Pasco County Braces For Heavy Rainfall

PASCO COUNTY, FL — As a low pressure system near the Yucatan Peninsula menaces the Tampa Bay area with the potential of tropical weather and flooding early next week, Pasco County is gearing up to help its residents prepare.

As of Friday afternoon, the county said it has prepared its emergency operations center just in case. While the facility is under renovation, it has been prepped and made ready for activation if the need does arise.

Renovation work on the Government Drive building in New Port Richey won’t be completed until sometime later this summer, but the looming forecast of severe weather prompted the county to kick action into high gear, officials said.

"The decision was made Wednesday to go ahead and finish as much as we can," Pasco County Emergency Services Director Kevin Guthrie said in a statement. "It was remarkable to see Facilities and Information Technology staff furnish, wire the EOC and make it operational so quickly."

While still days away from being a direct threat to the Tampa Bay area, the area of low pressure near Mexico has been given a 60 percent chance of forming into a tropical cyclone over the next five days. The system is expected to move over the Tampa Bay area next week, bringing heavy rainfall with it.

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• Tampa Bay 'Ripe for Disaster,' Hurricane Experts Say

“The models show rainfall quite widespread, but I would rather be over prepared than underprepared,” Guthrie said.

Residents are being asked to brace for the potential of six to 12 inches of rain over a short period of time next week, the county said. With that in mind, residents should keep a close watch on the weather and those who have experienced flooding in the past should get ready.

To help out, Pasco County has announced it will open up sand bag operations starting Saturday, June 4. The following locations will be open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily until further notice:

• West Pasco Government Center, 7356 State St., New Port Richey
• J.W. Mitchell Park, 4025 Little Road, New Port Richey
• Veterans Memorial Park, 14333 Hicks Road, Hudson
• C-Barn, 30906 Warder Road, San Antonio
• Land O’ Lakes Recreation Center, 3032 Collier Parkway, Land O’ Lakes
• Fire Station No. 2, 6907 Dairy Road, Zephyrhills.

Sand bags will be provided at these locations with a limit per 20 bags per Pasco County resident. While bags will be provided, residents are asked to bring their own shovels.

The City of New Port Richey will also open a sand bag location for its residents at 6240 Pine Hill Road on Saturday. That self-serve location will be open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Patch file photo