CORTEZ — Hurricane Milton is expected to bring high winds and a storm surge to the area late Wednesday night, and time was running short on Tuesday to remove household debris left out following Hurricane Helene.
On Monday, a Manatee County clean-up crew was in Cortez using a claw lift to put roadside household debris into the back of a dump truck.
Some of the roads there were cleared of debris, but others were not and, as of Tuesday afternoon, multiple piles of discarded items remained on side streets in Cortez and along the roads in Sunny Shores.
Manatee County spokesperson Bill Logan responded to an email from The Sun Tuesday afternoon, saying county clean-up crews will attend to Cortez Village and Sunny Shores.
“All haulers (including those who would normally be on trash/recycling routes) are working to clear the debris as they are able to get to it,” he wrote.
Homes in Cortez and Sunny Shores were inundated with more than three feet of water from Hurricane Helene’s storm surge and residents fear that floating debris during the storm surge from Hurricane Milton may cause further damage to their homes.
One Sunny Shores resident Tuesday said she hopes to see county cleanup crews.
“That would really help us if they did,” she said.
Hurricane Helene was the second deadliest storm in 55 years, Katrina being the first. Did we expect it? I didn’t, and I think most Florida coastal residents did not fully understand the danger of such a large storm and the biblical storm surge it brought.
There are so many moving parts involved in a real estate transaction that can go wrong, but the ultimate is when severe damage occurs when the property is under contract to sell. So who’s responsible for damaged property prior to a closing? The short answer is the seller.
Most contracts contain a “risk of loss” provision that almost always places the risk on the seller and could kill the deal. That doesn’t mean all buyers will walk away from a contract of sale, which they have the legal right to do. That said, some of the damage to properties on the Island is so severe there may not be any way back for buyers. It will be interesting to see if Manatee County proceeds with the purchase of the Seafood Shack property that was scheduled to close on Oct. 7. The building is standing, and I have not been inside, but the two very large dumpsters that are filled to the brim tells the story.
Since Anna Maria is a vacation paradise, what happens to the funds vacationers have already paid or have pending for a future booked date? All of this depends on the rental contract the renters signed, but on a small island dependent on renting vacation properties, I would be surprised if the owners and their realtors didn’t make these people whole.
As always, an attorney should be consulted to review your sale contract or your rental agreement if you find yourself in one of these two situations after the storm.
By now hopefully everyone with property damage has contacted their insurer and got the ball rolling for compensation. It will be a long, arduous process in addition to the emotional aspect of the storm not to mention the clean-up.
However, there will be properties that cannot be restored, and the danger of properties being condemned is certainly possible. My FEMA research tells me that FEMA does not have the legal authority to condemn or demolish houses or buildings. They can provide contractors to inspect disaster-related damage to homes and property, but they do not condemn property. Local jurisdictions have the legal authority to condemn your property, which is a complicated process. FEMA’s website on condemning property will give you more detailed information.
Unfortunately, in Florida, if your property is condemned, you will still need to repay your mortgage. If your property is condemned, you likely will receive a condemnation payment to help pay off the loan or you can work with your lender for a loan modification or forbearance.
Finally, as fate will have it, a new Florida law was enacted on May 30 this year requiring sellers to disclose if a property has filed insurance claims for flood damage and whether federal assistance has been granted due to flooding.
My husband and I live on the Intracoastal Waterway in Cortez and have never in 25 years seen water under our building – this time there was 4 feet. We didn’t evacuate and considered not even moving our car since with Idalia last year there was no water intrusion. Thankfully we were safe, our car was moved to higher ground and survived but it does give you pause when you see the destruction surrounding you.
We’ll talk more next week about how this phenomenon affects property values if at all and the overwhelming desire of humans to live near the water.
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – City and county officials are preparing for Hurricane Milton as the Hurricane Helene recovery efforts continue.
Mayor Dan Murphy and the Anna Maria City Commission held an emergency meeting this morning (Sunday) at 11 a.m. Manatee County public safety officials held a brief hurricane-related press conference at 1:30 p.m. this afternoon.
Anna Maria
The city of Anna Maria’s previously declared local state of emergency remains in effect as Tropical Storm Milton approaches Anna Maria Island as a potential Cat 2 or Cat 3 hurricane with possible life-threatening winds and storm surge.
This morning, Murphy ordered a mandatory city of Anna Maria evacuation effective at noon on Monday. This afternoon, Manatee County issued a mandatory evacuation for zones A and B effective at 2 p.m. Monday.
