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Hillsborough watches hurricane

By BILL VARIAN
Published July 8, 2005

Emergency operations officials in Hillsborough County met at 11 a.m. to talk storm preparations should Hurricane Dennis take an unexpected turn back toward the Florida peninsula. For now, though, they aren't expecting to have to kick into full defense mode.

"We've put the bullets in the pistol. We've cocked the hammer back. We've got our fingers on the trigger," said Hillsborough emergency manager Larry Gispert. "And we ain't going to pull it unless we have to."

The Executive Policy Group, a panel of officials representing the county, its three cities and law enforcement, which convenes in potential crisis situations, will meet at 3 p.m. The group is expected to declare a county-wide state of emergency that would allow emergency personnel to more expeditiously prepare and respond should the storm take a turn.

At this time, however, no emergency shelters are expected to open, nor will sandbags be distributed, though the storm could cause spot flooding in low-lying coastal areas. Residents are urged to have their hurricane kits ready just in case.

[Last modified July 8, 2005, 12:38:02]