Land O' Lakes Area Roundup: Power Slow To Return, Restaurants Open, Traffic Lights Out

LAND O' LAKES, FL — Irma has passed through, and it's time for the Tampa region to put the pieces back together. Grocery stores and gas stations are reopening, utility workers are getting the power back online, and Patch has reporters on the ground telling us what's going on.

PASCO COUNTY

TECO: TECO workers were busy Tuesday morning, using generators to power traffic lights in the Tampa area. Meanwhile, in Pasco County, hotel rooms were scarce as was gas. Power company trucks were not visible on the roads as they were in Tampa. News about restoration is slow to come.

BRADENTON

The Food Bank of Manatee is operated by Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee. The food bank has been open since 1985 and has provided over 25 million pounds of food, along with supportive services in the community.

Residents can support the food bank's efforts by making a donation here, or dropping off non-perishable shelf stable items at the following locations:

• All Manatee Goodwill locations
• Manatee Community Foundation: 2820 Manatee Ave W, Bradenton, FL 34205
• LWRBA: 8430 Enterprise Cir #140, Lakewood Ranch, FL 34202
• Manatee Chamber of Commerce: 222 10th St W, Bradenton, FL 34205 and 4215 Concept Ct., Lakewood Ranch, FL 34211
• Synovus Banks: at 2520 Manatee Avenue West Bradenton, FL 34205 and 6705 Sr 70 East, Bradenton, FL 34203
• Morgan Stanley: 1401 Manatee Ave West Ste 1110 Bradenton, FL 34205
• Orange Theory Fitness: 5275 University Pkwy #116, Bradenton, FL 34201
• Outback Steakhouse: 4402 West Cortez Rd, Bradenton, FL

LUTZ

[2:43 PM] Some residential roads in Lutz remained off limits Tuesday due to flooding. Residents in this neighborhood as remained without power or word on when it might be restored.

LAND O' LAKES

[2:50] Some traffic lights remained down on busy U.S. 41 in Land 'O Lakes Tuesday while a railroad crossing signal flashed out of control with no train in sight. Power company trucks were not evident in the community, but Frontier cable crews were heading north on 41.

[2:53] Gas was also not available at many stations along the busy stretch, but was found in nearby Wesley Chapel. The town's McDonald's had yet to reopen, but Chick-fil-A and other eateries near the Tampa Premium Outlets were serving steady flows of customers.

LAKELAND

From Lakeland Electric Facebook:

[2:59] As of 2 p.m., we are down to 28,000 outages. That’s 17,000 customers turned back on in 6 hours! Go Team! 30 Crew Workers from Grand River Dam Authority just left for Polk City! Thanks GRDA!

PORT RICHEY

From Mama Mia Pizzeria:

[3:55] We are following Farrell Roofing and the Colombian and offering a "pay what you can" Spaghetti dinner today from 4-8pm. Come in and sit down in the ac, enjoy a spaghetti dinner, and pay what you can, IF you can. We understand our community needs us, and we challenge our fellow small business owners to follow suit and join us to support and help our community. Thank you and God Bless! Our phones are down, please come in to order. Regency and Ridge, next to Publix.

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