At 2:30 p.m. today (Sunday), Murphy sent city commissioners an email informing them that a Manatee County Sheriff’s Office re-entry checkpoint will be established at the entrance to the city at noon on Monday, but there is no city curfew in place at this time.
“Our intent is to not allow in sight-seers, party goers and looters and those who simply have no business or purpose in coming to our city at this time of emergency preparation,” Murphy stated in his email that noted the following vehicles will be allowed to pass through the Anna Maria checkpoint:
Vehicles with a city of Anna Maria re-entry tag
Residents with an Anna Maria address, supported by a driver’s license, state-issued ID, mail and deputy discretion.
Anna Maria property owners
Anna Maria vacation rental customers
Anna Maria business owners and employees
County, state and federal restoration employees
Building contractors/employees with an Anna Maria job site
Delivery vehicles (UPS, FedEx, Amazon, etc.)
Transport vehicles (Uber, Taxis, etc.)
Clean up workers with an Anna Maria destination
Debris haulers, street sweepers, etc.
Any other vehicles, at the sole discretion of the deputy on site
City-issued evacuation re-entry tags can still be acquired at city hall until noon on Monday when city hall is expected to close to the public until Hurricane Milton passes.
Debris removal
As of 11 a.m., Murphy was awaiting the arrival of 34 FDOT and/or National Guard dump trucks and claw trucks to help clear the Anna Maria rights of way of Hurricane Helene debris before Hurricane Milton arrives, with a focus on removing the debris along North Shore Drive, from Pine Avenue to the Rod & Reel Pier, and also along Bay Boulevard.
At 3:30 p.m., the following announcement was posted at the city of Anna Maria Facebook page: “The city of Anna Maria has employed debris removal trucks from five agencies to remove debris and deposit it either in Bayfront Park or to the Lena (Road) landfill. Although we have made some progress, the amount of debris is increasing exponentially and consideration must be taken for the impending effects of Hurricane Milton. Accordingly, do not place any further debris in the city right-of-way until after the hurricane passes. This debris can become dangerous projectiles; endangering lives, creating further property damage and blocking access to our streets. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.”
Holmes Beach, Bradenton Beach and Manatee County have issued similar debris placement requests.
Murphy said no looting has been reported in Anna Maria, but anything placed in the city right of way can be removed by scrappers and others and that is not considered looting or stealing.
Sandbags
Empty sandbags are available today and early tomorrow near the north end of Bayfront Park. You might want to bring your own shovel and someone to hold the bags while you fill them.
At 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Manatee County officials held a brief Hurricane Milton-related press conference. Public Safety Director Jodie Fiske announced mandatory evacuations in evacuation zones A and B beginning at 2 p.m. on Monday.
Fiske said the Hurricane Milton storm surge is expected to be worse than the Hurricane Helene storm surge and she strongly encourages anyone in evacuation zones A and B to heed the evacuation orders and find safety on higher ground. You can check your evacuation zone level and the potential storm surge inundation for your specific address at: https://www.mymanatee.org/residents/information
School closings
At 3 p.m. (Sunday) the Manatee County School District announced that Manatee County school and school-related will be closed Monday, Oct. 7, through Wednesday, Oct. 9. Some schools will be used as hurricane shelters.
ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Sea turtle nesting season comes to an early close due to the remaining nests being washed out by Hurricane Helene.
“We had eight nests left prior to Hurricane Helene and it’s likely that all eight washed out in the storm,” Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring Executive Director Kristen Mazzarella wrote in an email. “I was able to conduct a survey on the beach on Wednesday, Oct. 2 from Bean Point down to the Beach House restaurant; however was unable to traverse the beach any further. Six of the eight remaining nests were south of the Beach House, so I can only presume that they washed out due to the extent of the damage on that part of the Island.”
She issued the following nesting numbers for the 2024 nesting season:
4/15/2024 – 9/24/2024 Total nests: 685
Total false crawls: 835
Hatched nests: 303
Hatchlings produced: 20,557
Adult disorientations: 36
Hatchling disorientations: 54
Nests remaining on the beach: 0
“We will be spending the next few months reviewing the data for accuracy so that we can report our final numbers to FWC and Manatee County,” she wrote. “We are grateful to our volunteers and community members who helped us prepare for the storm such that our equipment and UTVs were safe during the storm. We are now focusing on helping our volunteers, assisting in beach cleanups, and doing what we can for the community of AMI.”
Turtle Watch’s major fundraiser, Suzi Fox Turtle Watch Wednesday scheduled for Oct. 23 at Hurricane Hank’s, has been postponed and a new date will be announced.
