By Times Staff Writer
Published September 16, 2004
Hernando County officials had warned that if the passage of Hurricane Ivan over the Gulf Wednesday coincided with high tides, it could mean coastal flooding.
Right on schedule, around high tide at 2:53 p.m. Wednesday, the road leading to Pine Island was flooded at several locations. Water also breached the sea wall in the park, according county employees.
Hernando County Emergency management director Tom Leto said more flooding was expected at Pine Island and Aripeka in today's wee hours, when the tides peaked around 2 a.m. Also of grave concern were roads and properties along the Withlacoochee River, which continues to rise.
"Some roads there are pretty much flooded," Leto said. "So there's access problems. It's going to be problematic for another week at least."
