MANATEE COUNTY — Manatee County Emergency Managers have expanded their evacuation orders in advance of Hurricane Milton. In addition to the evacuation of all persons in Level A and B – and all residents or visitors in RVs or Mobile Homes – ahead of Hurricane Milton beginning at 2 p.m. Monday, Oct. 7, officials are now calling for anyone in Level C areas to evacuate as well.
“This is a serious storm,” said Manatee County Public Safety Manager Jodie Fiske. We need folks to take these evacuation orders seriously and get out of harm’s way.”
If you haven’t done so, learn your evacuation level at mymanatee.org/storm. As you and your family make your final preparations in advance of this storm, please take a moment to check on your neighbors… especially those who are elderly or have mobility issues. Make sure they have a plan for riding out the storm safely. Assist them if you can. If not, please call 311 to arrange transit to a shelter.
The following locations will be opening emergency shelters Monday afternoon:
A special needs shelter will also be opening for those who have pre-registered. If you haven’t registered yet, please do so at mymanatee.org/needs.
Extra debris collection vehicles are being pressed into service to speed Helene clean-up to completion. These debris crews will work as long as conditions allow to safely remove and dispose of this debris. Please note that it is very important that you do NOT put any additional debris at the roadside once the debris has been picked up in your area. Any debris left near the curb as Milton comes through can clog drain or become a projectile during high winds.
Garbage and recycling will not be picked up tomorrow (Tuesday Oct. 8) and Wednesday (Oct. 9) to focus on debris pick up. Manatee County contracted haulers will be joining the debris disposal efforts. They are out today for regular pickup and will transition after close of business Monday to debris duty.
Manatee County Area Transit (MCAT) will continue to operate as normal through Monday night. Beginning Tuesday, MCAT will operate emergency transfers to Shelters as long as they can. Transport from the islands to shelters will start at 2 p.m. today and occur on the hour until nightfall at the CVS (611 Manatee Ave., Holmes Beach)
Manatee County Government will be closing its offices and facilities today at the close of business today and will remain closed Tuesday (Oct. 8) through Friday (Oct. 11). As of today, all Parks are closed until further notice. The G.T. Bray Recreation Center and the Walton Racquet Center will be closed starting Tuesday October 8. Our facilities will be reopened once conditions have been deemed safe.
With a potential storm surge of 8-12 feet expected along coastal parts of the county, Manatee County Utilities Department will schedule the shut-off of potable water service and sanitary sewer service to the island cities of Anna Maria Island, Holmes Beach, Bradenton Beach, and the Town of Longboat Key tomorrow (Oct. 8) at 10 a.m. This necessary interruption of service will happen earlier to best ensure the utility infrastructure remains intact and to salvage the sewer lift stations. Also, the water will be completely shut off. There will not be residual pressure or flow that some may have experienced during Hurricane Helene.
Utilities staff continues to watch the lake level at the Manatee Dam. At 10 a.m. the level was at 37’ with inflow and outflow monitored minute-by-minute. Crews are also checking lift station operations throughout the county – including those that have been protected with tiger-dams. Up-to-date dam levels and stream elevation levels can be tracked at manatee.org/storm.
Continue to monitor local news and weather broadcasts as well as the County's social media accounts for updates. Official storm information from Manatee County at is always updated at mymanatee.org/storm.
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