“Our hearts go out to our sponsors and volunteers that have sustained damage from the storm,” Mazzarella said. “We will let you know more when the Island is further along with cleanup efforts and rebuilding.”
ANNA MARIA – Prior to the approach of Hurricane Milton, Mayor Dan Murphy and city commissioners decided they would not enact a vacation rental moratorium.
Unlike the city of Holmes Beach, the cities of Anna Maria and Bradenton Beach are not enacting short-term vacation rental moratoriums. At the request of Gov. Ron DeSantis, the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) has issued an executive order pertaining to short-term rentals.
On Wednesday, the Holmes Beach City Commission enacted a 45-day vacation rental moratorium ordinance that took effect immediately regarding current and pending vacation rental stays. The moratorium does not prevent vacation rental owners and management companies from renting their properties to displaced residents and other Hurricane Helene victims, and city officials encourage doing so.
On Monday, the Anna Maria City Commission reached a unanimous consensus not to enact a vacation rental moratorium. On Thursday, the Bradenton Beach Commission reached a similar decision.
Anna Maria discussion
On Sept. 30, Murphy told city commissioners he received a call from Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer earlier that day informing him the city of Holmes Beach was considering enacting a vacation rental moratorium and inquiring whether the city of Anna Maria had similar intentions.
“I don’t think it’s the right thing to do,” Murphy said. “If we were to pass such an ordinance, the state of Florida will call up all the abuses of power like they did after COVID, and they could potentially take away our ability to pass emergency ordinances in the future.”
He also said, “We would be meddling in the real estate business by forbidding vacation rentals.”
Murphy said he discussed a potential moratorium with Sen. Jim Boyd and Boyd suggested contacting the attorney general’s office first.
“If you pass something like that, forbidding vacation rentals, you’re going to get second-guessed all the way to the courthouse, not only by the state but by the realtors,” Murphy said when recapping his conversation with Boyd.
Participating by phone, City Attorney Becky Vose said, “I think it is wrought with all kinds of perils. Probably the biggest one that jumped out at me was the liability of the city for lawsuits for damages because cities, under the Florida Statutes, are not allowed to prohibit vacation rentals. You can do some regulation of them but not outright prohibit them. It’s one thing if the Island were closed, but if the Island’s open and you prohibit people from renting a vacation rental, I think we’d have a really good chance of losing in court; and there might be some serious financial consequences.”
Continuing, Vose said, “If it were to be construed as overreaching by the city, then it’s going to come back and bite us through the legislature. They have a history of coming back and biting us when they perceive we’re doing something that impinges upon vacation rentals, or businesses in general. From a legal standpoint, I think it’s a really bad idea.”
Participating by phone, Commissioner Kathy Johnson said, “I think it would expose us to Bert Harris lawsuits.”
Participating by phone, Commissioner Jon Crane said, “We just can’t put an iron curtain around the city.”
The cleanup and restoration work has begun at these vacation rental properties in Anna Maria. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Commissioner Charlie Salem agreed and expressed additional concerns about hampering the economic recovery of Anna Maria’s tourist-reliant business and vacation rental community.
“Maybe a prohibition isn’t the best way to do that. I understand the sentiment behind it and I understand the risk as well,” he said.
Instead, Salem suggested using the city website and Facebook page to inform potential tourists of the realities they may encounter during the ongoing recovery process.
Salem, whose home was damaged, said, “It is not a fun place to be right now. Anybody thinking about a vacation here should consider that.”
Hurricane debris lines the Anna Maria streets as the exhaustive debris removal efforts continue. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Salem said it’s important to provide potential vacationers with credible information about what to expect when visiting Anna Maria during the recovery process.
Commissioner Mark Short agreed and said, “As long as we stick to the facts of what’s going on no one can accuse us of chasing people away. We’re simply stating here’s what it is.”
Short said it’s counterintuitive to allow someone from Bradenton to visit Anna Maria while prohibiting someone from New York, or any other destination, from doing the same thing.
Hurricane debris was piling up at the makeshift collection center at Bayfront Park. – Joe Hendricks | SunOn Thursday, a Manatee County Sherrif’s Office deputy told these vacationing beachgoers they had to leave what remains of the Bean Point beach. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
The city of Anna Maria’s Facebook page now contains a status update that notes the city is still under a state of emergency and several factors need to be taken into consideration before traveling to Anna Maria at this time.
