logo
Hillsborough County first responders show tools, equipment to help people during hurricanes

Hillsborough County first responders show tools, equipment to help people during hurricanes

Yahoo17-04-2025

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla., (WFLA) – Hillsborough County is reviewing plans and safety measures to keep you safe during this year's hurricane season.
The start of the season begins on June 1.
First responders spent Thursday morning going over different tools, equipment, and technology they have to respond to people in need.
The county is pulling out all of the stops to be able to respond to any call.
With all of the flooding the County saw last year, they purchased four SHERP vehicles, which they said is a game changer.
'They can go high terrain, low terrain, they can go through the water,' said Battalion Chief Rodney Castro.
The vehicles arrived just before Hurricane Milton hit.
'They are a tremendous asset, we had one big evacuation last year in the USF area, we were able to use the SHERPS, 5 of our marine units, and 6 of our T-SAR teams. We were there for about an hour, and we pulled close to 220 people out of an ALF facility,' Castro said.
These deep-water vehicles are not the only tool in their toolbox, they also have things like rescue boats, jet skis, and special blankets to help put out an electric vehicle fire.
'Once we saw several vehicle fires like that, we were able to purchase them between storms. We realized there was a need for them,' said Battalion Chief Dave Bute.
When electric vehicles mix with salt water, it becomes very dangerous.
'As the battery cells burn, they kind of catch other cells on fire in a domino effect. This issue is when they keep burning, they just keep getting hotter, hotter, and hotter. So, it's very difficult to put that out with water,' Bute said.
The County is getting prepared, and they said people need to also, by having their emergency kits packed, a plan in place, and evacuating early.
Another thing first responders said is essential for safety is knowing which evacuation zone you are in. All you have to do is click this link and type in your address.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Here's why a hurricane has never crossed the equator
Here's why a hurricane has never crossed the equator

UPI

time5 hours ago

  • UPI

Here's why a hurricane has never crossed the equator

1 of 3 | The Atlantic stirs up in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton in Vero Beach, Fla., in October 2024. The Coriolis force is responsible for deflecting winds to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere, and that is responsible for hurricanes or tropical storms never crossing the equator. File Photo by Joe Marino/UPI | License Photo Did you know that a hurricane or tropical storm has never crossed the equator? The reason behind this fascinating phenomenon lies in a meteorological principle related to the rotation of the Earth: the Coriolis force. The Coriolis force is responsible for deflecting winds to the right in the Northern Hemisphere and to the left in the Southern Hemisphere. "This force is what gives tropical systems their iconic swirl -- counter-clockwise in the Northern Hemisphere and clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere," AccuWeather lead hurricane expert Alex DaSilva explained. At the equator, however, the Coriolis force is essentially zero, making it impossible for a tropical system to cross over from one hemisphere to another. Typhoon Vamei in 2001 was the closest storm to the equator Most tropical systems remain north of 5 degrees north latitude or south of 5 degrees south latitude. The closest a tropical storm or hurricane has ever come to crossing the equator was Typhoon Vamei in December 2001 in the western Pacific, which got within 100 miles of the equator, forming at only 1.4 degrees North latitude. An unnamed tropical depression in 1973 formed farther south The closest a tropical depression has ever formed to the equator was an unnamed storm in December 1973. This storm formed at 0.5 latitude. It later became a tropical storm around 0.7 latitude, according to the China Meteorological Administration. The official record by the U.S. National Hurricane Center disagrees, saying it did not have tropical-storm-force winds until later in its path, north of 10 degrees north latitude. This is likely due to the different ways that the two agencies measure winds in a tropical system. Another fact you may notice on the world tropical cyclone map is that there have been no tropical storms in the southeastern Pacific west of South America and few subtropical or tropical storms off the east coast of the continent. Why are there so few tropical storms in the South Atlantic? Only one hurricane has ever formed off the coast of South America: an unnamed storm locally called Catarina in 2004. According to the NHC, only two additional unnamed tropical storms have ever roamed the southern Atlantic basin, in 2010 and 2011. The other storms shown on the map above are subtropical storms, a designation for a cyclone with high winds that is not 100 tropical in nature. Average sea-surface temperatures above the threshold for tropical storm development (26 C) between 1982 and 1995. The Peru Current brings cold water up the west coast of South America while the Brazil current brings warm water southward off South America's east coast. Adapted from (AccuWeather/NOAA WPC) The lack of activity off the west coast of South America is primarily because of colder waters, DaSilva says. The Peru Current brings cold water northward along the coast. Another factor is higher wind shear, which tears apart most tropical storms before they can strengthen. "The waters off Brazil are not as cold, because the offshore currents are from the north, but the wind shear is still too strong to support many tropical storms," DaSilva explained.

