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- Power Outages (TECO)
- Barge Smacks Howard Frankland
- New Friendship Day Care & Culture Center Closed Tuesday
- Pinellas County Does Not Expect Increased Threat
- Pasco County Monitors Storm
- Citrus County Continues to Monitor TS Alberto
- Red Cross Shelter: Pinellas, Pasco and Hillsborough
- Power Outages (Progress Energy)
- Coastal Areas In Taylor County Prepare For Landfall
- TECO Outages
- Red Cross Shelters In Hillsborough County Open Tonight
- School Closings On Tuesday
- Polk County Schools Closed Tuesday
- The Arts Center's Summer Camp Closed Tuesday
- Hurricane Warning Issued
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By ANTHONY MacCARTNEY
The Tampa Tribune
TAMPA - At 4 p.m., Hillsborough County declared a local state of emergency, but stressed that local evacuations will not be ordered unless Alberto’s path turns closer to the Tampa Bay area.
The decision is primarily an administrative one, allowing county officials to take special action if Alberto’s path changes overnight.
Portions of Hillsborough County could expect to see four to eight inches over the next couple of days as Alberto makes it way toward landfall near Florida’s Big Bend.
Gispert said the area, which has already seen 3 ½ to four inches of rain in the past two days, will benefit from the recent drought-like conditions, said Hillsborough County
Emergency Management Director Larry Gispert.
Much of the rainfall is expected to be soaked up by the parched soil, he said.
However, county officials are concerned about tomorrow’s high tide, which is expected to be at about 3 p.m.
A full moon will increase the tide, threatening to cause some coastal flooding.
People who live in areas that are prone to flooding should prepare and can go to one of four evacuation centers that will open tonight at 7 p.m., Gispert said.
Those areas include along Bayshore and West Shore boulevards in Tampa, Apollo Beach and portions of Town ‘N Country.
Public schools will be closed Tuesday, Gispert said, but government offices will remain open.
The county will also open its Emergency Operations Center at 8 a.m.
Alberto is expected to generate wind gusts of greater than 40 miles per hour, but most county operations will not be greatly impacted, Gispert said.
Some high-profile emergency vehicles will not operate once winds exceed 40 miles per hour, Gispert said, and trash pickup may also be suspended once the winds pick up.
But high winds are not expected to be sustained, he said.
The American Red Cross is opening four shelters at 7 p.m. Those will be located at The First Apostolic Church at 1830 30th Street in Ruskin; The Bible Based Fellowship Church, 8718 N. 46th Street, St. John’s Presbyterian Church at 4120 N. MacDill Ave. and Town ‘N Country Baptist Church, 7601 Jackson Springs Rd., all in Tampa.
Residents with questions about where to pick up sandbags or other precautions can call the county’s InfoLine at (813) 272-5900.
The Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) plans to operate on a normal schedule tonight and tomorrow (Tuesday June 13, 2006).
However, PSTA service is subject to change should the storm conditions worsen.
The latest information on PSTA bus service can be obtained by calling the PSTA InfoLine at (727) 540-1900.
Visit http://www.PSTA.net
Summer school has been canceled for students, teachers and bus drivers on Tuesday, June 13, 2006, in the Hillsborough County Public Schools.
At this time, school district 12-month employees still are expected to report for work on Tuesday.
Summer school is expected to resume on Wednesday, June 14, 2006.
In addition, all staff development classes have been canceled for this evening.
Updates also will be posted on the school district website at http://www.sdhc.k12.fl.us
MacDonald Training Center will be closed tomorrow, Tuesday, June 13, 2006.
Gateway Services (ADT) at both the Tampa and Plant City locations will be closed.
All classes at Polk schools have been cancelled for Tuesday, June 13. All classes and bus transportation for Polk public schools scheduled for Tuesday, June 13 have also been cancelled.
This includes summer reading classes, FCAT remedial classes and driver’s education classes.
12-month school-based and district office employees are required to report to work.
Further updates will be posted on the school district’s Web site, http://www.polk-fl.net.
