Severe Weather Damages Homes In Tampa Bay

NEW PORT RICHEY, Fla. (AP) — Several homes were damaged and sporadic power outages reported as severe weather swept through the Tampa Bay area.

In Pasco County, officials on Thursday said some roads were blocked and power lines were down.

Authorities couldn’t immediately confirm if a tornado had touched down. A news release said an aluminum roof was ripped off one home, and a large tree fell on another.

Pasco County spokesman Doug Tobin says the county had reports of 19 homes and businesses with minor damage, five homes and businesses with some structural damage, one tree on a car, a garage door damaged, and car ports torn apart.

No injuries were reported.

Clearwater Fire & Rescue Department crews responded to storm-damaged areas from this morning. The main areas that appear to be affected are west and north of Eddie C. Moore Recreation Complex.

There are multiple trees down and power lines were downed as well. Duke Energy crews have been on scene as well this morning trying to remove downed power lines and restore power.

The Eddie C. Moore complex sustained some damage as well. A fence on the east side of the fields was damaged, and a scoreboard was ripped out of the ground. Several soccer goals were tossed around like toys as well.

Some of the residential streets most affected were Grand View Avenue, Merrill Avenue, Hoyt Avenue, Moss Avenue and Brigadoon Drive.

Three town home apartments damaged on Brigadoon have had residents displaced. The Red Cross is assisting them.

No injuries have been reported. The damage began happening shortly after 7 this morning.