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Tropical Storm Debby

Friday, June 29, 2012

Local Parks Closed Due to Debby

Five county parks are closed due to flooding and damage from the tropical storm.

News Report If you're thinking about spending some time at a county park this weekend, you might want to think twice. Because of Tropical Storm Debby, the Hillsborough County Parks, Recreation and Conservation Department has closed the following parks until further notice. For more information, contac tthe Parks, Recreation and Conservation Department at 813-635-3500.

Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Tampa Electric Restores Power to Customers After Debby

Thousands of customers were without power.

Power was restored on Tuesday night to all Tampa Electric customers who were affected by Tropical Storm Debby, officials said today. About 20,000 customers had lost power since Debby hit Tampa Bay on Sunday, said Cherie Jacobs, a spokeswoman for Tampa Electric. Jacobs said customers without power were patient during the storm, the severity of which caused roadblocks for crews trying to restore power. "One of the challenges our crew had with Debby was the volume of small, scattered outages," Jacobs said. "When there's scattered outages like this storm, it's a challenge for our crews because it's more time-consuming. Some areas are difficult to access because of standing water." About 350 Tampa Electric employees and contractors worked to …

Sunshine Skyway Bridge Reopens – Finally!

The four-mile span linking Pinellas and Manatee counties was closed since Sunday because of wind gusts from Tropical Storm Debby.

The Sunshine Skyway Bridge is now open to traffic. The Florida Highway Patrol reopened the iconic cable-stayed bridge at 3 a.m. Wednesday, after wind gusts decreased from up to 58 mph to 20-22 mph. The Skyway Bridge officially closed at 4 p.m. Sunday, as Tropical Storm Debby churned over the Gulf of Mexico, bringing thunder showers, tornados, high seas and strong winds.    The three-day closure was one for the record books. Previously, the longest period the bridge stayed close was for eight hours on Sept. 14, 2001. Even on mild days, motorists driving across the tall bridge can feel vehicles shimmer in the wind. The bridge, with panoramic views of Tampa Bay, averages about 52,000 vehicles each day. For current traffic and road closure …

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Debby Weakens As Storm Crosses Florida

Now a tropical depression, Debby lost steam after making landfall Tuesday, but not before the storm caused more flooding across the Tampa Bay area.

Storm surge remains the biggest threat to the Tampa Bay area after Tropical Storm Debby made landfall Tuesday. Forecasters cautioned that water levels at high tide could rise up to 3 feet above ground, according to the National Hurricane Center. Even though Tampa Bay communities won't get the drenchings they've had since Debby was over the Gulf, water levels will remain elevated for "the next day or two," the National Hurricane Center said. “With rain bands passing, these waters are probably not going to start retreating until the early hours of Wednesday,” said Anthony Reynes, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Ruskin office.  Debby was downgraded to a tropical depression Tuesday night. Flooding Forces Evacuation in Pasco…

Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Debby Makes Landfall Outside Bay Area

The Tampa region isn’t out of the woods yet, National Weather Service meteorologists say.

Just because Tropical Storm Debby made landfall in northern Florida doesn’t mean the Tampa Bay area is completely out of the woods yet. According to Anthony Reynes, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service’s Ruskin office, the storm could still bring bad weather our way tonight and into the morning on Wednesday. “Tonight we’re still going to see rain bands in association with this,” he said. “Gusty winds and downpours; it’s not going to be continuous rain, just passing rain bands.” Debby made landfall in Steinhatchee this afternoon and is expected to clear the state some time tomorrow. Until she leaves, however, Reynes said Tampa Bay area residents should be on the lookout for bad weather. “We could see some strong rain bands and …

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Salvation Army Responds to Tropical Storm Debby

The Salvation Army will focus on immediate needs of displaced families and first responders, impacted by Tropical Storm Debby.

The Salvation Army is activating teams to help and respond to victims of flooding from Tropical Storm Debby in southwest Florida. The Salvation Army will focus primarily on the immediate needs of disaster survivors and first-responders, providing food and hydration for individuals and families. Teams from Clay, Marion, Alachua and Citrus counties, as well as Jacksonville,Tallahassee and North Central Florida Outpost (Madison County) are organizing to send support. "From Naples to Panama City, Debby is definitely making its mark on Florida," said Kevin Smith, Emergency Disaster Services director for The Salvation Army of Florida. Smith said that Salvation Army canteens, or mobile kitchens, are being mobilized to provide disaster relief. For…

Sunshine Skyway Stays Closed Tuesday Night

UPDATE: The Howard Frankland, Courtney Campbell and other area bridges are open. But troopers are keeping traffic off of the Sunshine Skyway Bridge.

UPDATE: The Sunshine Skyway Bridge will stay closed overnight Tuesday, as wind gusts are clocked at 50 mph, making travel across the four-mile span unsafe. ORIGINAL POST, TUESDAY AFTERNOON: Area bridges, shut down due to flooded roads and high winds, are all open now – except for the Sunshine Skyway Bridge, spanning Manatee and Pinellas counties. The attached photos show bridge conditions today on the Howard Frankland and Courtney Campbell, including crash surf. The Skyway Bridge has stayed closed since 4 p.m. Sunday because of wind gusts that clocked up to 55 mph. Wind speeds today are measuring 47 mph, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.    Officials say the prolonged closing is unprecedented in the bridge's history. The only other …

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Pet Care During Natural Disasters

Find out how to help your furry friends during tropical storms and hurricanes

For pet owners, a natural disaster like a tropical storm or hurricane can wreak havoc on the lives of their animals, whose routines may have been disrupted because of inclement weather. The wet weather has also caused an increase in the number of stray animals that local shelters are caring for. Carol Childs, who runs the National Humane Society in Carrollwood at 4039 Gunn Highway, said she's received about 18 cats since Debby hit Tampa Bay on Sunday. "People have been finding them (animals) in puddles," she said. "Because the ground is so wet, they are crawling into motors (of cars)." Childs said people who normally don't mind seeing stray animals are worried about them because of Debby's effect on Tampa Bay. "Because of the rain, people …

Debby Stays Course for Gulf Coast

The storm is still projected to make landfall sometime tomorrow.

The National Hurricane Center has updated its project track for Tropical Storm Debby, and the news remains largely the same for the Tampa Bay area: The storm, though weakened, is still headed toward the Gulf Coast and Central Florida. As of 11 a.m., today, June 26, the entire Bay region remains under a tropical storm warning. This means "tropical storm conditions (sustained winds of 39 to 73 mph) are expected somewhere within the specified area within 36 hours," according to the weather service. Counties affected include Sarasota, Pasco, Manatee, Pinellas and Hillsborough. Although Debby’s impact on most of the Tampa region is waning today, National Weather Service meteorologist Ernie Jillson said conditions could deteriorate later today. …

Flood Waters Can Be Deadly

Flood waters may lead to electrical shocks. They also may be contaminated with bacteria. Motorists are at risk driving through them.

Flood waters pose numeours health and safety risks in storms. They include dangers to drivers, contamination and the risk of deadly shocks near electricity. Public health officials are urging the public to take the following precautions: For further information, please contact your local county health department or visit www.doh.state.fl.us or www.FloridaDisaster.org.

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