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Tropical Storm Fay To Edge By Tampa Tuesday

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By NEIL JOHNSON | The Tampa Tribune

Published: August 18, 2008

Updated: 08/18/2008 11:27 pm

TAMPA - Tropical Storm Fay is expected to skirt Tampa as it rolls through the center of the state this afternoon, but officials warn that it will bring lots of wind and rain, and residents should remain alert.

The hurricane center announced in its 11 p.m. Monday advisory that Fay has slowed down and tracked farther to the east, which means the Tampa Bay area won't feel the effects of the storm until about 8 p.m. Tuesday.

Winds are expected to be at about 45 mph when Fay approaches Hillsborough and Polk counties. The more easterly track shows that almost all of Pinellas County is now outside the storm's cone of probability.

The center of Fay was about 60 miles south of Naples with maximum sustained winds near 60 mph.

The majority of schools and government offices across the Tampa Bay area will be closed today. Hernando County is the lone county along the west Florida coast where schools and government buildings will be open today. Citrus County students will attend a half day of school.

"This is not the type of storm that's going to rip off a lot of roofs or cause the type of damage we normally see in a large hurricane," said Craig Fugate, the state's emergency management chief. But its bands are widespread and will affect nearly all of the state.

"Even though this storm doesn't look like it's very dangerous and people will say, 'It's just a tropical storm,' or 'It's just a Category 1 hurricane,' our experience with Florida tells us that if we're not careful, we will lose people," Fugate said.

Late Monday night, the National Hurricane Center said that Fay will hit land about 8 a.m. near Fort Myers with 70 mph winds, just short of the 75 mph it needs to be considered a hurricane. If its forecast holds true, it will swish past the Tampa Bay area between late afternoon and early evening.

Winds up to 60 mph should blanket Polk County and may blow through Hillsborough to Pinellas County when the storm is closest to Tampa.

Emergency managers in Pinellas and Manatee counties have ordered mandatory evacuations for people living in mobile and manufactured homes and the lowest-lying areas. Hillsborough is requiring only mobile and manufactured home evacuations but recommending that people who live near water leave their homes. Pasco is recommending evacuations.

Shelters are open throughout the Tampa Bay area, including shelters for people with special needs. Schools and other government offices are closed, along with attractions such as Busch Gardens and Lowry Park Zoo. Public bus service also has been suspended.

As Fay lashed Key West tonight, some residents said they were not worried about the storm.

"There are bad storms and there are nice ones, and this is a nice one," said Becky Weldon, 43. "It cleans out all the trees, it gives people a little work to do and it gets the tourists out of here for a few days."

No damage or injuries were immediately reported in the Keys, where a few bars and restaurants remained stubbornly open.

As Fay moved through the Caribbean, the storm was blamed for at least 14 deaths in Haiti and the Dominican Republic, including two babies who were found in a river after a bus crash.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report. Tribune reporters Lindsay Peterson, Catherine Dolinski, Rich Shopes, Mike Salinero, George Wilkens, Laura Kinsler and Ted Jackovics contributed to this report. Reporter Neil Johnson can be rea

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