Sumter District Schools will be closed for all student activities and student contact employees on Tuesday, June 13, 2006, due to inclement weather.
District offices and schools will remain open with employees that their employment is not dependent on daily student attendance.
The Pasco Tribune
Pasco County officials are recommending evacuations for those living in coastal areas that are prone to flooding. Those living in Evacuation Level A should consider evacuating, officials said.
“We’re not going to push them to evacuate,” Evelyn Klopp, county public communications specialist, said.
The county is opening three shelters beginning at 6 p.m.:
* Schrader Elementary, 11041 Little Road, Port Richey;
* Trinity Elementary, 2209 Duck Slough Blvd., New Port Richey;
* River Ridge Middle/High School, 11646 Town Center Road, New Port Richey.
River Ridge is a special needs shelter for those with medical issues.
If there are residents with special needs living in areas prone to flooding, who need assistance, they may call (727) 847-8959.
Pasco’s Emergency Operations Center will partially activate at 5 p.m., Klopp said. The county’s Resident Information Center will be staffed throughout the night. For information, call (727) 847-8959 or (352) 521-5137.
The Tampa Tribune
In Hillsborough County, storm surge from Alberto on Tuesday could be a problem .
That is especially true if you live for areas such as Bayshore, Westshore, Bay Crest, Palmetto Beach, Ruskin, Gibsonton and Town ‘N Country.
Larry Gispert, Hillsborough County’s emergency operations director, said the “"significant bands of rain’’ east of the storm are the biggest threat to the Tampa Bay area. The storm is predicted to come ashore Tuesday night in the Big Bend area in Taylor County.
The Tampa Bay area will see the worst flooding Tuesday afternoon about 3 p.m., during high tide. The storm is predicted to create 4 to 6 feet of surge above normal high tide levels, Gispert said.
Residents in areas typically affected by flooding in upper Tampa Bay should prepare for “a repeat performance’’ of what they witnessed during Hurricane Frances and Hurricane Josephine, with water sloshing over the balustrade and sea walls, Gispert said.
“"They can sandbag; they can move furniture,’’ he said.
Residents can acquire up to 25 free sandbags from selected county maintenance units and fire stations.
No evacuations have been called for at this time.
In addition, Gispert recommended residents prepare for high winds by cleaning up and securing their yards. Store lawn furniture, ornaments, trash cans and other items, to avoid
creating dangerous “"missiles’’ for passers-by, he said.
Tuesday, if winds reach 50 mph, authorities will close the approaches to the Howard Frankland Bridge, the Gandy Bridge and the Courtney Campbell Parkway, Gispert said.
On Monday, Gov. Jeb Bush signed an executive order creating a state of emergency for all of Florida and warned large parts of the coastal Tampa Bay area are vulnerable to the expected storm surge.
The Tampa Tribune
Pinellas County will open three shelters at 5 p.m. Monday for residents who want a safe
haven from the storm.
The locations are:
* First United Methodist Church, 545 E. Tarpon Ave., Tarpon Springs.
* Trinity Presbyterian Church, 2001 Rainbow Dr., Clearwater.
* Northside Baptist Church, 6000 38th Ave. North, St. Petersburg.
If evacuating, bring blankets and pillows, any prescription medication you may need to last
several days, reading material or quiet games to keep you occupied, a flashlight and spare
batteries for each person and copies of all important documents, credit card, bank, insurance
and other information.
Pets, alcohol and firearms are not permitted in public shelters.
The Arts Center’s Summer Camp will be closed Tuesday June 13th and will reopen as usual on Wednesday June 14th. Administrative Hours will remain as usual, 9-5.
Dazzio Classes will not be held on Tuesday June 13th. Adult Classes will be held as usual Monday evening June 12th and Tuesday evening June 13th.
If an individual teacher needs to cancel as specific class, he/she will contact those students directly.
Pinellas County Emergency Operations Center has issued a voluntary evacuation order.
The Red Cross urges residents of Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties who live in low-lying, flood-prone or urban areas that do not drain quickly to take action now to protect to families, businesses, vehicles and homes.
