Friday, December 28, 2012
Storm left residents flooded with problems.
It's almost time to say goodbye to 2012. But before we do, we're taking a look back at some of the stories that highlighted what was going on in West Pasco this past year. In this edition: Tropical Storm Debby's visit top our area. The storm blew in this past June and dumped a deluge of rain on our side of the county. Flooding became a problem. Check out some of the stories and photos from the event and share your memories, photos and thoughts. What Debby Looked Like to Us Debby Douses Trinity Debby's Visit to Gulf Harbors Accounting for Debby in New Port Richey Residents Help Downtown Business Owners Hit by Debby Possible Tornado Strikes New Port Richey Body Found in Flooded Elfers Linked to Debby Trinity Residents Seek Solution to …
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Pasco officials say there's no easy fix.
Residents of the Thousand Oaks subdivision in Trinity complained Tuesday to Pasco County commissioners about flooding Tropical Storm Debby brought to their neighborhood and urged them to find ways to keep their homes dry. “Why was this allowed to happen?” said Cortney King, a teacher who lives in Thousand Oaks. He arrived at the meeting with a cadre of other residents. Commissioners listened and indicated they wanted to see if there is a speedy solution. “There’s just got to be someway that we can cut to the chase and get the dog gone job done,” said commission chairwoman Ann Hildebrand. Thousand Oaks has flooded in the past, but Tropical Storm Debby dumped a historic amount of rainfall on West Pasco. Residents complained to county …
Thursday, July 19, 2012
The agency is registering residents who wish to apply for aid.
- THE NEIGHBORHOOD FILES
- Alex Tiegen
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Thursday, July 19, 2012
Federal Emergency Management Agency officials paid a visit Thursday to the Walden Pond mobile home park in New Port Richey to register tenants who wish to apply for disaster recovery aid. Walden Pond is closing, effective July 31, and residents have been sent letters from the owners telling them to vacate by 11:59 p.m. on that day. The letters are dated July 6. “We want to speak with every resident to make sure that they are registered with FEMA before they have to leave the park,” said FEMA spokeswoman Renee Bafalis. “Now normally we just go around asking them to register, but today, because the time frame is getting very short, we are physically registering them." The FEMA employees, accompanied by a State Emergency Response Team …
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
It will be a one-stop information center for those who need help recovering from Tropical Storm Debby.
Officials are going to open a disaster recovery center in the New Port Richey area to aid those impacted by Tropical Storm Debby. In disaster recovery centers, local, state, federal and nonprofit resources are gathered under one roof to serve those in need of disaster assistance programs. County Commissioners approved an agreement Tuesday with the Federal Emergency Management Agency that paves the way for the center's establishment. Folks who have trouble navigating the bureaucracy involved in finding and applying for aid or those who need a specific service can find help there, Pasco County Emergency Operations director Annete Doying told commissioners during Tuesday's meeting. “The elderly woman who needs assistance with getting the …
Do it now. "It's too massive of a project to take on in 24 hours," Salvation Army Disaster Services Director Kevin Smith says.
Tropical Storm Debby showed the Tampa Bay area just how much trouble residents would be in if a hurricane hit the area directly, Florida Director of Emergency Disaster Services for the Salvation Army Kevin Smith said. "We are so ripe for a bad hurricane to hit this area," he said. So now is the time to prepare. Smith suggests taking the following steps to ensure your family is ready for the next big storm. Come Up with a Family Reunification Plan The number one request the Salvation Army gets after a storm is "Can you help us find out if our family is OK?," Smith said. Having a reunification plan in place will help family members who are not in the area find you in the event you are without power or cell service. Decide what procedure you…
The director of the Salvation Army's Emergency Disaster Services says Debby's impact shows just how much trouble we will be in when a larger storm hits the Bay area.
Kevin Smith is accustomed to being in the midst of chaos. But the director of Emergency Disaster Services for the Salvation Army had a wake up call in 2004 when he sat outside using a power inverter in the truck because his home was without power. After three days without electricity, he realized how unprepared he had been for the storms that blew through the Bay area that year. “I tell people all the time to be prepared and I wasn’t doing it myself,” Smith said. Only about 30 percent of the population actually has a disaster preparedness plan and at the time, he wasn’t among them. Now, in the wake of the damage left behind in the Bay area by Tropical Storm Debby, Smith, of Land O' Lakes, said residents have a better gauge than ever before…
Monday, July 9, 2012
As of Monday morning, the federal agency had expended $5.28 million in the state.
Pasco County wasn’t the only area hit hard by Tropical Storm Debby in Florida. In fact, it was one of 11 counties to be declared a disaster area by President Barack Obama and eligible for federal aid. FEMA has been orchestrating aid at the federal level and is keeping the press apprised of how much money it’s been spending to help those affected by the storm. The federally declared disaster areas in Florida are Pinellas, Pasco, Highland, Hernando, Baker, Bradford, Columbia, Wakulla, Clay, Franklin and Suwanee counties. Check with Patch for local numbers as they become available. Here are FEMA stats on how much has been disbursed so far statewide, in FEMA's words: Housing Assistance- $4,733,064.95…
Saturday, July 7, 2012
Here's what to know when ridding yourself of trash.
- THE NEIGHBORHOOD FILES
- Alex Tiegen
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Saturday, July 7, 2012
Both residents of Pasco County and residents of the city of New Port Richey are being provided with ways to dump debris from Tropical Storm. The city of New Port Richey is providing a dumpster at 6420 Pine Hill Road for storm debris disposal, but you must show proof of residency in the city to use it. It will be available Saturday, July 7, between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. and then again on Monday, July 9, through Friiday, July 13, between 7 a.m. and 4 p.m. Items accepted for dumping include carpets, lawn furniture, house furniture, fences, box springs, and mattresses. Items that will not be not be accepted include computers, monitors, appliances, lawnmowers or any hazardous waste. Pasco County will be offering curbside debris pickup to areas of …
Friday, July 6, 2012
Here's what you need to know.
- THE NEIGHBORHOOD FILES
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Friday, July 6, 2012
Need financial assistance with recovering from Tropical Storm Debby-related damage to your home or business? How about recovering from other disaster-related expenses? Pasco is one of 11 Florida counties where those who need help in Debby’s wake can apply for federal assistance. FEMA describes the process you need to follow in the below press release: Tropical Storm Debby survivors in Florida’s Baker, Bradford, Clay, Columbia, Franklin, Hernando, Highlands, Pasco, Pinellas, Suwannee and Wakulla counties can apply now for federal disaster assistance. Money for temporary housing and essential home repairs not covered by insurance is available. Renters, homeowners and business owners may register for help through the Federal Emergency …
Thursday, July 5, 2012
The folks behind the online tool for community-based disaster recovery are getting both recognition and support.
Mike Caramico
10:33 am on Friday, July 27, 2012
Why is Pasco County getting involved in this, certainly everyone knew from the floods of May 1988 that the whole area was flood prone, even the developers knew it, they should be held responsible. Pasco County can't afford to bailout every flood problem created by greedy builders that know better, that area should not have been developed as a residential area without major drainage improvements. … more ›