Emergency officials in Pasco County have rescinded the evacuation order that was given Tuesday in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Debby.

Officials said they are now concentrating their efforts on flooded areas within the boundaries laid out in the evacuation order and managing traffic in the area.

The following roads are still closed, but limited access is allowed for residents:

  • Ridge Road from US 52 to Clock Tower Parkway
  • Majestic Blvd from SR 52 to Clock Tower Parkway
  • Saint Joe Rd from Old Saint Joe Road to Curley Road
  • Bellamy Brothers Boulevard from Johnson Road to Bayhead Road

More than 7,000 addresses were affected by the flooding, officials said.  So far Progress Energy has restored power to about 1,800 homes.  Residents are asked to insure their main breakers are free from water before turning them on.

Customers still without power should report their individual outage by calling 1-800-228-8485.

Evacuation order issued ahead of rising rivers

Emergency management officials kept their eyes on the Anclote and Pithlachascotee rivers, which rose high above flood stages on Tuesday.  On Wednesday, the Anclote was measured at 24 feet, about eight feet higher than normal. Tuesday it was measured at almost 27 feet.

Officials said the two rivers converged and surpassed the 100-year-flood plan.

Residents within the following boundaries were affected by the evacuation order:

  • Western boundary is Anclote River/Thys Road
  • Eastern boundary is Little Road
  • Northern boundary is Plathe Road
  • Southern boundary begins on Perrine Ranch Road, turns north on Seven Springs Boulevard, then runs east along Mitchell Ranch Road and continues to the intersection of State Road 54 and Little Road

The order comes two days after the county declared a state of emergency.  A tornado touched down on Sunday in the Tanglewood Terrace sudivision, which damanged many houses.

Residents spent the night in shelters

About 50 people spent the night at Chasco Elementary, one of two shelters open in Pasco County, after rising flood waters forced them from their homes.

Mable Kujuwa says she left her home at Harbor View Mobile Home Park after the power went out. She’s been there most of the day.

“We’ve just been visiting. Had a really nice dinner. We’ve been visiting with people from different areas. Some people have had people pick them up and taking them home. Right now we’re playing joker,” she said.

The rest say they’ll be spending at least one night in the shelter.

Sue Nowack came on her own with all the streets around her house flooded. Nowack says a lot of her neighbors stayed behind but she and the others here are happy sleeping on cots for the night.

But despite the evacuation warnings some people in New Port Richey stayed put.

"This is what we’ve come to," said Lisa Cooper, who lives along the Anclote River. “I’m not worried yet. I’ve been here 20 years I’ve had it to the wall of my house, it’s never breached the interior of the house so I’m not worried."

Cooper said now is not the time to worry, she'll know when to start doing that.

“If it started to breach the house, then I’m out," she said.

"I've been with Pasco 17 years, I've lived here 30 and I've never seen it like this," said a firefighter.

"We grabbed a bunch of clothes, pictures, wedding dress," said Mill Pond Estates resident Barbara Signorelli. "And my father's ashes. And my in-laws ashes."

For more information citizens can call the Resident Information Line at 727-847-8137.