The Shields Painting Difference: Perfection with Every Brush Stroke
Many painting companies in Florida rely on flashy marketing and big promises to try and attract new clients. But when it comes time to work, they fall short of their promises. This is often due to a lack of experience, qualified painters, and a drive to overachieve. At Shields Painting, we do things a little differently than other painting companies in Citrus County. We believe that a professional paint job should be as close to perfect as possible. Our goal is to leave you 100% satisfied, whether we're touching up an old residential paint job or performing a complex commercial project. It might sound simple, but we achieve that goal through honesty, hard work, beautiful results, and reasonable pricing.
As a family-owned and operated painting company in Ridge Manor, FL, we strive to provide personalized, professional, and friendly service. Shields Painting has been in business since 1968 for a good reason. Whenever possible, we go the extra mile to make sure our customers are happy. Unlike some of our competition, we want to know all about your house or business painting project: your vision, your preferences, your challenges, and your goals. When we understand your needs, we can present you with a fantastic final product - one that you're proud to show off to friends and neighbors.
At Shields Painting, we combine our extensive experience with time-tested, meticulous painting processes, resulting in the highest quality painting results around. As a painting contractor in Citrus County, we can take on a variety of residential, commercial, and industrial projects in Florida.
A few of our most popular painting services include:
- Interior Painting
- Exterior Painting
- Residential Painting
- Commercial Painting
- Cabinet Painting
- Ceiling Painting
- Fence Painting
- Sign Painting
- MUCH More!
Our commercial, industrial, and residential painting contractors take the proper steps to protect your property and belongings while we work. Our team will clean up after ourselves, so your property is left clean and free of debris when we're done. After all, we think there's only one way to do a job, and that's the right way.
Painting Services
Eco-friendly & clean work area.
PDCA Certified Member.
Your Go-To House Painting Company in Ridge Manor, FL
Your home is a haven of relaxation and solitude. It is uniquely you - a place where you can express who you are through style and design. Whether you need interior touch-ups for your crown molding or a new exterior coat of paint, hiring a reliable painting contractor is the best way to get quality results.
At Shields Painting, we know how important it is to have a home that highlights your tastes and personality. That's why we offer an extensive array of residential painting services in Citrus County. As tempting as it might be to try a DIY paint job, without the proper skills and experience, there is a good chance that the results will turn out less than satisfactory.
High-quality painting requires skill, experience, and patience. If you're a homeowner who needs residential painting services but doesn't have the time, patience, or skills to handle the job, look no further than Shields Painting. We offer accuracy, precision, and longevity with each paint job we perform. Our customers choose Shields Painting for their home because they receive:
- Free Quotes with Detailed Project Breakdowns
- Affordable Pricing
- Expert Painting Contractors
- High-Quality Paint Products
- Combo of Traditional and Modern Techniques
- Well-Maintained Tools
- Unmatched Craftsmanship
- Friendly, Personalized Service
- Good Old-Fashioned Hard Work!
The majority of our house painting services come in two forms: interior and exterior.
Interior Residential Painting
As an interior painting contractor with decades of experience, our expert technicians have developed an interior painting process that maximizes quality and emphasizes customer satisfaction. We understand that interior painting goes beyond aesthetics. It protects your ceilings and walls and helps you sustain a healthier place to live for your family. When only the finest craftsmanship will do inside your home, Shields Painting is here for you.
Our seasoned team of painting experts and craftsmen is dedicated to respecting your space and providing you with the look and feel you're craving inside your home. Whether you bought a new house and want to make it your own or need minor touch-ups but have no time, Shields Painting is ready to tackle the job, no matter how small or large.
Unlike some painting companies, our interior house painters take the time to get the details right, every time. For instance, color is only one aspect of your interior paint job. The paint sheen or finish is just as important. Certain finishes are better for living rooms and bedrooms than in kitchens and bathrooms. We'll help you find the right finish and paint colors for your home, so you don't have to worry about touch-ups or repainting.
Some of our most popular interior house painting services include:
- Ceiling Painting
- Popcorn Ceiling Removal
- Living Room Painting
- Bathroom Painting
- Basement Painting
- Color Consultations
- More
Cabinet Painting
Citrus County cabinet painting deserves its own section on this page because it requires more time, skill, and quality paint than most sections of your home. If your home's cabinets are built into its woodwork, replacing them can be obnoxiously expensive. Compared to the cost of installing new cabinets, painting your kitchen cabinets is much more affordable.
