Severe storms cut power, but wind damage is minor

The lights go dark for more than 10,000 people. A tornado touchdown is unconfirmed.

By JAMAL THALJI, Times Staff Writer
Published January 21, 2008

Saturday night is always a busy night for Towne House Pizza and Restaurant on State Road 52.

Then the power went out - and stayed out.

It was 5:30 p.m.

Uh-oh.

"All of a sudden that thing went out right at the dinner hour," said Gary Trapeo, owner of the Hudson pizzeria, "and I had a store full of people."

The severe storms that pounded Tampa Bay on Saturday night left west Pasco County a bit bruised - and left more than 10,000 residents without power for hours, according to county officials.

The areas affected were between U.S. 19 and Little Road. A handful were still without power on Sunday.

A report of a tornado touchdown in New Port Richey on Saturday night was still unconfirmed Sunday, according to Pasco County Emergency Management. No major structural damage or injuries were reported, officials said.

What was confirmed were reports of minor wind damage. New Port Richey police report a carport achieved liftoff near U.S. 19 and Marine Parkway. That's also where downed power lines led to a brief shutdown of U.S. 19, according to police, to let repair crews do their job. In the Port Richey area, Regency Park Boulevard was littered with tree remnants.

"It was just storm damage, debris, tree limbs," said Lisa Hale, a coordinator with Pasco Emergency Management. "It looked like a strong storm came through but it looked like we were lucky this time."

National Weather Service meteorologist Ryan Sharp said the preliminary theory is that instead of damage from rotational winds - which a tornado would generate - Pasco was hit by "straightline" winds.

"If they're strong enough they can still cause damage," Sharp said. The meteorologist reported that wind speeds may have hit between 60 and 75 mph from 5:30 to 6 p.m. as the storms passed through west Pasco.

Skies were clear and cold over Pasco on Sunday, and Progress Energy reported that power was set to be restored to the last 60 homes that afternoon.

But even driving rain and hard winds can't compete with hunger. Fortunately for Towne House's customers, the ovens are powered by propane.

So for 21/2 hours, patrons were still able to dine by emergency light or get takeout, but on a cash basis only - no power for the credit card machine.

And Trapeo, 50, reported that cooking in the dark is, in fact, as challenging as it sounds.

"You've got to use flashlights to look inside the pizza ovens," he said, "to make sure nothing is burning."

Jamal Thalji can be reached at thalji@sptimes.com or 727 869-6236.

[Last modified January 20, 2008, 21:57:38]