Flooding forces evacuations near Tampa

TAMPA - Fifteen families in southeast Tampa have been evacuated from their homes because of severe rain and heavy flooding.

Hillsborough County Fire Rescue says that crews evacuated the families in the Progress Village area of Tampa on Wednesday evening. Rescue crews from multiple fire stations and sheriff's office boats took the families to safety.

The Progress Village Baptist Church served as a staging area for evacuees. The American Red Cross established an evacuation shelter and prepared hot meals for the responders.

Authorities say all the evacuees opted to stay with family members instead of the shelter. Rescue crews were planning to conduct surveys early Thursday morning to assess the flooding before families could return.

The Associated Press