At Shields Painting, we specialize in transforming old cabinets into new, gorgeous features that are just as usable as they are beautiful. Each step of our cabinet painting process is meticulous and thorough. And we'll take care of the entire job, from cleaning, prep, and sanding to priming, painting, and reassembly. This unique service lets you enjoy a brand-new look in your kitchen without having to go into debt by replacing your cabinets.
Whether your cabinets are new, but you want to change their color or you'd like to transition wood cabinets to a painted finish, Shields Painting has the expertise and experience to give you a new look you'll love.
Exterior Residential Painting
Your home - it's a place that not only keeps your belongings safe. It protects your family and loved ones, too. It's one of your largest investments, and like anything else of value, it should be protected. However, Florida weather can take a toll on your home's structure and paint, lowering your home's value and even putting your family at risk.
While it's true that a beautiful exterior affects your house's value, it shouldn't take thousands of remodeling dollars to make a positive change to your home. There's a fine line between reasonable pricing and top-quality painting, and that sweet spot is what Shields Painting aims for. If you want to transform how your friends and neighbors see your home, never underestimate the power of a professional paint job.
Our exterior residential painting services are designed to boost curb appeal, give your home a fresh look, and help it stand up to Florida's unique weather. But we provide more than that. When you hire Shields Painting for your outdoor painting project, you will enjoy peace of mind in knowing that your home is in truly capable hands. Our goal is to exceed your expectations and help bring out the best in your property, whether you need to re-stain your deck or remove old, peeling paint from your siding.
If you're on the hunt for the very best exterior painting contractor in Ridge Manor, FL, look no further than Shields Painting.
Some of our most popular exterior house painting services include:
- Vinyl Siding Painting
- Deck Painting and Staining
- Stucco Exterior Painting
- Wood Exterior Painting
- Porch Painting and Staining
- Soffit Painting
- Fascia Painting
- Window Painting
- Front Door Painting
- Thorough Painting Prep
- More
The Premier Commercial Painting Company in Ridge Manor, FL
When it comes to first impressions, your businesses' appearance plays an important role. Your commercial property's paint job factors into its overall aesthetics. A great-looking, well-maintained paint job can mean the difference between a customer walking in your storefront and passing by. Conversely, an old, worn-out commercial paint job can send the wrong message to prospective customers. If you can't take the time to keep up your property's appearance, why would a customer spend their hard-earned money on your products?
The same goes for your businesses' interior paint. Would you want to do business with a company that has peeling paint or unsightly crown molding? At Shield's Painting, our goal is to create a beautiful environment that your customers and employees will love inside and out. When you work with our business painters, you can rest easy knowing we treat your business like it were our own. We always clean up after ourselves and know that operations cannot come to a halt just because we're painting. As such, we'll work with your busy schedule to ensure the job gets done right the first time without disrupting your day-to-day commitments.
With decades of commercial painting experience, we know the demands of a commercial painting project necessitate a disciplined and focused approach from the start. Our team of business painters is committed to delivering quality, on-time results on every project, every time - no excuses
We offer professional business painting services to a variety of building types, including:
01
Industrial Painting
A high level of care and finesse are required to effectively paint an industrial property. At Shields Painting, we know that industrial paint jobs involve much more than aesthetics. That's why our industrial services are customized to your specifications, using industrial-grade materials that stand up to heavy-duty operations.
02
Retail Store Painting
Our commercial painters apply effective, yet appealing interior and exterior paint that stand up to the daily rigors of busy retail environments.
03
Small Business Painting
Do you own a restaurant franchise? Have a small "mom and pop" location that needs a fresh coat of paint? Shields Painting has the resources and reliability to efficiently get the job done the first time. That way, you can focus on serving your customers, not having your business repainted.
04
Healthcare Location Painting
From walk-in clinics to long-term care facilities, Shields Painting is sensitive to your patients' needs. We know you must protect your patient's privacy while maintaining productivity. Our approach to healthcare location painting centers around your schedule to avoid disruptions in care.
05
Apartment Complex Painting
Erase signs of wear and make your apartment complex or multi-family building a more desirable place to live with a stunning, professional paint job.
