While a flood watch remains in effect for Pasco County, residents are still scrambling to clean up their homes after recent rains put much of the county underwater.
Some residents were preparing for flooding on Monday while others were still trying to put things back together.
“I live right on the water, so if the Cottee comes up much more it’s going to hit my house,” said Brie Rost.
Rost has been through floods before. Three, in fact, in Palm Beach County. She said if it happens again, she’ll be ready.
“I have so much water in my house it’s unreal -- things to eat, three different barbecues, two charcoal and one gas so I can last months,” said Rost.
Rost is one of the lucky ones in Pasco County right now. Last month’s flooding that came up to her door is already gone. Others aren’t as lucky.
Carol Rehberger’s home was gutted out last week.
“We’re not cleaned up from this one, so we can’t even think about another rain or you know another storm because then we’ll be right back where we were,” said Rehberger.
Rehberger took advantage of a two week hotel voucher from the county but that’s up Tuesday. She was also offered an interest free loan of $10,000 but it won’t help in her situation.
“Suppose I take out the loan, put it into the house, it still wouldn’t fix the house,” said Rehberger. “Then we have another storm, then I owe $10,000 plus I still can’t live in my house.”
So for now, Rehberger along with many others in the county can only hope for clear skies.
As of Monday afternoon the county had not ordered any evacuations but is prepared to open shelters if they are needed.
There are flood warnings that will be in effect starting Tuesday for the Anclote River and the Withlacoochee River.