Print

Email story

Comment

Email editor

Hurricane Dennis

County remains wary of Dennis' menace

Charley's last-minute turn in 2004 prompts officials to gear up for anything the storm might have in mind.

By BRIDGET HALL GRUMET
Published July 9, 2005

[Times photo: Kathleen Flynn]

Chuck Bellerose, fleet director for Pasco County, projects his voice through a phone to talk to staff members during a briefing Friday at the Emergency Operations Center in New Port Richey. As of Friday, there were no plans to open shelters or declare evacuations. But that could change if Hurricane Dennis' forecast does, said Jim Johnston, emergency management coordinator. At the moment, flooding is the major concern. If Dennis comes close to the county, its outer rain bands could dump 3 to 5 inches of rain on the area, which is already saturated, Johnston said. The National Weather Service has issued a flood watch for the county until Sunday morning.

NEW PORT RICHEY - Pasco officials began handing out sandbags, fueling up generators and making emergency response plans Friday as Hurricane Dennis continued its steady trek toward the Florida Panhandle.

At a briefing Friday evening, officials were hopeful Pasco County would be spared the brunt of the storm. But the outer bands of the massive hurricane could still batter the coast with tropical storm-force winds and a couple of inches of rain, said Jim Johnston, the county's emergency management coordinator.

"This storm is too big, too powerful to take a chance on turning out the light switch and going home for the weekend," Johnston told officials as they made plans to monitor the storm through Sunday.

As of Friday evening, there were no shelters open and no evacuation orders for Pasco residents. The County Commission granted a state of emergency as a precaution, giving County Administrator John Gallagher and his staff the power to make any necessary responses to the storm.

A flood watch is in effect for Pasco County through Sunday morning, according to the National Weather Service. The Anclote River is expected to flood Monday morning, Johnston said, "but that's not an unusual happening."

Dennis could also bring a minor storm surge of 3 to 5 feet and the possibility of tornadoes, Johnston said.

Heaps of sand and stacks of sandbags were available at eight county locations Friday evening (see box). The city of Port Richey provided sand bags at the Police Department and sand at the water plant.

County utility workers fueled their generators to make sure the water and sewage treatment plants could still operate during a power outage.

And Red Cross workers waited in case officials decide to open any shelters.

Recalling last year's last-minute turn by Hurricane Charley, Gallagher said he wasn't ready to say Pasco was in the clear. He told his crews to keep an eye on the weather reports - as if there were any need for such a reminder.

"Is there anybody here who doesn't watch the Weather Channel?" Gallagher asked, as employees at the Emergency Operations Center chuckled. "I didn't think so."

Bridget Hall Grumet covers Pasco County government. She can be reached in west Pasco at 869-6244 or toll-free at 1-800-333-7505, ext. 6244. Her e-mail address is bhall@sptimes.com

Pasco County is providing sand and sandbags around the clock at the following locations:

Fire Station No. 10, 7912 Rhodes Road, Hudson.

Fire Station No. 16, 34336 Chancey Road, Zephyrhills.

Fire Station No. 17, 4251 Seven Springs Blvd., New Port Richey.

Fire Station No. 24, 14317 Fourth St., Dade City.

Zephyrhills Fire Department, 38410 Sixth Ave., Zephyrhills.

West Pasco Government Center, 7530 Little Road, New Port Richey.

Veterans Memorial Park, 14333 Hicks Road, Hudson.

Land O'Lakes Recreation Complex, 3032 Collier Parkway, Land O'Lakes.

The city of Port Richey will provide sandbags only at the Police Department, 7826 Grand Blvd.; and sand only at the city water plant, 6337 Ridge Road.

Stay tuned to local media for the latest information on the storm. As of Friday evening, no shelters were open and no evacuations had been ordered, but that could change if the forecast does.

Still have questions? The county's Resident Information Center can be reached at (727) 847-8959.

[Last modified July 9, 2005, 01:09:02]