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Area 'got away lucky' by contrast

Reports of damage are limited in the county after deadly storms swept the state.

By BARBARA BEHRENDT
Published February 3, 2007

HOMOSASSA - Reggie Misciagna was finishing work at his Saloon Bar and Grill about midnight Thursday when the TV weather report piqued his interest.

He went outside to see if the line of storms depicted on the radar was wreaking havoc on his restaurant and his pool business, which is next door.

Next thing he knew, he heard that classic "like-a-train" sound and he ducked for cover as wind ripped at the front of Mr. Pool of Citrus on U.S. 19.

"It took the front right off the building," said Misciagna, who was not hurt.

On Friday, he and others were cleaning up with plans to reopen today.

That destruction, along with a mangled pool enclosure in Beverly Hills and some roof problems in Crystal River, were the only major reports of storm damage that Citrus officials received.

Debris and standing water at daylight Friday were the other signs of the strong line of storms, which tore through the area after dark Thursday and kept strengthening as they slammed into central Florida.

"I guess we got away lucky, especially judging by the pictures ... on the TV" of other locations in Central Florida, said sheriff's Lt. Robert Wesch at the Emergency Operations Center.

Wesch also watched the weather radar Thursday night and listened just after 11 p.m. as a tornado warning was issued for Citrus County.

"I was waiting for my phone to ring, but thankfully it never did," he said.

National Weather Service officials had not determined whether the same cell of storms that spawned the tornadoes in nearby counties caused the minor damage in Citrus. Wind speeds had not been determined, and the only rain measurement of 1.9 inches in Inverness was probably low compared with what west Citrus experienced, Wesch said.

Citrus sent six deputies to help in Lake County with disaster recovery, and eight more had been sent near Deland to help with security and search and recovery efforts, according to Gail Tierney, spokeswoman for the Citrus County Sheriff's Department.

Barbara Behrendt can be reached at 564-3621 or behrendt@sptimes.com.

[Last modified February 3, 2007, 13:35:13]