Pinellas News
Tarpon will lift declaration in conjunction with Pinellas County, officials say
By Eric Horchy | Suncoast News
Published: June 27, 2012
TARPON SPRINGS - Although forecasts predict plenty of sunshine and only scant chances of more rainfall for the next seven days now that Tropical Storm Debby has passed over Florida, Tarpon Springs and Pinellas County will technically remain under a state of emergency until Monday, city officials say.Published: June 27, 2012
Just as it did when it declared a state of emergency Monday, Tarpon will follow the county’s lead. City manager Mark LeCouris and Judy Staley, research and information officer, said in Wednesday afternoon emails the county is expected to lift its declaration Monday.
As of 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, the National Weather Service still had flood warnings in place along the Suncoast. A beach hazard advisory continues to be issued for all of Pinellas County.
A county press release is advising residents to continue using caution when traveling about the area. It reported many streets in the Tarpon Woods neighborhood as still being flooded and impassable.
County Road 95, east of U.S. 19 in Palm Harbor, remains closed because of high water and Lake St. George Road north of Tampa Road "has had some undermining of the road bed, but two lanes are open and passable."
County crews are also still addressing problems with dysfunctional traffic signals and motorists are advised to treat such lights as four-way stops.
All county parks have operated within their regular hours Wednesday, but fishing piers, the dog park and parts of North Beach at Fort De Soto Park are still closed.
Another side effect of recent heavy rains is increased issues with mosquitoes. Pinellas County Mosquito Control officials say that mosquitoes are in the juvenile stages right now. Officials have been doing treatments by ground and are planning an aerial larviciding campaign for north county areas toward the weekend.
Residents are urged to check their property and dump anything that has collected water in which mosquitoes can breed.
"The peak of hurricane season is still two months away," Sally Bishop, director of Pinellas County Emergency Management, said in the press release. "To have had four named storms so early in the season is unusual, and it’s all the more reason residents should be 100 percent prepared to handle whatever Mother Nature throws our way this season. Tropical Storm Debby was a good reminder that you don’t need to have a hurricane to experience major weather impacts which require that we all be prepared."
Eric Horchy can be reached at (727) 815-1071 or ehorchy@suncoastnews.com.