New jail rises where old fell

The facility is an exact copy of one that was destroyed by a tornado this month.

By MOLLY MOORHEAD, Times Staff Writer
Published December 28, 2007

Inmates install plywood Thursday at the new temporary building at the Land O'Lakes jail. The 8,000-square-foot building will house more than 100 female inmates when it opens in a few weeks. The facility replaces one that was torn apart in a tornado.
	[Stephen J. Coddington | Times]

ADVERTISEMENT [Stephen J. Coddington | Times] Inmates nail down flooring Thursday in the new temporary facility at the Land O'Lakes jail. The facility for female inmates is to be finished by Jan. 31.

LAND O'LAKES - The ceiling and four walls are up on a new temporary housing structure at the county jail. It's an exact copy of the building blown apart by a tornado shortly before dawn two weeks ago.

On Thursday afternoon, construction workers and jail inmates labored installing doors and nailing down flooring.

From the inside, the 8,000-square-foot building resembles a gymnasium: high ceiling beams, a vast open floor and echoing acoustics. But soon it will be crowded with bunk beds, dining tables, toilets, showers and more than 100 female inmates.

The target date for moving the women in is Jan. 31, less than seven weeks after the tornado brought destruction.

As a line of squalls moved across Pasco from the Gulf of Mexico early Dec. 16, sheriff's officials decided to evacuate two tentlike structures built to ease jail overcrowding. About 85 women and 100 men walked single file through tunnels into the jail's main building.

As the door locked behind the last person, the power went out and those inside heard a tornado rip through the two tents, reducing one to rubble.

No one was injured.

The inmates have since been housed in nearby county jails.

The tornado also wiped out a hydroponic farm that grew lettuce to feed the inmates and knocked three air-conditioning units off the roof.

Dawn Dascoli, a buyer for the Pasco County purchasing department, said the initial cost for the shell of the replacement building, which is leased from an Atlanta vendor, was about $110,000. That doesn't include electrical work, plumbing or security enhancements.

The day after the storm, County Administrator John Gallagher said the insurance policy on the building had a $50,000 deductible, but officials weren't available Thursday to talk about the insurance side.

So the total cost of the storm damage is still unknown.

Molly Moorhead can be reached at moorhead@sptimes.com or 727 869-6245.

FAST FACTS:

Dec. 16 A tornado ripped through two tent like structures just moments after inmates were evacuated.

Jan. 31 Target date for female inmates to move into the new building.

$110,000 Structure's initial cost.

[Last modified December 27, 2007, 21:51:38]