Florida's Most Trusted Painting Contractor
Shields Painting has been in the business since 1968. In a world where so much has changed, we are proud to uphold the ideals that make us successful: hard, honest work, getting the job done right, and excellent customer service. Providing you with trustworthy, quality work will always take priority over rushing through a project to serve the next customer. That is just not the way we choose to do business.
As professionals dedicated to perfection, we strive to provide a unique painting experience for every customer - one that focuses on their needs and desires instead of our own. Whether you need residential painting for your home or commercial painting for your business, we encourage you to reach out today to speak with our customer service team. Whether you have big ideas about a new paint project or need our expertise and guidance, we look forward to hearing from you soon.
352-212-1533Free Consultation
Latest News in Ridge Manor, FL
TROPICAL STORM IDALIA: Officials warn residents to prepare now, evacuate west of U.S. 19
VINCENT F. SAFUTOhttps://www.suncoastnews.com/news/tropical-storm-idalia-officials-warn-residents-to-prepare-now-evacuate-west-of-u-s-19/article_870ff936-45b8-11ee-9be7-b3c78cc53892.html
BROOKSVILLE – There’s no time to lose.Hernando County officials on Monday morning said residents should be getting ready now for a major hurricane to hit them.Tropical Storm Idalia is expected to strengthen and its center is expected to come ashore between Florida Big Bend and the Tampa Bay area.At present, there is a voluntary evacuation for areas west of U.S. 19 but that will become a mandatory evacuation on Tuesday, said Emergency Operations Manager Dave DeCarlo. The storm surge is expected to be six to ni...
BROOKSVILLE – There’s no time to lose.
Hernando County officials on Monday morning said residents should be getting ready now for a major hurricane to hit them.
Tropical Storm Idalia is expected to strengthen and its center is expected to come ashore between Florida Big Bend and the Tampa Bay area.
At present, there is a voluntary evacuation for areas west of U.S. 19 but that will become a mandatory evacuation on Tuesday, said Emergency Operations Manager Dave DeCarlo. The storm surge is expected to be six to nine feet on the coast, he said, and winds could be up to 115 mph. Not only that, the area will be hit with rainbands as the system works its way ashore, and tornadoes are possible.
Get your getaway kit together now, DeCarlo and Sheriff Al Nienhuis said, including important insurance papers, medications and things for your vehicle.
“Voluntary evacuations have been issued for all areas west of U.S. 19, which includes evacuation zones A, B and C,” the county said in a press release. “All residents living in coastal and low-lying areas, as well as manufactured homes county-wide, are included. Residents are advised to seek safe shelter with family or friends that reside in a safe structure.”
Shelters are set to open at noon on Monday in the following locations:
• West Hernando Middle School – Special Needs
14325 Ken Austin Pkwy., Brooksville
If you are needing the Special Needs Shelter and have a pet, transportation from either your house or shelter location for your pet is done through Animal Control with Hernando County Sheriff’s Office. Call the Hernando County Public Information Center (PIC) at 352-754-4083 to arrange pickup. The PIC is open.
• D.S. Parrott Middle School – General Population and Pet Friendly
19220 Youth Drive, Brooksville
• Nature Coast Technical High School – General Population
4057 California St. Brooksville
• Hernando High School – General Population, 111 Ernie Chatman Run, Brooksville
Meetings postponed
U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis’s office said Monday that the meetings schedule for Tuesday at the VFW in Spring Hill have been postponed.
Time to act
“I can’t emphasize enough that you need to take this storm seriously,” DeCarlo said, and heed evacuation orders. “If you live west of U.S. 19, please heed these warnings. You must evacuate if you don’t feel safe in your home.”
That also applies anywhere else in HernandoCounty, he said, especially if you live in an RV or a mobile home.
Right now, the EOC is at Level II activation, and will be at Level I on Tuesday, DeCarlo said.
Once the storm hits, roads will close and emergency services will stop until the storm stops impacting the area.
Nienhuis said this is probably going to be an overnight event. “Our citizens have got to be prepared before nightfall,” he said. “Which means everything gets backed up several hours.”
They are going to strongly advise people west of U.S. 19 to evacuate because even if you’re standing on the seawall, the water might be over your head.
“You’re going to want to get out early,” the sheriff said. You want to plan ahead and be in a safe place.
You will probably not be comfortable in a shelter for 36 to 72 hours, Nienhuis warned, but there will be security. Staying with family or friends is preferable.
DeCarlo said they wanted to give people enough time to get ready, and they realize that people are probably at work today.
