Aside from a few fallen trees and one blown-off roof, Tropical Storm Alberto leaves little damage across the county. Only a few homeowners report flooding.
By APRIL YEE
Published June 15, 2006
Wendy Peters planned to have the last of her sand pines removed Saturday, the end of a half-year's work clearing her yard in Spring Hill.
Tropical Storm Alberto blew it down for her - right into her manufactured home.
"That sucker came right through," Peters said.
But apart from half a dozen trees that the county's fire rescue reported falling into wires or homes, the storm's damage in Hernando County was minimal. One man's roof blew off, said Tom Leto, director of the county's emergency management office, but few homeowners reported flooding.
"People are saying, well, another 6, 8 inches, that would have got us," Leto said. "This is a good test."
Wednesday, Leto sent out three teams to appraise property damage. The American Red Cross is assessing health needs.
Today, a state official and two Federal Emergency Management Agency coordinators will tour the county, visiting homeowners in need of financial aid.
Emory Pierce, director of Brooksville Public Works, reported little debris left behind by the winds, and he credited the city's tree-trimming program.
West of U.S. 19, about a half-dozen trees fell on electrical wires or homes, said Michael Nickerson, chief of Hernando County Fire Rescue.
At Peters' home off Weeping Willow Street, silver and blue tarps cover the roof, where branches had poked three neat holes.
"I was just getting ready to start the siding," she said. "Thank God I didn't do it."
