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Pasco County and United Way partners to create Land O’ Lakes sinkhole fund Information

Monday, Jul 17, 2017 | On Target Page: Land O'Lakes, Law and Order

Pasco County and United Way partners to create Land O’ Lakes sinkhole fund ~~Local fund created to assist the victims of the Land O’ Lakes sinkhole~~ LAND O’ LAKES, FL ---- Pasco County and United Way of Pasco County have mobilized to create a local fund to assist the victims of the Sinkhole that occurred in Land O’ Lakes Friday morning. This fund includes a TEXT TO GIVE option. 100-percent of donated funds will be used to assist victims in their recovery and zero administrative funds will be used by United Way of Pasco County. Due to this sinkhole, seven homes are still impacted (two destroyed and five homes tagged as unsafe for entry and have been evacuated as a precaution). Repair and recovery expenses will push these residents beyond their financial capacity. United Way will seek donations to match those made by concerned citizens in the community. “Our ability to work together alongside businesses, government, donors, and community leaders to answer this crisis demonstrates how we LIVE UNITED in Pasco County,” says Alice Delgardo, President/CEO of United Way of Pasco County. Citizens who need help can reach out to the following:  American Red Cross  The Salvation Army of Pasco County  Monday-Friday Pasco County Human Services at 727.847.2411  Or call the United Way of Pasco County 2-1-1; toll free at 1-877-828-8929 Ways to give:  Text the word SINKHOLE to 41444  Donate online – www.unitedwaypasco.org  Mail gift to – United Way of Pasco County – 17230 Camelot Court Land O’Lakes, FL 34638





Pasco County Sinkhole 9 a.m. Update 7/15/17 /////
New Info from: Kevin Guthrie/Asst County Administrator for Public Safety:

* No movement of the sinkhole as of 9 a.m. Saturday 7/15/17

* Water depth of the sinkhole has decreased 4-6 inches since its peak

* 11 homes have been affected in all

o Two homes destroyed

21835 ocean pines drive

21825 ocean pines drive

o Nine homes tagged as unsafe for entry and have been evacuated as a precaution

* A boat was located at 21825 and fell into the depression. The boat is where the sinkhole started

* Size: The sinkhole is 225 feet in diameter and 50 feet deep.

* Citizens who need help can reach out to the following:

o American Red Cross

o The Salvation Army of Pasco County

o Monday-Friday Pasco County Human Services at 727.847.2411

o Or call the United Way of Pasco County @ 211

* No injuries have been reported

* Pasco Emergency Management will be moving from response phase to a recovery phase which is expected to take weeks/months. Pasco County is now treating this as a hazmat incident due to possible septic tank issues and building debris

* The County will meet with homeowners and insurance companies to start mitigation

* It will take months to completely repair this sinkhole

* Geological experts are expected to be on scene over the weekend to help the County determine when people can get back in their homes

Info from: Jared Hill/Pasco County Sheriff's Office:

* Pasco Sheriff's Office will keep active presence in the community and will actively patrol all weekend to keep citizens safe

* Perimeter will stay up as long as requested to do so

* Deputies helped residents get personal affects out of their homes on Friday and will continue to do so this weekend.

Other Information:

* Initial call a "Depression opened up behind a home" at 21825 OCEAN PINES Drive, Land O' Lakes Friday morning 7/14/17

o First call came in to Pasco County communications at 7:21 a.m.

o Fire Rescue crews arrived at 7:36 a.m.

o 911 call available at https://www.media-alert.com/listings/Person.aspx?id=76258

CODE WORD: mediapic

* A State geologist has verified it's an active sinkhole

* Pasco Fire Rescue rescued two dogs from one home on 7/15/17

* On scene on Friday were: Pasco Sheriff's Office, Fire Rescue, Pasco Emergency Management, Public Information Office, Road and Bridge, Building Inspections, Red Cross, Duke Energy, Spectrum, Florida Division of Emergency Response, Florida Dept of Health, and Florida Department of Environmental Protection.

* 100 homes were without power on Friday 7/14/17 in the neighborhood all had power restored by 3 p.m. Friday except for the homes evacuated

* Pasco Sheriff's Office has Ocean Pines Drive shutdown to local traffic only.

* Pasco Housing inspections took place at the following properties due to previous sinkhole activity:

o 21825 Ocean Pines Drive, a housing investigation took place on 2.14.2007 but no notes on what was done to the property

o 21835 Ocean Pines Drive, Housing inspection took place on 7.5.2012. No remediation was done until 4.8.16. 33 underpins were placed on the property at a cost of $30,000.

* Drone video from PascoCounty Libraries of the sinkhole in Land O' Lakes is available on twitter @pascocountypio or online at bit.ly/2unSwhj

* Follow @PascoCountypio for updates on twitter.

Doug Tobin Pasco County PIO

Dtobin@pascocountyfl.net

https://www.facebook.com/likebn9/videos/10159078629120192/

ITEMS BEING COLLECTED
Clothes, shoes, housewares, decor, furniture, toys, non perishable food, toiletries, cleaners, first aid/medicine, family one has two dogs, NEW undergarments for all family members. sizes listed in separate post, towels, bedding, tv's, basically anything you would need in a home if you were starting over. Please only donate items in good used condition. One teen will need school clothes and school supplies. I have some furniture being donated tomorrow for family number two. Big items can not be dropped off at business locations. Please pm 2nd VDG Claudette Henry with big item info and we can see if there is a family that needs it. I'm trying to get a short term storage unit donated.

Gift cards for groceries, gas, restaurants, clothes, shoes etc will also be a huge help. If you prefer to donate directly to the families, please donate to their go fund me accounts (family one has one set up and family two will be setting something up soon). Again, there are many displaced families that will also need support, so some donated items will go to them as needed and they will not have go fund me pages to support their needs.

We are all truly amazed by the wonderful community we live in. Both families are extremely grateful for the outpouring of love and support that you ALL are giving them and I know that each and every one of you helped them rest just a little bit easier tonight knowing that they live in a community that truly cares about them.

Yours in Friendship & Service,

Lion Claudette Henry, 2VDG
Club President
Lutz-Land O'Lakes Lions Club
District 35-I

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