BRADENTON BEACH – In advance of Tropical Storm Idalia, which is forecast to potentially make landfall as a major hurricane on Florida’s west coast, city commissioners voted unanimously on Aug. 28 to declare a local state of emergency.
The state of emergency will remain in place until Tuesday, Sept. 5 and will be extended if needed.
“What we’re expecting now is a storm surge of 4-7 feet,” Bradenton Beach Police Chief John Cosby said. “Tuesday night around 1 a.m. is high tide. We’re going to have some water. That’s going to be our biggest issue. Winds anywhere from 35 (miles per hour) gusting to 73.”
At 2 p.m. Monday, a mandatory evacuation order was in place for Level A residents and all Manatee Couty residents in mobile home parks. The county also issued a voluntary Level B evacuation.
“The reason we’re issuing the evacuation order so soon is sometimes it takes people a while to get out,” Cosby said. “You don’t have to go at that time. You’re probably going to be pretty comfortable staying here through tomorrow (Tuesday). But tomorrow night is when you really need to start thinking about it.”
Cosby suggested people closely monitor the weather forecast.
“The concern is if it shifts to the right, we’re going to have a problem,” he said. “The best situation for us is it moves a little more to the left. The further away the better.”
He said city businesses, along with city hall, will be closed Aug. 29-30. Manatee County government offices closed at noon on Monday.
“There are three shelters open – Miller, Freedom and Mills,” Cosby said.
Virgil Mills Elementary School is located at 7200 69th St. E., Palmetto; Jesse P. Miller Elementary School is located at 6014 Third St. W., Bradenton and Freedom Elementary School is located at 9515 FL-64, Bradenton.
City officials said public works staff is preparing for the storm by checking storm drains and code enforcement is clearing the beaches. Construction sites in the city also will be shut down.
Cosby said there would be extra police staff on duty.
Residents who do evacuate Anna Maria Island will need to show a driver’s license as proof of residency upon return, Cosby said.
