Manatee County Residents’ Resources for Milton Recovery

MANATEE COUNTY — Help is on the way for Manatee County residents seeking assistance in the wake of Hurricane Milton. 
 
Understanding that many residents are in need due to Hurricane Milton, Manatee County has launched an online self-reporting tool to help determine priorities and respond faster. Please go to mymanatee.org/miltonhelp to request immediate needs—food, water, medical assistance or other essentials. This will help the county assess and respond to needs appropriately.
 
Residents impacted by Hurricane Milton can now apply for Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) disaster assistance through December 11. Citizens should note that a separate application must be made for Milton assistance, even if applications were filled out for FEMA assistance involving Hurricane Debby or Hurricane Helene.
Those seeking benefits must apply in one of three ways:

• Going to DisasterAssistance.gov
• Using the FEMA APP
• Calling 800-621-3362 

A total of 60 clients remain in the special needs evacuation center as county staff works to ensure they can go back to home with power. A Red Cross shelter is now open at First Methodist Church (603 11th St. W., Bradenton), to provide temporary shelter for those displaced by Hurricane Milton. Pets must be brought in crates. For additional information, please download the Red Cross app.
 
In coordination with Pafford Medical Services, Manatee County has opened two Health and Wellness Centers to serve residents affected by Hurricane Milton. The locations are in Rubonia/Palmetto (1309 72nd St. E., Palmetto), and the Island communities (5701 Marina Dr., Holmes Beach). These locations are scheduled to operate from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily (subject to change). Services include wound care and treatment, and general wellness checks. Tetanus and Tdap vaccinations and any additional support for hurricane victims.
 
Continued hard work from Manatee County Public Works crews have brought an additional 20 intersection lights back online today, with a total of 151 now in normal operations, 40 on generator power and 24 in flash mode. 95 signals are still needing attention, but steady progress is being made toward a more typical Monday morning commute. Drivers are still advised to treat any intersection without or malfunctioning signals as a four-way stop.
 
It is important to remember that despite many of the island communities reopening for residents and business owners to clean-up, our beaches remain closed currently for storm repairs until further notice. 

As of Tuesday, a total of 494 stop signs have been repaired or replaced through the county. 212 signalized intersections are back in working order, with 62 on Generator, 24 on flashing operation and just 13 signals remaining out. Drivers are still advised to treat any intersection with non-working or malfunctioning signals as a four-way stop.

A FEMA Disaster Recovery Center (DRC) has been established at the G.T. Bray Park gymnasium (5502 33rd Avenue Drive West, Bradenton). Hours are 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday - Saturday. All FEMA applicants are reminded that they must provide identification at the time of visit. Because of high volume at the DRC, FEMA reps are asking those who can to use one of several ways to apply: Go online to DisasterAssistance.gov, use the FEMA App or call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. The telephone line is open every day and help is available in most languages.

The Small Business Administration (SBA) has established a Business Recovery Center (BRC) at the Rocky Bluff Branch Library (6750 US-301, Ellenton) open Monday-Saturday 9a-6p. 

Manatee County Area Transit (MCAT) Fixed Route Bus Service will run hourly between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. beginning Wednesday, Oct. 16 and for the rest of the week with the following routes active:

• Route 1 – Palmetto-Ellenton – will run one bus hourly from Downtown Bradenton to the Ellenton Outlet Mall
• Route 2 – East Bradenton-Samoset – one bus hourly
• Route 3 -- Manatee Avenue East and West – two buses hourly (bus does not go to Anna Maria Island)
• Route 4 -- 9th Avenue East ONLY (Downtown to Walmart SR70) - one bus hourly
• Route 5 -- AMI Trolley -- one trolley hourly (no connecting routes)
• Route 6 -- Cortez Road -- one bus hourly DeSoto to 75th St. W. and Blake Hospital
• Route 8 – Oneco Bayshore – one bus hourly
• Route 12 -- State Road 70 -- one bus hourly
• Route 16 -- 15th St E/Tallevast – one bus hourly
• Route 99 -- (US 41-14th ST W) – two buses hourly connect to Sarasota Breeze Service at SRQ
• Route 201 and Route 13 -- (Palmetto-Rubonia) -- one bus hourly connecting at Walmart or Palmetto Station
• Route 203 – (Pinellas VA at Bay Pines) -- one bus on regular schedule

Operation Blue Roof will be at Braden River Library Branch Wednesday from 9 am to 5 p.m. The library will be closed, but the front room will be open for Operation Blue Roof. More information is available at army.mil. 
Please continue to monitor the County's social media accounts for updates. Official storm information from Manatee County is always updated at mymanatee.org/storm.