Tornado cleanup continues at Pasco jail

LAND O'LAKES -- Many of the more than 150 inmates evacuated from two temporary structures just before a tornado struck Sunday have been moved to nearby counties, Pasco Sheriff Bob White said today.

In a morning press conference, White said cleanup work -- by county workers and jail inmates -- was continuing at the complex off U.S. 41 in central Pasco County.

About 5 a.m. Sunday, a tornado spawned by thunderstorms moving in from the gulf swept down the long road leading to the jail. Moments earlier, deputies had emptied two tentlike buildings used to house inmates at the overcrowded jail. As the last of them entered the main building, power blinked out and the sounds of one of the tents blowing apart were heard. No one was injured.

The storm also blew air conditioning units off the roof, ruined a hydroponic lettuce farm that feeds the inmates and knocked out power to thousands throughout the Tampa Bay area Sunday.

Estimates on the cost of the damage were not available Monday morning. White said he has met with Pasco County Administrator John Gallagher about replacing the demolished structure. He said rebuilding the hyrdoponic farm would cost about $125,000.

As of 10 p.m. Sunday, White said, 85 female inmates were moved to the jail in Hernando County, 50 men went to Marion County, and 49 men and women remained in Pasco. They were using beds in common areas.

The jail has a capacity of 793. White said the head count Monday morning was at 1,113.

- Molly Moorhead, Times staff writer

Comments

[alyssa]

my boyfriend got sent to marion county. word has it that the jail will be releasing inmates who are already sentenced,who are non-violent,and who have 4 months or less left in jail. i'm not positive but if anyone knows or heard that too please comment back! thanks. and thank god that everyone was safe from the tornado.

[susan]

i just wanted to tell you from first hand that the jail said they took care of the inmates. well they left us in one of the pods with only some mattress that lined the walls and not a sheet or anything . we froze for almost two days and had to lay practically on top of other women to get warm. the red cross would of took better care of us.