TBO.com - TBO is Tampa Bay Online

Tornado Takes Down Jail Annex

Paul Lamison / News Channel 8

BEFORE AND AFTER: A minimum security annex was destroyed during the storm.

ADVERTISEMENT

By ANGELA DELGADO | The Tampa Tribune

Published: December 16, 2007

Updated: 12/16/2007 12:15 pm

Videos: Aerial Video Of The Jail | Sheriff White Interview | Eagle 8 Raw Video
Photo Gallery

Realizing the weather would likely "turn ugly," staff at the Land O'Lakes Jail decided to evacuate more than 200 inmates from their temporary structures, Sheriff Bob White said in a news conference today.

Within seconds of moving the inmates the storm hit.

"As the main door to the hardened structure closed they lost power and the tornado or high winds hit the temporary structures and destroyed them," White said.

At 1:20 p.m., meteorologist Ernie Jillson of the National Weather Service confirmed a tornado touched down.

"We did have a tornado in Pasco County," he said. "We've been calling it a tornado all along. We sent someone out to survey what it looked like as far as intensity. It was no stronger than an EF-1, unless we find more damage."

No injuries were reported.

There are two minimum security annexes. One was destroyed, and the other was partially destroyed, said spokesman Doug Tobin. The structures — made of heavy plastic sheeting — held about 125 females and approximately 70 males.

"A few seconds after shutting the door," Tobin said, "is when that structure basically collapsed."

The annexes were built within the past year to accommodate overcrowding. In total, the jail holds about 1,150 inmates.

The main prison building, which holds about 950 inmates, sustained roof damage.

"We could have had a tragedy on our hands," Tobin said.

Marion County Sheriff Ed Dean volunteered to take the inmates in while their placement in other county jails is determined, White said. Meanwhile, inmates will remain in the main building.

Jail visitations are cancelled for today. An announcement will be made tomorrow about visitations on Monday, according to Tobin.

The storm, which made its way through Pasco around 5 a.m., initially caused 15,000 TECO customers to lose power. About 3,000 customers are currently without power. More than 4,000 Progress Energy customers were also without power.

"Crews are out working right now to restore power," said Rick Morera, spokesperson for TECO.

The jail also lost power and is running on a backup generator.

Although the jail experienced damage, folks in New Port Richey were luckier.

"We came out relatively unscathed," said Sgt. William Barrus. There was "minor flooding in Main Street west of [U.S.] 19; a lot actually receded."

A cold front that moved east into the Tampa Bay area combined with the remnants of Tropical Storm Olga to generate strong thunderstorms from the Tampa Bay area north to around Brooksville in Hernando County before dawn Sunday, said Paul Close, a meteorologist with the NWS.

Sign Up For Hurricane & Severe Weather Alerts

Reporter Angela Delgado can be reached at (813) 865-1501 or adelgado@tampatrib.com. Reporter Christian Wade contributed to this report. The Associated Press also contributed to this report.

Share this:

Loading Comments...

Email Print

ADVERTISEMENT