Nearly two months since the Tampa Bay area was hit by Tropical Storm Debby, a new tropical system is making residents in flooded areas nervous.
Emergency Management officials said the county continued with above average rainfall since Debby; the ground is saturated. With the latest forecast for Tropical Storm Issac, the possibility of the storm bringing heavy rain and further flooding is very real.
Isaac's Latest Track | LIVE BLOG: Isaac
In order to protect homes and businesses, the county is putting water pumping machines in flood prone areas to drain creeks and rivers. Brian Lindsay lives near one of the pumps. He said it is helping to keep the water levels in the creek by his house down.
"Ive had it up to almost my grass line, which is probably 30 feet from my house," he said. "You have to figure if it raises that much, it would be at least 6 to 8 feet deep -- continuous flow.That's the scary part."
Lisa Cooper saw her backyard flooded during Debby and spent weeks cleaning up. "We did have damage to both sides of the fence, but we were able to repair one side. The other side, I'm going to wait for a cool off or the rest of storm season to pass before I repair it."
Cooper is prepared to evacuate at any time. "All my stuff, at any given time I can be out of this house in less than 5 minutes. That includes me, my cats and my important documents," she said.
Since Debby, the county has accrued expenses of more than $5.7 million, removed 315 tons of debris and served more than 2,400 families who have requested disaster assistance.
With Isaac's path uncertain, Pasco Co. Emergency Management is encouraging all residents to be prepared, just in case.
Sandbags available at all Hillsborough Co. service units starting Wednesday
Hillsborough County is making sandbags available to the public from 8 a.m. - 5 p.m., starting tomorrow morning (Aug. 23) at all three County Public Works Service Units:
- West Service Unit - 9805 Sheldon Road
- South Service Unit – 8718 Old Big Bend Road
- East Service Unit – 4702 Sydney Road
Filled sandbags will be available to the elderly/disabled. Sandbag materials will be available to those physically able to make their own. Additionally, each citizen must sign their name and provide their home address acknowledging the receipt of 25 sandbags or less.
Citizens also can call 813-635-5400 to report flooding and road problems, or request additional information. To receive the latest emergency and news announcements via email or text from Hillsborough County, sign up on the County’s website.