HUDSON, Fla. — The Pasco County Sheriff’s Office, fire rescue and FWC worked to evacuate residents in a flooded neighborhood in Hudson due to impacts from Hurricane Idalia.
Officials said it has been a difficult operation, and dangerous for both residents and rescuers. The entire Sea Ranch neighborhood was underwater, and according to officials, it should have come as no surprise to residents who were ordered to evacuate two days prior.
Many residents decided to stay, and as water levels got higher and higher, dozens of them needed to be rescued.
Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco described what it was like passing family after family in need of help.
“We found one woman, she had called 911 waving us down. We were able to get her on the truck and get her medication. The nextdoor neighbor saw us, they said, ‘Can you get us too?’”
Pasco County Sheriff Chris Nocco helping rescued residents to safety in Hudson. #HurricaneIdalia @PascoSheriff @bn9weather @BN9 pic.twitter.com/7fUPA3MvDM
— Cait McVey (@CaitMcVey) August 30, 2023
FWC airboats turning onto Sea Ranch Drive in Hudson as water rescues continue. Officials say they’ve had to help dozens of residents out of their flooded homes…they were ordered to evacuate two days ago. #hurricaneidalia @MyFWC @bn9weather @BN9 pic.twitter.com/QZsLk4LCo6
— Cait McVey (@CaitMcVey) August 30, 2023
There were also several fires at homes in those areas. Nocco said while crews are still trying to get to those homes, those fires are not spreading and at this point, and no injuries reported as of Wednesday afternoon.