The beach at Bean Point suffered significant storm erosion. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Those factors include limited access to the city due to a nightly curfew that remains in effect in Holmes Beach, traffic delays when entering the Island, restaurant and business closures, contaminated swimming pools, closed beaches and congested and debris-laden roadways.
“We hope to have our city back to normal soon!” the Facebook message says.
State order
Late Thursday morning, Gov. Ron DeSantis held a press conference in Anna Maria in front of the heavily damaged Rod & Reel Pier. During the press conference, he announced the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) was issuing an executive order pertaining to short-term vacation rentals.
“We understand that housing is a challenge. If you had four feet of water in your house, even if it’s not a total loss, you’ve got to gut that drywall and there’s a rehab process,” DeSantis said.
Gov. Ron DeSantis discussed vacation rentals during his visit to Anna Maria on Thursday. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“Today, I am announcing that I am taking executive action to temporarily lift time restrictions on rentals and we’re directing municipalities and counties to do the same. We have regulations – some of them local, some of them state – that require rentals to be greater than or less than 30 days depending on the locality. The bottom line is you may need less than 30 days if you’re rehabbing your home. Maybe you need a little bit more. If you are a victim of Hurricane Helene, those stipulations are lifted and you can rent what you need regardless of any arbitrary rules. This will help provide immediate housing for those who need it,” DeSantis said of the executive order applicable to all counties declared to be in a state of emergency due to Hurricane Helene.
In response to a question posed by The Sun regarding the Holmes Beach moratorium, DeSantis said, “If someone’s got a rental in Holmes Beach and you lost your home you have a right to enter into that agreement and do a 15-day rental or a 30-day rental or whatever you need. But it is limited to the people that were displaced from their homes. Obviously, these local municipalities have certain authority to do it how they want to do it for the general public, but for our storm victims, we want to give them as many options as possible.”
Another media member asked DeSantis what message should be sent to vacationers still planning or considering a visit to the Island.
“We want the economy to get back going,” DeSantis said. “We want people to be able to come. There may be some areas where it may be a little more challenging, but the goal needs to be to get people back up and get the tourism flowing again. There was a lot of storm surge and there’s been a lot of damage and they’re cleaning it up, but this is a beautiful part of the state. There are local issues I think they can work that out however they see fit. The state of Florida’s open for business.”
The Anna Maria General Store and Deli on Pine Avenue is open again. – Joe Hendricks | SunThe gRub Tropical Barbeque restaurant on Pine Avenue is open again. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Holmes Beach curfew
When speaking to the Sun Thursday afternoon, Tokajer noted the city of Holmes Beach still has a nightly curfew in effect and a curfew checkpoint at the entry to the city via Manatee Avenue. The curfew is expected to remain in effect until the moratorium is lifted.
Tokajer said vacation rental guests headed to Anna Maria or Bradenton Beach are free to enter through Holmes Beach between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. but if they leave the Island and try to return after the curfew takes effect at 7 p.m. they will not be allowed through the Holmes Beach curfew checkpoint without a re-entry tag issued by one of the Island cites.
BRADENTON BEACH – No rental moratorium is in place in Anna Maria Island’s southernmost city.
Prior to the adoption of a resolution Thursday requiring residents and business owners to have structural and electrical inspections before occupancy is permitted, Bradenton Beach commissioners discussed and rejected a moratorium on rental properties in the city.
“The city of Holmes Beach is in a position where they’ve decided to look at it from the perspective of a moratorium for certain classifications of individuals who are coming to stay in the city,” City Attorney Ricinda Perry said.
The city of Holmes Beach issued a 45-day moratorium on rentals on Oct. 2. Holmes Beach is the only one of the three Island cities to enact such restrictions.
“A moratorium shuts everything down. There is nothing you can do even if you’re up and running and you’ve invested say, you’ve personally spent $5,000 with an inspector, you’ve spent $20,000 on Servpro getting it cleaned out and now you’re ready to go, it doesn’t matter. You couldn’t rent it until that moratorium is lifted,” Perry said.
Perry explained that a moratorium is an ordinance, while a resolution is a policy that can be put into effect immediately.
“This one is a lot more flexible. It lets you work within the timeframe that works for you as a property owner, and to me, it accomplishes the same goal – public health, safety and welfare – to make sure the structures are safe,” she said. “This does that but it puts it on your timeline as a property owner as opposed to the government’s timeline.”
Commissioner Debbie Scaccianoce expressed concerns about an influx of renters straining the city’s infrastructure and resources during the recovery process.
