Locals concerned about Isaac's effects
LEESBURG
THERESA CAMPBELL | Staff Writer
[email protected]
Isaac didn't make a direct hit on Florida, but local residents, along with Lake and Sumter officials, are still concerned about the storm's residual effects.
"I figured I better get gas now," Fay Craft of Leesburg said Monday, as rain from the outer bands of the storm came down while she topped off her vehicle at BP in Leesburg.
She was concerned by news reports that the storm had shuttered oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico, and she wanted to make sure she had enough fuel for an out-of-state trip later this week.
"If they stay closed, am I going to have trouble getting gas?"
The federal Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement said the Gulf of Mexico accounts for 23 percent of total U.S. crude oil production, 7 percent of the nation's natural gas and more than 40 percent of refining capacity.
Marelise Williams was filling up her vehicle, too, because of the storm. She expects Isaac to result in a jump at the pump. Monday's fuel prices were $3.65 a gallon at several stations along U.S. Highway 27/441.
"Gas has been going up and we were hoping that it wouldn't, but what can we do about it?" Williams said.
The National Hurricane Center predicts Isaac to hit sometime today along a roughly 300-mile stretch from the bayous southwest of New Orleans to the edge of the Florida Panhandle with winds between 74 and 95 mph.
Sumter Electric Cooperative spokesman Barry Bowman said Isaac's outer storm bands could still pose problems for Lake and Sumter counties because of the potential for tornado activity, heavy rain and higher winds.
"Unlike much of the country, we've had a tremendous amount of rain over the past two months," he said. "Our ground is super saturated at this point so this storm could result in our giant, shallow rooted live oaks to fall causing some (power) outages."
An estimated 65,000 South Florida residents were without power as of noon Monday.
Florida Blood Centers spokesperson Pat Michaels said Isaac also cut back on blood donations over the weekend, "forcing operations to halt in many areas due to weather conditions." All blood types are needed, especially Rh negative blood types and platelets. Michaels said.
Florida Blood Centers has four locations in Lake County for people to donate: 170 East North Boulevard in Leesburg, 1550 Bella Cruz Drive in The Villages, 3195 Waterman Way in Tavares and 1200 Oakley Seaver Blvd. in Clermont.
Although government offices and schools were open Monday, Isaac caused some meetings to be cancelled, including a town hall meeting planned for 6 p.m. by county officials at King's Ridge in Clermont. That meeting has been rescheduled for October.
SECO, which serves 177,000 customers in parts of seven central Florida counties, has www.secostormcenter.com and www.secoenergy.com, both of which contain very good storm information.
"Today we'll continue to see rainfall across our entire seven county service territory," Bowman said Monday. "Rain bands from Isaac will be felt throughout day and especially this afternoon."
The National Weather Service was predicting an 80 percent chance of rain Monday night with wind gusts as high as 25 mph. Today, there is a 60 percent chance of precipitation and wind gusts as high as 20 mph.
Bowman offered the following tips for residents in the aftermath of any storm damage:
-- With torrential rain comes the possibility of flooding. Pools of water can be extremely deep and pose a hazard to vehicles and to people. They can also hide wires lying on the ground under the water. Use extreme caution around standing water.
-- Watch out for wires that are on the ground or dangling. Even though they may not be sparking, these lines may still be energized and should be reported to SECO as soon as possible. Do not touch fallen or sagging wires of any kind and warn others to stay away.
-- Stay clear of service trucks and other equipment because crews will be intent on making repairs and may not see you.
LEESBURG
THERESA CAMPBELL | Staff Writer
[email protected]
Isaac didn't make a direct hit on Florida, but local residents, along with Lake and Sumter officials, are still concerned about the storm's residual effects.
"I figured I better get gas now," Fay Craft of Leesburg said Monday, as rain from the outer bands of the storm came down while she topped off her vehicle at BP in Leesburg.
She was concerned by news reports that the storm had shuttered oil rigs in the Gulf of Mexico, and she wanted to make sure she had enough fuel for an out-of-state trip later this week.
"If they stay closed, am I going to have trouble getting gas?"
The federal Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement said the Gulf of Mexico accounts for 23 percent of total U.S. crude oil production, 7 percent of the nation's natural gas and more than 40 percent of refining capacity.
Marelise Williams was filling up her vehicle, too, because of the storm. She expects Isaac to result in a jump at the pump. Monday's fuel prices were $3.65 a gallon at several stations along U.S. Highway 27/441.
"Gas has been going up and we were hoping that it wouldn't, but what can we do about it?" Williams said.
The National Hurricane Center predicts Isaac to hit sometime today along a roughly 300-mile stretch from the bayous southwest of New Orleans to the edge of the Florida Panhandle with winds between 74 and 95 mph.
Sumter Electric Cooperative spokesman Barry Bowman said Isaac's outer storm bands could still pose problems for Lake and Sumter counties because of the potential for tornado activity, heavy rain and higher winds.
"Unlike much of the country, we've had a tremendous amount of rain over the past two months," he said. "Our ground is super saturated at this point so this storm could result in our giant, shallow rooted live oaks to fall causing some (power) outages."
An estimated 65,000 South Florida residents were without power as of noon Monday.
Florida Blood Centers spokesperson Pat Michaels said Isaac also cut back on blood donations over the weekend, "forcing operations to halt in many areas due to weather conditions." All blood types are needed, especially Rh negative blood types and platelets. Michaels said.
Florida Blood Centers has four locations in Lake County for people to donate: 170 East North Boulevard in Leesburg, 1550 Bella Cruz Drive in The Villages, 3195 Waterman Way in Tavares and 1200 Oakley Seaver Blvd. in Clermont.
Although government offices and schools were open Monday, Isaac caused some meetings to be cancelled, including a town hall meeting planned for 6 p.m. by county officials at King's Ridge in Clermont. That meeting has been rescheduled for October.
SECO, which serves 177,000 customers in parts of seven central Florida counties, has www.secostormcenter.com and www.secoenergy.com, both of which contain very good storm information.
"Today we'll continue to see rainfall across our entire seven county service territory," Bowman said Monday. "Rain bands from Isaac will be felt throughout day and especially this afternoon."
The National Weather Service was predicting an 80 percent chance of rain Monday night with wind gusts as high as 25 mph. Today, there is a 60 percent chance of precipitation and wind gusts as high as 20 mph.
Bowman offered the following tips for residents in the aftermath of any storm damage:
-- With torrential rain comes the possibility of flooding. Pools of water can be extremely deep and pose a hazard to vehicles and to people. They can also hide wires lying on the ground under the water. Use extreme caution around standing water.
-- Watch out for wires that are on the ground or dangling. Even though they may not be sparking, these lines may still be energized and should be reported to SECO as soon as possible. Do not touch fallen or sagging wires of any kind and warn others to stay away.
-- Stay clear of service trucks and other equipment because crews will be intent on making repairs and may not see you.