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Winds Rip Roofs Off Homes in Pasco County on Christmas Day

    Created: 12/25/2006 4:55:12 PM    Updated: 12/26/2006 3:13:31 PM
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WTSP-TV Video Report

By Dave Bohman WTSP-TV Tampa

SAN ANTONIO, FL -- Tom Altenburg grimaced when he looked out the broken window of his living room that overlooks the seventh tee of the Tampa Bay Golf and Country Club.

"Not a good Christmas day," said Tom Altenburg, home was damaged by storm.

Altenburg never imagined spending Christmas trying to secure a badly damaged home.

It is surrounded by debris from the roofs and carports even the holiday ornaments from his neighbors.

Part of his family room, is now without a roof.

"All of a sudden the wind picked up and things started flying through the house. I hollered out to my wife, 'Are you OK?' She was OK, just after a couch went flying across a living room," said Tom Altenburg.

"It was only a matter of seconds for us. But it's going to be a long time for those who have to clean up," said Tom Altenburg.

Linda Spaulding took a look around the neighborhood after being one of the lucky neighbors whose homes were spared. Her first view was of an uprooted tree across the street. Then she saw a toppled concrete light post, before seeing the homes of neighbors who will likely have to live somewhere else for several days... maybe weeks.

"And then when I walked out of my house and realized the damage to the people, you want to cry, we're all ok, I don't know of anybody that's been seriously injured. But it's the damage, and a Christmas memory that I wish we didn't all have to have," said Linda Spaulding.

Owners of the most badly damaged homes looked for blue tarps to cover their roofs, as a hard rain continued to fall. Officials estimated 80 homes were hit, 15 had extensive damage.

Tom Altenburg's home was one of the hardest hit, but he says a tough Christmas, could have been tougher.

"Lucky that we didn't get hurt. You can replace material. God was with us on that side," said Tom Altenburg.

Two people were taken to local hospitals, though none of the injuries are believed to be life threatening. We are told one individual had lacerations, another is an elderly stroke patient who was moved to a medical facility because his home lost part of its roof, and was condemned.

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