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Letter to the editor

Tampa residents are 'lazy and lucky'

An expert preaches hurricane readiness at an association meeting.

By AMBER MOBLEY, Times Staff Writer
Published November 9, 2007

Carrollwood 

Tampa has "hurricane amnesia," emergency management director Lary Gispert told homeowners in Original Carrollwood on Monday. "And we're lazy and lucky.'

Gispert, who works for Hillsborough County, shared his no-nonsense view of hurricanes, tropical storms and tornadoes at a meeting of the Carrollwood Civic Association.

While a hurricane hasn't hit Tampa since 1921, Gispert reminded the group of about 40 residents, "This ain't all paradise."

"Regardless of how many storms are predicted for the year, it only takes one to ruin your whole day," Gispert said.

Taking the doomsday approach, Gispert told the group one of his cardinal rules: "You run from the water. You hide from the wind."

Still, Keen O'Sullivan, an Original Carrollwood resident since 1969, asked, "Is it really necessary to board up your house with plywood in Carrollwood" to ready for a storm?

Original Carrollwood is more protected than communities right on the coast, but Gispert reminded the group, "You are not perfectly safe in Carrollwood."

Think windows, he said.

"Your house is in perfect shape until something gets through that window." When wind gets in, "it could pop your roof off."

A hurricane, Gispert said, is something for which everyone can prepare. "Every June 1, you have a chance to excel."

[Last modified November 8, 2007, 07:25:39]