“Our roads aren’t really even up to par, but because people can afford to have all these inspections and we’re greenlighting them, now we’re having all this extra vehicle traffic and people to areas of our city that maybe aren’t really ready otherwise. I get it, we want to return to normal, but what about health and safety in a more general sense?” she asked.
Perry responded that if Police Chief John Cosby feels it is unsafe to have renters come in he will make that known.
“I am of the legal opinion that the state statute has pre-empted our ability to classify renters from a one-month resident to a one-year resident to a full-time resident. I don’t feel legally comfortable drawing a distinction on who is going to use the structure,” Perry said. “If that is something you really want to explore then I’m going to need to find some justification on the public safety and welfare threat as a whole when I don’t even have data on how many rentals will be up and running.”
Perry said that code enforcement can determine whether or not a property that is being occupied has gone through the inspection process.
“If not, then we can initiate the process to shut them down,” she said.
“So, if they go through the process right away and they’re good to go, they can rent?” Commissioner Ralph Cole asked.
“Correct. I do not feel comfortable having the distinction legally about who is in the structure,” Perry said. “What the statute says about treating residents differently from rentals, the statute does not tolerate that. I am uncomfortable segregating that classification. If it’s a building and a person in the building, I don’t care if they’re here for a week, I don’t care if they’re here for a month, I don’t care if they’re here for a year, the statute says that I have to look at it that way and that is my recommendation to not segregate and classify.”
Perry said a resolution can be easily modified.
“The nice thing about a resolution with this is we could come back at an emergency meeting and have a new resolution that tamps it down,” she said. “You can turn on a dime; I prefer to be as flexible as we can and see where we are on a week-by-week basis.”
Perry said retired city building official Steve Gilbert will assist current Building Official Darin Cushing.
“Steve Gilbert has been reaching out and gotten some people who will come down with him and work with Darin,” she said. “He loves our community; he was with us for 16 years. The suggestion he had was a little different from Holmes Beach’s approach, and it’s an approach that I really like and that Darin really likes.”
A resolution was passed unanimously by the city commission requiring structural and electrical inspections before occupancy to be done on homeowners’ timelines. It consists of the following three components:
No occupancy will be permitted in any structure until the following conditions are met:
Structural inspection: Any structure built after Dec. 31, 2002, shall be inspected by a Florida-licensed general contractor to determine if it is safe to occupy; and any structure built prior to Dec. 31, 2002, shall be inspected by a Florida-licensed engineer to determine if it is safe to occupy.
Electrical inspection: All structures shall be inspected by a licensed electrician to determine if they are safe to occupy.
In the event alternative inspections are needed, or alternative procedures for safety are needed, then the building official may in his determination provide an alternative process to determine if a structure is safe.
City permitting fees will be waived, and Cushing has the ability to issue emergency hand-written permits.
BRADENTON BEACH – On Friday morning, (Oct. 4), City Attorney Ricinda Perry provided an update on the ongoing hurricane recovery efforts taking place in the city.
When speaking to The Sun, Perry addressed power restoration, new tropical weather concerns, debris collection, mail delivery, access to and from Longboat Key, FEMA assistance, and the arrival of FEMA and a Manatee County assessment team.
Power restoration
According to the Florida Power & Light update the city received this morning (Oct. 4), Wilco had restored all but three lateral undergrounded power lines on the south end of the city, with work on the remaining three lateral lines ongoing. Wilco is the company that installed many of Bradenton Beach’s underground power lines south of the Cortez Bridge.
Perry said FPL has restored power to 98% of the city as of late Friday morning. FPL is releasing its power restoration resources for reassignment elsewhere and shutting down the FPL staging area at Coquina Beach.
The Bradenton Beach Police Department shared this FPL update Friday morning. – FPL | Submitted
Perry said some properties are still without power and some property owners have damaged electrical systems that prevent them from receiving power.
When asked if electrical service is being restored to the residential properties south of Bridge Street, Perry said, “Yes. Mayor Chappie has power at his house (on 12th Street South).”
Most, if not all, of the businesses along Bridge Street had power as of this morning.
Tropical concerns
Perry said city officials are monitoring the tropical weather activity predicted to start as early as Saturday and potentially produce more heavy rain on the Island. The city is expected to release additional information regarding those weather concerns later today.
Today, Manatee County included this statement in a recovery-related press release: “An additional state of emergency declaration was signed earlier today allowing for preparations to occur for the upcoming weather systems. With some rainfall forecast models approaching or having an even greater potential impact than Hurricane Debby earlier this year, county emergency leaders are encouraging citizens to monitor the weather and make any needed preparations for their property.”
