the shower drain as it rose 2 inches over his carpet.
"But all of the sudden," he said, "it opened up into all four rooms."
Dulin and his wife, who was in a wheelchair, were among about a dozen residents who went to nearby United Methodist Church of Holiday.
Jim Clarke also took refuge there.
"It's the last thing in the world we expected," said Clarke, 87, who has lived in Sea Castle for 28 years.
He and his wife were preparing breakfast in their dry seventh-floor condo when a firefighter knocked. While others took time to pack suitcases, the Clarkes took only one small bag with their pills, a towel and a couple of shirts.
"We didn't know we had time," Clarke said. "We thought when the fireman said get out of here, he meant right now."
Clarke hopes to get back to pick up more things. But with the power cut because of the electrical hazard, he will be taking the stairs if he can get in at all.
It will be weeks, maybe months, before residents can get back in permanently, said Sea Castle maintenance supervisor Mark Shindledecker.
"That will be a very big question," he said. "Right now, we really don't know."