Pasco County Declares Local State of Emergency

NEW PORT RICHEY, FL — Pasco County has declared a local state of emergency as Hurricane Matthew threatens the Sunshine State with 140 mph maximum sustained winds. On its present track, Matthew is anticipated to bring tropical storm conditions to Pasco County overnight Thursday and throughout much of Friday.

“The National Weather Service in Tampa predicts a 40 to 70 percent chance of tropical storm force winds (39 miles an hour or higher) late Thursday into Friday evening,” the county wrote in an email to media explaining the decision. “Total rainfall from the storm is expected to be less than 1.3 inches for most areas of Pasco County. Winds could cause rough seas in the Gulf, but we are not expecting storm surge out of this system.”

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Under a local state of emergency, the county administration and emergency services director are able to waive standard procedures and do what they feel is required to ensure the health, safety and welfare of the community, the county explained. The local state of emergency will remain in place for seven days or until it is rescinded by the county administrator if it is no longer needed.

The Pasco County School District has also announced the decision to cancel classes on Friday, Oct. 7 as Matthew approaches.

Pasco residents in need of assistance are asked to call the county’s customer service line at 727-847-2411. People with emergencies are asked to call 911.

As of the National Hurricane Center’s 11 a.m. Oct. 6 update, Hurricane Matthew was positioned about 180 miles south east of West Palm Beach, Florida. The storm's sustained winds were 140 mph, a significant rise from the 125 mph winds reported earlier in the day.

“Matthew is a Category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale,” the hurricane center’s report said. "Some additional strengthening is possible, and Matthew should remain a Category 4 hurricane while it approaches the Florida coast."

Hurricane-force winds extended out up to 60 miles Thursday morning. Tropical-storm force winds extended out 160 miles, forecasters said.

On its current projected path, Matthew could make landfall somewhere along Florida’s east coast as a major hurricane. While the storm's outer bands were arriving near Florida Thursday morning, forecasters do not expect it to clear the Sunshine State until Friday afternoon or evening.

The storm’s possible track shifted to the east, but much of the Sunshine State remained under a hurricane warning. In the Tampa Bay area and along most of the west coast, a tropical storm watch is in place. A warning means conditions are likely within a designated area, generally within 48 hours. A watch means conditions are possible within a designated area. Tropical storm warnings had also gone up in from the Anclote River to the Suwanee River.

Photo courtesy of the National Hurricane Center