The skies were clear Tuesday morning in Tampa, but again rains were expected later in the day during what has been an intense period of wet weather that has led to widespread flooding in Hillsborough, Pinellas and Pasco counties.
Two days after Pinellas area U.S. Rep. David Jolly wrote a letter to the Federal Emergency Management Agency asking the federal government to pay special attention to the Tampa Bay area if it decides to deploy aid to Florida, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio is now following suit.
“Areas of the Tampa Bay region, along with parts of Central and North Florida, have seen record amounts of rainfall during the past few weeks,” Rubio wrote today to FEMA head Craig Fugate. “According to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration weather reports, these areas are likely to experience even more severe weather in the days and weeks to come.”
Flooding has been the major issue resulting from the constant rains. It has closed roads, forced evacuations and damaged some homes and apartment buildings.
Last week, Gov. Rick Scott declared a state of emergency for Dixie, Hillsborough, Pasco, Pinellas and Taylor counties, clearing the way for state aid to those counties.