Share plans with family and friends out of state, he said. You should be ready to be self-sufficient for five to seven days.
For storm-related questions, call 352-754-4083, DeCarlo said. Do not call 911 for storm-related questions so they can stay open for emergencies.
Sandbags
Sandbags will be available as long as possible at the following locations:
They will be open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Monday, Aug. 28, and 8 a.m. to noon on Tuesday, Aug. 29.
Linda Pedersen Park
6300 Shoal Line Blvd.
Spring Hill, FL 34609
Anderson Snow Park
1360 Anderson Snow Rd.
Spring Hill, FL 34609
Enter through the service road between the park and the gymnastics place, the sand is located at the end.
Ridge Manor Community Center
34240 Cortez Blvd.
Ridge Manor, FL 33523
City of Brooksville DPW (open 24/7)
600 S. Brooksville Ave.
Brooksville, FL 34601
These self-serve sandbag sites will remain open until weather conditions begin to deteriorate. Bring your own shovel.
Withlacoochee River draws concerns of contamination in Hernando, Pasco counties
WFLAhttps://www.wfla.com/news/withlacoochee-river-draws-concerns-of-contamination-in-hernando-pasco-counties/
RIDGE MANOR, Fla. (WFLA) – The Withlacoochee River is no longer rising after cresting Thursday, according to Hernando County officials.But officials are still concerned about what may be in the water, and how it might affect thousands of families in both Hernando and Pasco counties.Many living along SR 50 near Dade City and Ridge Manor worry that septic tanks could lead to possible contamination of drinking water in wells.“I’ve heard people talking like; I don’t want to get in it. Once again, none of us ...
RIDGE MANOR, Fla. (WFLA) – The Withlacoochee River is no longer rising after cresting Thursday, according to Hernando County officials.But officials are still concerned about what may be in the water, and how it might affect thousands of families in both Hernando and Pasco counties.
Many living along SR 50 near Dade City and Ridge Manor worry that septic tanks could lead to possible contamination of drinking water in wells.
“I’ve heard people talking like; I don’t want to get in it. Once again, none of us wants to get in it but we got to do what we got to do,” Rick Bowman a Ridge Manor resident says. The water is at his doorstep.
“A lot of dead fish, the smells from septic tanks and everything. If you go further in the back and wade through the water, you can smell everything,” Bowman says.
Hernando County officials don’t want residents to go into the water but suggest wearing waders or rubber boots if people must go in.
People with private wells are urged to have them tested and disinfected.
The water is expected to slowly recede, making a noticeable drop in level sometime Monday or Tuesday.
Hernando County officials released the following tips Thursday on how to handle septic tanks and well maintenance after the water recedes.Low to moderate fish kills are occurring in the Withlacoochee River likely as the result of lower dissolved oxygen levels associated with flooding due to Hurricane Irma. As the water level reaches flood stage and inundation of the floodplain occurs, organic matter from the swamps and wetlands disperses causing the dissolved oxygen levels to decrease. The decomposition of leaves, tannins, muck and woody debris consumes oxygen, reducing concentrations needed for fish to survive. This is a natural process that is heightened by warm temperatures.Residents should know that wading through flood waters is dangerous; but if you do, please take precautions such as wearing waders or rubber bootsInformation from the Health Department:If Your Home is Served by a Septic Tank:* If your plumbing is functioning slowly, you should conserve water as much as possible. Minimize the use of washing machines and flush toilets only as necessary. Utilize portable toilets where provided. Go to a Laundromat. Rental of a portable toilet for a temporary period may be another option. Fix any plumbing leaks as soon as possible.* DO NOT have the septic tank pumped. Exceptionally high water tables might crush a septic tank that was pumped dry. If the fundamental problem is high ground water, pumping the tank does nothing to solve that problem.* If you cannot use your plumbing without creating a sanitary nuisance, i.e., without sewage being exposed, consider moving to a new location until conditions improve.* Do not have your septic system repaired until the ground has dried up. Septic systems are generally functional once flood waters go down. Remember – if your system was damaged, repairs must be permitted and inspected by the county health department.If Your Home is served by a private well after the flooding subsides: * Disinfect your private well using the procedures available from DOH-Hernando or visit the Florida Department of Health website: http://www.floridahealth.gov/environmental-health/private-well-testing/index.html* You may also visit the US Environmental Protection Agency’s (US EPA) website for instructions: http://water.epa.gov/drink/info/well/whatdo.cfm* To further know if your water is safe, have your water tested by a certified laboratory for coliform bacteria if available. To find a certified laboratory, visit the following website: https://fldeploc.dep.state.fl.us/aams/index.asp* If your water system is under a boil water notice:o Boil the water before drinking, holding it in a rolling boil for one minute, oro Use bottled water for drinking.
