Pasco County is opening a flood recovery center to help residents who are still dealing with major problems from the recent flooding.

Annette Doying, director of Pasco County's office of emergency management, said the center will be located in the West Pasco Government Center, 7536 State St. in New Port Richey.  It will open at 11 a.m. Wednesday and will remain open until 7 p.m. for those who can travel.

Several local agencies and nonprofits will be on hand to help residents get started with the process of recovery, Doying said.

Doying said 38 houses were destroyed and more than 400 structures were impacted by the flooding. She said the county is preparing a strategy to help people who are in need of re-housing assistance.  The range of services includes repair to damaged homes if feasible or relocation into rental units or new homes.

Residents who are in need of help will need to gather their relevant documents, including rental agreements, flood insurance paperwork and home ownership documents, and bring those to the flood recovery center.

Doying said the damage estimates are incomplete, and that so far she thinks the cost of the public response has exceeded $1 million. However, she said that is just a small fraction of the cost as a result of the flooding, and that it doesn't include the cost of damages to businesses and residents.

Doying also said health officials are also offering free tetanus boosters and vaccines to residents who have been affected by the flooding. The flood left behind debris, and health officials are asking residents to make sure they are up to date before getting to work on cleaning up that debris.

Residents can get a vaccine or booster  at the Florida Department of Health Clinic, 10841 Little Rd. in New Port Richey. The shots will be free with proof of address.

A boil water recommendation remains in place, and residents who have been affected by flooding are strongly encouraged to boil water before using it. Doying said the water has been stagnant, and health officials have had an increase in the number of cases of diarrhea as a result.

Doying encouraged residents to prepare for the possibility of more rain in the coming days. She said sandbags centers are open and residents should come to the centers to get sandbags for their homes.

"We're in a loop here in Pasco County of trying to help people deal with the conditions they're involved in," Doying said.

According to meteorologist Josh Linker, rain chances will increase Thursday, Friday and into Saturday, but the question is, where will that rain fall?

"That's just impossible to tell at this point," he said.

Linker said the showers and thunderstorms could come at any point in the day, and that if some areas receive repeated rainfall, it could lead to the conditions that caused the flooding in the first place.

Anyone with questions can call the Resident Information Center at 727-847-2411, 352-523-2411 or 813-996-2411.

More information about tetanus

The Florida Department of Health will provide free Tetanus boosters and vaccinates to residents who have been affected by the flooding.

The shots will be available through Friday, Aug. 28 at the clinic, located at 10841 Little Rd. in New Port Richey. Shots are free with proof of address.

  • Individuals should get a tetanus-diphtheria booster every 10 years.
  • If you have a minor clean wound and have not had a vaccination in the last 10 years, you will need a booster.
  • If you have a serious puncture-type or dirty would, then you should receive a booster within five years of your last vaccination.
  • If you sustain a wound or deep cut that concerns you, seek medical attention. Medical attention is required to determine if a tetanus booster is needed.
  • Proper wound care is essential for all lacerations and cuts, regardless of exposure to flood water.

Tetanus causes painful tightening of the muscles, usually allover the body. It can lead to a "locking" of the jaw so the person cannot open their mouth, and may even lead to death by suffocation.

The first symptoms of tetanus are headache and muscular cramping, stiffness in the jaw and neck, difficulty in swallowing, sudden involuntary muscle spasms, jerking or staring, fever and sweating. Symptoms usually begin eight days after infection and may range in onset from three days to three weeks.

Live updates from Tuesday press conference

1:04 p.m. Doying said law enforcement has been looking into reports of looting, and to their knowledge, no looting has occurred.

1:03 p.m. Doying said she is not aware of any significant injuries or health related outbreaks aside from an increase in cases of diarrhea.

1:01 p.m. If residents have not received their mail as a result of the flooding, they are asked to go to the nearest post office to pick up their mail.

12:55 p.m. Doying said water has gone stagnant and is unhealthy, and in many cases is causing diarrhea. She said people should boil water before using it for cooking and hygiene.

12:52 p.m. Stormwater management division has been working to get the right equipment to the right places to move water from full retention ponds and ditches, across saturated ground, to the Gulf of Mexico, Doying said. She said the division is working with state agencies, and that they've seen some improvement in the past few days due to the sunny weather.

12:48 p.m. Doying said the flood recovery center will provide help for people in need of mental health services as a result of the flooding. She said they are bringing in specialists who have been trained to help people who have been traumatized by natural disasters.

12:45 p.m. In response to a question about outlying areas that have not received attention from county officials, Doying urged those residents to reach out to the county and let them know that they need help.  She also said that some people may be closed up in their houses or may have gone to work when county officials are in their community.

12:42 p.m. Doying said fewer than 30 homes are without power, and that the county is working with utilities to handle those homes. Doying said 800 structures have been impacted by the flooding, and that 38 homes that have been destroyed.

Doying said the damage estimates are incomplete, and that so far she thinks the cost of the public response has exceeded $1 million. However, she said that is just a small fraction of the cost as a result of the flooding, and that it doesn't include the cost of damages to businesses and residents.

12:41 p.m.  Federal officials will be visiting the area to assess the extent of the damage from the flooding and to determine whether federal emergency funds will be distributed.

12:39 p.m. Officials are offering free tetanus shots or boosters to people who live in the affected areas starting Tuesday. To obtain one of these shots, you can go to 10841 Little Road in New Port Richey.

12:38 p.m. Doying urges residents to prepare for the coming rainfall. She said sandbags center are open and residents should come to the centers to get sandbags for their homes.

Doying also warned residents about the standing water, both for sanitation reasons and because of mosquito breeding.

A boil water recommendation is in place for all areas that have been flooded. Doying said residents should not drink or shower in the water. Residents who have well water can bring it in to have it tested.

Anyone with questions can call the Resident Information Center at 727-847-2411, 352-523-2411 or 813-996-2411.

12:37 p.m. Doying said the county is preparing a strategy to help people who are in need of re-housing assistance. The range of services includes repair to damaged homes if feasible or relocation into rental units or new homes. 

Residents who are in need of help will need to gather their relevant documents, including rental agreements, flood insurance paperwork and home ownership documents, and bring those to the flood recovery center.

12:36 p.m. Effective tomorrow at 11 a.m. through 7 p.m., the county is opening a flood recovery center. Doying urges people to come to the center at the West Pasco Government Center, l7536 State St. in New Port Richey.

Several local agencies and nonprofits will be on handle to help residents get started with the process of recovery.

The Mike Fasano Hurricane Shelter has been closed because the county is past the life safety stage, Doying said.

12:34 p.m. The first 10 days were spent on "life safety" issues, and then after that, county officials focused on trying to address problems with roads and sanitation issues.

More rainfall is expected through Wednesday night. Only about three inches are predicted, but Doying said those predictions are typically conservative and that more could be possible.

"We're in a loop here in Pasco County of trying to help people deal with the conditions they're involved in," Doying said.

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