County Stretched Thin Responding to Tropical Storm Debby

The rain may have subsided a bit on Monday morning, but calls continued to flood the Hillsborough County Public Works Department.

Reports of flooding, washed out streets and other hazards made for a overwhelming day, said Steve Valdez, spokesperson for county public works.

"There are more roads then we have resources for," Valdez said. "And more roads then we have signs for. We are just absolutely inundated."

Record rainfalls were recorded this weekend as Tropical Storm Debby roared through the Tampa Bay area. The Northwest portion of the county, including Westchase, was among the most impacted with 10 inches of rainfall reported in some areas, Valdez said. Four-thousand people reported power outages over the weekend, according to TECO.

"Right now we are doing everything we can to handle everybody as quickly as we can," Valdez said. "However, that doesn't mean your interior neighborhood streets will be cleared anytime soon. The priority is on health and safety issues, and main artery roads.

"People just need to be patient. All of our call centers are maxed out," he said. "Right now we’ve added extra people on."

Valdez said people should take advantage of the lull in rain by pumping their pools.

"The worst case scenario is that you'd have to add water later on."

Valdez also cautioned people from driving through high water.

"The weight those cars leave when they go through it creates an adverse effect on other properties," Valdez said. "If you see high water doesn’t risk it."

Current Road Closures:

Hillsborough from Hanley Kelly Road to the Veterans Expressway (road closed)

Hanley Road from Hillsborough Avenue to Hanna Avenue (road closed)

Memorial Highway from George Road to Dana Shores Drive

Twin Branch Acres Road along Double Branch Creek

West Park Village Drive

Ehrlich Road at Winterwind

Knollwood at Hesperedes

West Powhattan from Town 'N Country Boulevard to the west

Brunswick Road from Hillsborough Avenue to the south