STORIES OTHERS ARE CLICKING ON-
City To Expand Again With Large Voluntary Annexations
Robert Connorshttps://www.lakewalesnews.net/story/2022/01/19/news/city-to-expand-again-with-large-voluntary-annexations/2914.html
Managing EditorThe land within the yellow boundaries are being brought into the city city limits of Lake Wales by Hunt Bros. The property extends from Scenic Highway to Eleventh Street, and lies north of Passion Play Road. Ridge Manor is visible at the top left of the photo, and Whispering Ridge at the top center. The parcel lying along Lake Belle and on the peninsula at the left of the photo is the future site of the BelleLago subdivision.The ongoing transition of the ...
Managing Editor
The land within the yellow boundaries are being brought into the city city limits of Lake Wales by Hunt Bros. The property extends from Scenic Highway to Eleventh Street, and lies north of Passion Play Road. Ridge Manor is visible at the top left of the photo, and Whispering Ridge at the top center. The parcel lying along Lake Belle and on the peninsula at the left of the photo is the future site of the BelleLago subdivision.
The ongoing transition of the Lake Wales area from broad tracts of citrus to new housing projects is taking another leap forward as two prominent citrus families have proposed voluntary annexations totaling some 266 acres. The tracts lie immediately north and south of the present city center. Annexation will make the sites eligible for municipal water and sewer services, allowing development at attractive densities.
The largest of the new annexation applications covers about 236.57 acres lying immediately south of the Ridge Manor neighborhood and north of Passion Play Road. It stretches from Scenic Highway through to 11th Street. The lands, which encompass 14 parcels, are owned by Hunt Bros Inc., and are almost entirely in citrus at this time. They lie between two other tracts marked for housing development on the booming south side of the city.
The second parcel of 29.94 acres is owned by the Story Family Limited Partnership LLLC, and lies to the south of Old Scenic Highway and the Duke Energy complex. It, too, is entirely in citrus, and borders upon a small water body known as Lake Caroline.
Major housing developments are already proposed for a wide swath of lands bordering the city's south and east sides. They include Bellelago, proposed for the south side of Lake Belle west of Scenic Highway, and the 600-home Hunt Club project south of the East Gate Shopping Center and east of 11th Street. In between will be a second phase of Whispering Ridge, and another recently-annexed tract just south of Belleview and the Mid-Florida Railroad.
There are presently some 20 tracts of land in various stages of development or development planning within the city limits, lying at virtually every point of the compass. Taken together they would be capable of hosting in excess of 10,000 residential units, including single-family homes, townhomes, and apartments.
Hernando planning commission gives nod to Dollar General store in Ridge Manor
Barbara Behrendthttps://www.tampabay.com/news/localgovernment/hernando-planning-commission-gives-nod-to-dollar-general-store-in-ridge/2192426/
BROOKSVILLE — Plans for a new Dollar General store in Ridge Manor got a push forward Monday, despite concerns from apartment dwellers who will be displaced.The store was one of several applications that sparked discussion before the Hernando County Planning and Zoning Commission.Teramore Development LLC applied for a rezoning that would allow construction of a Dollar General store on 2 acres on the south side of Cortez Boulevard west of Treiman Boulevard. The site is in a commercial corridor, and a retail store at that lo...
BROOKSVILLE — Plans for a new Dollar General store in Ridge Manor got a push forward Monday, despite concerns from apartment dwellers who will be displaced.
The store was one of several applications that sparked discussion before the Hernando County Planning and Zoning Commission.
Teramore Development LLC applied for a rezoning that would allow construction of a Dollar General store on 2 acres on the south side of Cortez Boulevard west of Treiman Boulevard. The site is in a commercial corridor, and a retail store at that location would be appropriate, applicant representative Todd Pressman told planning commission members.
But Aubrey Lopez, a resident of Ridge Manor Garden Apartments, located on the site, disagreed.