Resident frustration grows as Sarasota County explores new stormwater department
Resident frustration grows as Sarasota County explores new stormwater department

Yahoo

time6 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Resident frustration grows as Sarasota County explores new stormwater department

The Brief Commissioner Tom Knight of Sarasota County wants a stormwater department and manager who can help the system and residents. One couple off of Bell Avenue said they've been asking for ditch clearing for nearly a year as the street continues to flood. The Sarasota County administrator is expected to present what the department could look like next month. SARASOTA, Fla. - Residents off of Bell Avenue in Sarasota County said ditches were covered with overgrown with weeds, trees and debris before last year's hurricane season, and it's only gotten worse. They nearly flooded last year, and they're not alone. As they continue to ask for help, Sarasota County commissioners are considering a new department to tackle storm water management. Follow FOX 13 on YouTube Local perspective For 16 years, Sue and Mark Inman have lived off of Bell Avenue in Sarasota County. "This is not a flood zone. This should not be happening," said Sue. The last year has been full of uncertainty for the couple. READ: St. Pete approves projects to make sewer system more resilient "I shouldn't have to worry about my house flooding if the county would do their job that I'm begging for help," she said. The Inman's saw water creeping up with Hurricanes Helene and Milton. During Tropical Storm Debby, water came right up to their house and poured inside their bathroom. "The water had come to a point where it just was coming in. We had to vacuum so we had two vacuums going, and we vacuumed the water all night," said Mark. Sue said before Debby hit, she had been calling for help in clearing ditches in their neighborhood. MORE: Lake Bonny residents brace for new hurricane season after Milton's devastating flooding "It's a huge problem," she said. "We have, there's ditches right down the street from us here that have trees and bushes growing out of the ditches. It's obvious nothing has been done." Sue and Mark said they've contacted Sarasota County not just once, but more than a dozen times, and the only action she's seen are these white flags saying proposed excavation that have gone up. "Every time I call they say it's in progress. Well I'm not seeing any progress and we need help," she said. Why you should care They're not alone. Countless other residents have expressed concerns to Sarasota County commissioners. "It is such an urgency for this community. It is important. I think public confidence has waned in us," said County Commissioner Tom Knight. READ: Tampa Bay residents learn DIY ways to keep floodwaters out this hurricane season Big picture view That's why Knight has proposed a new department to take on stormwater management. "It's a heavy lift on one division, especially after a hurricane, and we hear commentary that we are still digging out from last hurricane," he said. Knight wants an expert who knows the ins and outs of stormwater management and can help maintain the system and waterways like Midnight Pass and Phillippi Creek. "It's a freestanding position. I think this county has grown so rapidly that we want to make sure there is public confidence in what we are doing, and I think we've heard them loud and clear," said Knight. Sue said she has reached out to Knight, Governor Ron DeSantis and others, and with no response, she and her husband are preparing now for what they could face. MORE: St. Pete playwright writes kid's audiobook to help navigate hurricane stress during storm season "What they have working now is not working," said Sue. The other side In a statement to FOX 13, Sarasota County said they will expedite the request to clear storm drains off of Bell Avenue. Here's a statement from the county: "We are aware of the concerns on Bell Avenue, and we are actively working to excavate all ditches throughout the county. We have hired contractors to assist us in meeting this demand. One will be starting this week excavating ditches, with the second joining later this month that will be responsible for cleaning the pipes that connect ditches. The locates have been called in and the ticket for the infrastructure to be notated and marked to be excavated." What's next Next month, Sarasota County commissioners will hear from County Administrator Jonathon Lewis about options for creating a new stormwater division. Commissioners have said this should not duplicate services already offered. The Source Information was gathered by FOX 13's Kimberly Kuizon from concerned residents and from the June 3, 2025, Sarasota County Commission meeting. WATCH FOX 13 NEWS: STAY CONNECTED WITH FOX 13 TAMPA: Download the FOX Local app for your smart TV Download FOX Local mobile app:Apple |Android Download the FOX 13 News app for breaking news alerts, latest headlines Download the SkyTower Radar app Sign up for FOX 13's daily newsletter

Rich Tettemer to Retire from WWLP in Massachusetts After 37 Years
Rich Tettemer to Retire from WWLP in Massachusetts After 37 Years

Yahoo

time13 hours ago

  • Yahoo

Rich Tettemer to Retire from WWLP in Massachusetts After 37 Years

WWLP anchor Rich Tettemer is retiring after 37 years at the Springfield, Massachusetts NBC affiliate. He started his career as a videotape editor at WFLA in Tampa, Florida in 1984 and went on to become a weekend sports anchor at KODE in Joplin, Missouri. Tettemer joined WWLP on Patriots Day, April 18, 1988 with the with both the Boston Marathon and the Red Sox morning game. He was named a morning anchor on October 16, 2006, after 18 and a half years on the sports desk and has been the morning news anchor for another 18 and a half years. Below, Massachusetts Governor Maura Healey, along with his colleagues said goodbye to Tettemer. Tettemer will be replaced by reporter Julia O'Keefe. She'll join Kaelee Collins on Monday. Last week, weather reporter Jack Wu said he was leaving the station for a job in West Palm Beach, Florida.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store