Operation Storm Watch

Operation Storm Watch

South Florida's home for hurricane, tropical storm, and severe weather coverage.

 

Flood Rescues Continue Around Tampa Bay After Milton

TAMPA -- Cities and counties around the Tampa Bay area are rescuing residents and even calling for another round of evacuations as waters rise after Hurricane Milton.

Pasco County posted an advisory Friday warning of "historical" flooding in low-lying areas, especially along the Anclote, Hillsborough and Withlacoochee rivers, as well as Cypress Creek. It's urging voluntary evacuations from areas where people only recently cleared out ahead of Milton and Helene. Several rivers and creeks are expected to crest over the weekend and early Monday morning,

Pasco Deputy Fire Chief of Operations Shawn Whited says they have as many as seven water rescue teams at work, from as far away as Texas and Kentucky. Whited says the high-water areas are spread across the 50-mile-wide county.

In Hillsborough County, deputies have made dozens of rescues, from the Alafia River as well as an assisted living center near USF and the Town 'N Country neighborhood.

Pinellas County deputies are using high-water vehicles to get people out of the Tarpon Woods neighborhood in Palm Harbor. The service runs daily from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Residents needing a ride should call the sheriff's office at (727) 582-6200.

Fuel tanker trucks have been unable to load up at Port Tampa Bay because of flooding at the terminals. The city of Tampa hopes to have the area pumped out by the end of Friday. The Port Tampa Bay terminals supply fuel to 17 Florida counties.

Photo: Getty Images


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