"We don't need another Dollar General store,'' Lopez said, pointing out that there are two other Dollar General stores just a few miles away. He said the apartment complex, where eight other tenants also live, is sturdy and that the apartments are available at a cost he and the others could afford.
Lopez noted that the tenants include an 80-year-old woman on government rent assistance, a retired veteran and a disabled woman.
"There are not that many low-income places to go in this area,'' he argued.
Pressman pointed out that, although the displacement of residents would be a difficult situation, it was outside the responsibilities of the planning commission. He and a representative of the developer said they would be sure that the landlord was urged to be in touch with his tenants to help out in whatever ways possible.
Planning commissioners agreed unanimously to recommend the rezoning to the County Commission.
• • •
In other action, a divided commission approved a special exception use permit to Charlotte Furey, allowing for the construction of a kennel on her 2 1/2-acre agricultural residential property at Orchard Way and Christine Lane in southern Spring Hill.
The kennel would be on land adjacent to the home she shares with David Hitchcock, where a garage currently is located. The facility would house up to 40 large dogs, 20 small dogs and 10 cats.
Next-door neighbor Stephen LaFrance had urged denial, citing concerns about his property value falling, increased traffic and barking dogs.
Planning Commission members John Scharch and Thomas Comunale voted against the permit.
"Seems to me that it could be quite noisy at times, given the number of animals,'' Scharch said.
Also gaining approval for a special exception use permit was an application for a place of public assembly and a substance abuse rehabilitation facility sought by the Coptic Orthodox Diocese of the Southern United States.
The facility, once used as a mental health facility by Baycare Behavioral Health, is on 9.6 acres off U.S. 98 north of Brooksville.
Hernando, Fla., Is Getting Ready for Two Disasters, Not One
Jamal Thaljihttps://www.govtech.com/em/preparedness/Hernando-Fla-is-Getting-Ready-for-Two-Disasters-not-One.html
(TNS) — Hernando Emergency Management Director Cecilia Patella doesn’t just have to get her county ready to face one worst-case scenario.She has to get them ready to face two worst-case scenarios.Her foremost concern, as of eight months ago, is a Hurricane Michael-type storm coming ashore in western Hernando, striking anywhere from Aripeka to Hernando Beach to Pine Island.“When we’re talking about scenarios, obviously that level of damage, for me, would be the worst-case scenario,” she said....
(TNS) — Hernando Emergency Management Director Cecilia Patella doesn’t just have to get her county ready to face one worst-case scenario.
She has to get them ready to face two worst-case scenarios.
Her foremost concern, as of eight months ago, is a Hurricane Michael-type storm coming ashore in western Hernando, striking anywhere from Aripeka to Hernando Beach to Pine Island.
“When we’re talking about scenarios, obviously that level of damage, for me, would be the worst-case scenario,” she said.
But in Hernando, the effects of such a major storm striking the west side would inevitably be felt on the east side of the county.
That’s because torrential rains and stormwater runoff will feed into the Green Swamp — a 560,000-acre ecosystem that sits in Hernando, Lake, Pasco, Polk and Sumter counties, feeds four rivers and provides much of central Florida’s drinking water.
Hernando Emergency Management Director Cecilia Patella [Times 2017]And then, days or weeks later, all that water will start to flow into the Withlacoochee River and threaten to flood neighborhoods and areas in eastern Hernando.
“If we’ve had a rainy season and then we get a significant storm that drops a huge amount of rainfall in the Green Swamp, that wave of water will flow north,” Patella said. “Then we anticipate that within 10 to 14 days, the river will start to rise well above its major flood stage — and then we will see significant flooding along the river.”
It happened in 2004, she said, when Hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne all impacted Florida.
So how does a county get ready for two natural disasters days apart?
Hernando’s emergency management plan is scalable, Patella said. That means officials can quickly ramp up their response, ordering more evacuations, opening more shelters and bringing in more supplies and help.
It helps that flooding is a slow-motion disaster. That’s how it happened in 2004.
“We had to literally wait until the hurricane winds were over, but we knew we had the luxury of time,” she said.
“Ten days of lead time is a long time to move assets into the area. The river is slowly rising so it gives residents some lead time.”
River residents also know the dangers they face from a major storm or rain event, and they wouldn’t live along the Withlacoochee unless they were prepared to take care of themselves until help arrived.
“They’re savvy,” Patella said. “They know the river. They’re very aware of their environment. I seldom hear from anyone in that area in a panic over the rising river.”
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