Strong Winds Damage 65 Pasco County Homes

DADE CITY, FL — Sixty-five Pasco County homes suffered wind damage courtesy of storms that moved into the area early Friday morning.

According to Pasco County spokesman Doug Tobin, the storms that came through around 12:30 a.m. tore through with flat-line winds of 40 to 60 mph. Dozens of mobile homes in the Country Aire Estates, off McDonald Road near U.S. 301, suffered damage. Four roofs were torn off, Tobin said. Trees in the neighborhood were also knocked down, a screen room was torn off and a golf cart tipped over.

Emergency management officials initially estimated damage to 13 homes, but a door-to-door walk through the neighborhood dramatically increased the estimate to 65 homes. Of that number, 26 homes suffered "less than major damage," 38 homes had minor damage and one home was completely destroyed, Tobin said.

While officials say damage in the neighborhood was significant, no injuries were reported. Residents whose homes were damage stayed with friends or relatives overnight, Tobin said.

The National Weather Service is forecasting a 40 percent chance of showers during the day Friday with thunderstorm chances rising into the evening hours. Storms are expected throughout the weekend. Thunderstorms that develop may produce lightning, hail, locally heavy rain and more strong, gusty winds, forecasters say. Heavier storms are more likely in the interior parts of the Tampa Bay area.

Photos courtesy of Pasco County

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