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Thunderstorms pounding West Pasco

Robert Hibbs/SUNCOAST

The traffic flow along Bay Boulevard in Port Richey, near Old Post Road, was intermittent Wednesday as bands of strong thunderstorms swept across West Pasco.

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SUNCOAST NEWS STAFF REPORT

Published: July 1, 2009

Updated: 07/01/2009 05:16 pm

NEW PORT RICHEY - Line after line of strong thunderstorms were sweeping across West Pasco on Wednesday, flooding streets and knocking out power in some areas.

In Port Richey, for example, police and other city workers first closed off Bay Boulevard at Old Post Road and then were trying to let some traffic flow along the flooded street west of U.S. 19 just before noon.

Earlier in the day, Pasco County Emergency Management was evacuating people living near the intersection of U.S. 19 and Ranch Road.

The county opened an evacuation shelter at St. Mark's Presbyterian Church, on S.R. 52 in the Hudson area, Wednesday morning. The shelter will remain open until 7 p.m. Wednesday, officials announced late in the afternoon.

Pasco County Fire personnel were going from home to home in the area to assist residents and access any further property damage, according to emergency management officials.

Pasco road and bridge personnel will spend the night monitoring flood-prone areas of the county, officials announced. A flash flood warning for the county will expire at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, but a flash flood watch will remain in effect through Thursday.

The county is handing out sandbags at its Public Works Department building at 7536 State St., in the West Pasco County Government Center, off Little Road.

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