The American Red Cross Tampa Bay Chapter will open three shelters in Pinellas County.
The shelters listed below will open at 5:00 PM today, June 12 in St. Petersburg, Tarpon Springs and Clearwater:
ST. PETERSBURG
North Side Baptist Church
6000 38th Avenue North
St. Petersburg, FL 33710
TARPON SPRINGS
First United Methodist Church
501 E. Tarpon Avenue
Tarpon Springs, FL 34689
CLEARWATER
Trinity Presbyterian Church
2001 Rainbow Drive
Clearwater, FL 33765
A shelter will open at Nature Coast Technical High School, 4057 California Street, Brooksville, Florida, at 6:00 p.m. this evening.
This shelter will include special needs residents. The Code Red notification system will be used to notify residents within the evacuation area.
Information from Citrus County Sheriff’s Office
A mandatory evacuation order has been issued for all mobile home dwellers in Citrus County effective from 3 p.m.
All residents living west of U.S. Highway 19 and one-and-a-half miles east of U.S. Highway 19 also will be under a mandatory evacuation order.
Four shelters will be opened as of 6 p.m. today.
• Lecanto Middle School will house citizens with special needs.
• Inverness Middle School, Lecanto High School and Citrus High School will shelter the general population.
Citizens are urged to find shelter with family and friends first, and use public shelters only as their last option.
All County Offices including the Citrus County Elections Office, Property Appraiser, Tax Collector, Clerk of Court, Court Services, Sheriff’s Office and the Board of County Commissioners will be closed tomorrow, Tuesday, June 13, 2006.
In addition, the Citrus County Landfill will be closed and all sanitation services will be suspended throughout the County and the City of Crystal River and the City of Inverness tomorrow.
The scheduled Board of County Commissioners meeting for tomorrow at 1 p.m. has been cancelled as well.
In addition, all school activities will be cancelled for Tuesday, June 13th.
Citizen information lines remain open. Storm-related questions and concerns may be directed to (352) 746-5470, 527-2106 or 746-6555.
All schools and district offices in the Citrus County School System are closed on Tuesday, June 13, 2006.
The Regular Meeting of the Citrus County School Board scheduled for Tuesday, June 13 will be rescheduled for Tuesday, June 20, 2006 at 2:00 p.m.
Information from Hernando County EOC
Hernando County s EOC has issued a local state of emergency order and strongly recommends evacuation order for all coastal residents in Evacuation Zones A/B.
This zone is the extreme western portion of the county, west of U.S. 19, excluding The Heather, Glen Lakes, Regency Oaks and River Country.
A shelter will open at Nature Coast Technical High School, 4057 California Street, Brooksville, Florida, at 6:00 p.m. this evening.
This shelter will include special needs residents.
The Code Red notification system will be used to notify residents within the evacuation area.
Power outages are possible. Tropical storm force wind gusts up to 50 mph is expected.
Maximum rainfall of up to 10 inches is possible through Tuesday. Tornadoes are also possible as the bands cross the county.
Coastal storm surge of 1-2 ft. above high tide is predicted for Monday and 5-7 feet above high tide at 4:00 a.m. Tuesday. Low lying areas may also expect local flooding.
Sandbags are available at three locations: the Hernando Beach Volunteer Fire Department on Shoal Line Boulevard, the Brooksville Fire Department on Veterans Avenue in Brooksville and the Ridge Manor Community Center on Cortez Boulevard, just west of U.S. 301.
There will be no garbage collection services tomorrow due to the high winds.
Residents should not place their garbage cans at the roadside.
Boat owners should secure their vessels today and make sure bilge pumps are working.
For information, visit http://www.hernandcounty.us/parks_rec.
The Public Information Center opened at noon today and will continue taking phone calls until 7:00 p.m. and will resume at 6:00 a.m. Tuesday - 352-754-4083.
For updates on Hernando County’s preparations, call the pre-recorded Public Information Line at 352-754-4111 or 352 754 4083 or visit the Hernando County government website at http://www.hernandocounty.us/em.
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