Manasota’s barrier islands have taken the brunt of the hurricane.
By Johannes Werner
Original Air Date: September 27, 2024
Host: Hurricane Helene has blown past us — fortunately at a good distance in the Gulf. But that didn’t mean a lot to thousands of Sarasota and Manatee residents reeling from the impact of the huge storm here. The big hazard this time was storm surge, and Florence Fahringer will have a separate report on that issue later on this newscast. In the meantime, here’s a first overall assessment.
Flooded road on St. Armands
Johannes Werner: On the barrier islands, police and fire rescue were still searching for people in need of help and completing human needs assessments. First responders in the City of Venice had been conducting high-water rescues all morning in a still-flooded coastal neighborhood along Tarpon Center Drive. The Sarasota Police Department posted drone footage from early Friday showing St. Armands Key underwater. Even so, county and city crews all over the region were beginning to assess the damage today.
The picture that’s emerging doesn’t look good for barrier island residents. Manatee County Commission Chair Mike Rahn said it may be “days or maybe even weeks” before residents of Anna Maria can return to live there. But first of all, he tried to get across that first responders were still at work, and that viewing the damage isn’t possible yet.
Mike Rahn: Citizens, we are here to help you, believe it or not. It’s a very serious situation out there on the islands. So if you need help, we are here. Dial 311. We’re available to come out and help you.
Don’t be a disaster tourist. Last thing we need is people out there looking at what’s going on out there, the flooded homes and the damage that’s been done out there on the island. So please do not be a disaster tourist.
Storm surge in Venice
The beaches have been dramatically affected by unprecedented storm surge from five to seven feet along the coast in the beaches. So you can imagine what devastation that has happened. We’ve had historic storm surge at our port dating back to 1980, well over two and a half feet at the port. This is why we push so hard for evacuations when these storms start coming; and this is why we — for our infrastructure — we shut off the water and we shut off power to protect our citizens.
Evacuation orders have been lifted. However, we urge citizens to use extreme caution when they’re out on the islands walking around. Make sure you’re in a safe area. Gulf Drive is closed. It’s impassible. The islands remain closed. So if you don’t live there or you’re trying to get on the islands, they’re not gonna let you on. Also, there has been a sunset to sunrise curfew on the islands. So if the sun goes down, be inside, sun comes back up, you can go back outside, but be safe.
JW: Likewise, Sarasota County advised not to drive to the barrier islands, saying that roadways were still flooded. While the North and South bridges to Siesta Key were opened today, the county soon clarified that it would only allow access to residents. They underlined the message by posting pictures of flooded streets on Siesta Key, St. Armands Circle, and of Casey Key Road, which was smashed to pieces by waves.
Stranded truck on Anna Maria Island
The Town of Longboat Key is urging residents to hold off returning, saying town officials will notify of re-entry once damage assessments are complete. It didn’t say when that may be the case. Re-entry will be based on a tiered system that considers health and safety issues. People seeking to re-enter the island must provide proof of residency. As of now, the town is still in search and rescue mode, and accounting for people who may need assistance.
As of midday Friday, water on Longboat Key was still shut off, there were widespread electrical outages, and “many roads” remain flooded, blocked and unsafe. The town said there were reports of damaged buildings and vehicles, but didn’t specify.
The situation is similar a few miles north, on Anna Maria Island. Drone footage and photos show streets that have dried up, but are filled with sand. Manatee County police have established a roadblock on Palma Sola Causeway, the main entryway to the key. The Causeway remains closed for everyone, except first responders. The Holmes Beach Police Department says they don’t have a timeline when the Causeway will reopen.
As to damage to public infrastructure, Manatee County Commission Chair Mike Rahn described the main thoroughfare on the keys as quote “done, beyond repair”. The City of Venice reported that Humphris Park, South Jetty and Jetty Jacks suffered catastrophic damage.
Rescue operations in Venice
The City of Bradenton announced this morning that, because the storm surge QUOTE put strain on its water system, it is urging residents to conserve water for the next 24 to 48 hours. Ways to conserve water are delaying laundry and dishwashing, taking shorter showers, turning off water while toothbrushing or shaving, and skipping lawn watering. In a response to a citizen comment to the announcement on Facebook, a city official said the wastewater treatment plant’s reservoir has been “affected” by the storm surge and higher river water. This is not the first time Bradenton’s aging water and sewage system is facing challenges. During Hurricane Debby in August, the city faced a similar problem.
Bradenton Mayor Gene Brown addressed the issue at a press conference today.
Gene Brown: Our water system had a breach; when the surge came up, it went into our fresh water and we had to work through things this morning. That happened early, one, two o’clock in the morning. By 6 AM, Crews were out with the county in the city really working to collaborate, get that together, so we can keep water flowing to our citizens. And that really made a difference in getting it started. We’ve been working with the DEP to make sure our water is safe. Our water is safe to drink. And that’s one of the things we’re working through, Kelley Boatwright, with the governor’s office, and working with the governor this morning and communication, they kept that going. And that’s important because you know, when you look at anything, water is crucial. We are going to bring in some water to help residents. The water is safe to drink. It’s going to have a little bit of a taste or a little bit of smell maybe, but we will have excess water and that’ll go on the City of Bradenton website. One of the things we’re going to ask you to do in the City of Bradenton is conserve water. Take shorter showers. Brush your teeth a little quicker. Make sure you turn the water off. Go through it. Conserve. We will know over the next 24 to 48 hours how long this will take. But, the water is safe to drink. We want to stress that.
JW: A little more than 38,000 FPL customers were reported out of power in Manatee County and more than 37,000 in Sarasota County as of midday Friday. The Sarasota number is down from more than 40,000 early Friday. According to Devaney Iglesias, a regional representative for FPL, crews had restored power to two-thirds of customers who were subject to blackouts in Sarasota. Meanwhile, the map of Internet provider Xfinity shows thousands of outages in the Sarasota area, not just on the barrier islands.
If you have any reports of damage and disruption involving local roads, Sarasota County welcomes your contribution. The county put up a storm damage map that includes citizen-reported incidents.
For WSLR News, this has been Johannes Werner in Sarasota.
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