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SHERRI DAYWaiting for power to return, residents turn to neighbors, coffee shops and health club showers to get through the day.
TAMPA - Pat Lewis brewed her first pot of coffee early Tuesday morning - on her neighbor's front porch.
The neighbors have electricity. Lewis and her husband, who live across the street, do not.
By mid morning, Lewis was back on the porch, arms folded, sweat dripping down her brow. She needed more caffeine.
"There's nothing like calling your neighbor and perking your coffee on their porch," said Lewis, a retired teacher who lives at the corner of Alline Avenue and Richards Court in Bayshore Beautiful. "They offered to let me go in the kitchen, but I said no. This way I can go back and forth."
With flood water receding and bright, sunny skies in Tampa Tuesday, residents in nearly every corner of the city, from Sunbay South to New Tampa, tried to cope with the loss of electricity. By 6 p.m., more than 41,000 Hillsborough residents were still without power, TECO officials said. For some, the wait could be as long as five days.
"The president of Tampa Electric doesn't have power," said TECO spokesman Ross Bannister. "It lets people know that it doesn't matter who you are and where you live."
Throughout the day, residents hatched creative plans to overcome extended power outages. Several people called the Interbay YMCA to inquire about hot showers. Some members came to exercise with their children in tow, hoping to take advantage of the club's free child care services because Hillsborough County schools closed Tuesday.
At Starbucks on Bay to Bay Boulevard, a woman bound for work turned the coffee shop's restroom into an impromptu beauty shop.
"I heard this noise and I was like, "Is that a hair dryer?' " said manager Jason Laney. "I thought it was a genius idea, actually."
The lights went out for the Koch brothers Monday at 7 p.m. When they got hungry Tuesday morning, they made toaster waffles on their gas range. When bored, they watched a movie on their portable DVD player. But they could not conquer their home DVD player, which held captive a rented copy of the first episodes of The Sopranos.
"It's stuck in the DVD player so we can't take it back," Jack Koch, 22, said.
The brothers, who live on Asbury Place between MacDill Avenue and Bayshore Boulevard, spent most of the day cleaning debris from their back yard.
No electricity meant no air conditioning.
"Our cleaning lady keeps running around talking about how caliente it is," Hans Koch, 25, said. "It's getting hot inside. The air is getting kind of rank."
For Deborah Hill, a triple iced latte brought temporary relief.
She sat ensconced in an air-conditioned coffee shop on Howard Avenue, griping that it was taking so long to restore her electricity.
"I'm getting really cranky," she said.
Amid the frustration Tuesday, some offered tips for coping, beyond showering at the gym, downing cold drinks and mooching electricity from neighbors.
Among the ideas?
To keep cool, try battery-operated fans, cold showers and sponge baths, a dip in the pool before bedtime or scented baby wipes. Drink at least a half a gallon of water a day. Wear light-weight clothes and take it easy if you can.
"The greater the exertion, the more the body heats itself, the more likelihood that some could get heat exhaustion," said Gregg Rottler, environmental supervisor at the Hillsborough County Health Department.
Rottler suggested opening screened windows during the day but keeping mosquito repellent handy.
To keep food safe, keep perishables chilled in coolers.
"The best thing to do is err on the side of caution," Rottler said. "If in doubt, throw it out."
Cook food on an outdoor grill. Remember that gas ranges will work, but their electric ignitions won't. Light a match near the burner before you turn on the gas.
Generators provide families with a reprieve from heat and spoiled food, but shouldn't be used indoors, where they can cause carbon monoxide poisoning.
Use a generator only to run essential appliances. Never try to power an entire house with a generator.
"The electricity that it produces can actually backfeed down the line where the workers are working," said Ross Bannister, a TECO spokesman.
If the kids are missing their electronics, try board games.
Listen to battery-powered radio or watch battery-powered television.
Or, read them a book.
Preferably, a tale about people on cold-weather adventures.
Times staff writer Shannon Colavecchio-Van Sickler contributed to this report. Sherri Day can be reached at 813 226-3405 or sday@sptimes.com