The potential for more heavy rain comes at a time when the city’s storm drains have not yet been cleared of Hurricane Helene debris.
“FDOT is finishing up their street and right of way clearing efforts today and will resume activity on Monday. FDOT has not cleaned out our storm drains yet. FDOT and the city can’t get to the storm drains yet,” Perry said, noting that could impact drainage.
The city hopes to place empty sandbags and shovels near the comfort station on Bridge Street and the comfort station at the north end of the city by the Circle K convenience store, but as of 1 p.m. the county had not yet delivered them.
“Upon arrival, you can pick up your sandbags and use the sand on your property,” Perry said.
Debris collection
Perry said the city’s contract with its emergency debris removal company, Ashbritt, only provides for two city-funded hurricane debris pickups.
“We want to get as much debris out to the curb as we can before our first pickup,” she said.
Hurricane debris collection has not yet begun in Bradenton Beach. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
The debris must be sorted and cannot be placed in a single pile. Debris needs to be sorted into three piles: Household/construction debris (mattresses, furniture, siding, fences, etc.), white goods (appliances) and landscaping debris.
“We only get two city-funded pickups and we need to allow time for people to return to the city and clean their houses up,” Perry said.
Waste Pro serves as the city’s regular trash and recycling collection company and those collection activities have resumed.
Mail delivery
“Mail to delivery started today to anyone who has a mailbox. If you don’t have a mailbox your mail will be held at the Longboat Key post office,” Perry.
Perry said cleanup efforts are underway at the Bradenton Beach post office but it’s not yet known when service will resume at that location.
Longboat Key access
Perry said per an agreement between both cities, vehicular access between Bradenton Beach and Longboat remains closed to motorists with a checkpoint still in place.
“We’re turning away people who are trying to get to Longboat Key for work or to collect their mail. It’s a joint agreement between Longboat Key and Bradenton Beach. We both support that,” Perry said.
FEMA/county assistance
Perry said three FEMA representatives arrived in Bradenton Beach Friday morning and began going door-to-door, starting at the Pines Trailer Park, using mobile devices to help hurricane-impacted residents file FEMA claims. The FEMA reps will continue from there and a FEMA Corps team will be joining those outreach efforts.
“They will go door-to-door to every single house and structure in the city, starting at The Pines,” Perry said she’s still trying to get a mobile FEMA site established on Bridge Street.
Perry said a Manatee County needs assessment team consisting of 20 individuals and four vehicles will begin going around the city today, starting at The Pines.
“They’re going to ask the people that live here what they need. Do they need fuel, groceries, gloves, etc.?” Perry said. “Residents are going to see two different teams approaching them: the county needs assessment team and FEMA.”
BRADENTON BEACH – In what Police Chief and Public Works Director John Cosby described as an ever-changing situation, he gave commissioners the latest update on progress and steps forward for storm recovery on Thursday afternoon.
Cosby said he decided to allow residents to return to the city on Oct. 3 via a checkpoint at the Cortez Bridge.
“Today’s re-entry went well,” he said. “We had no issues.”
He said he is considering allowing access soon from Holmes Beach to allow contractors’ trucks an easier way to get through to the city.
“We’re very fortunate with our other government entities the cooperation has been immense, Manatee County, we’ve not been told no on anything we’ve requested,” Cosby said. “DOT (Florida Department of Transportation) has gone above and beyond. The governor even signed an order to clear our roads. DOT is starting to clear rights of way, and it is possible that they may even be removing construction debris from the state right of way.”
“This is all being pushed from the governor’s office so this is huge for us,” Cosby said.
He said Gov. Ron DeSantis told him he’s never seen that much sand in as many disaster sites as he’s been to.
“Even FEMA said they’ve never seen anything like it,” Cosby said. “This is an anomaly that we had here, and it found us.”
Cosby said progress in getting roads reopened is ahead of schedule.
“The first time I came out here Friday morning at 4 a.m. I was driving around processing where I thought we would be at certain time periods,” he said. “I’m going to tell you we’re at least two or two-and-a-half weeks ahead of schedule where I felt we should be with the type of impact we incurred.”
Cosby said city public works employees have been doing a great job along with Bradenton Beach police officers who have been working 12-hour days with no days off.
“We’ve had no major thefts and no deaths or injuries,” Cosby said. “We’re moving forward. The roads don’t look pretty, but they’re useable.”
Mail delivery may resume as early as Friday, according to City Attorney Ricinda Perry.
“Pick up of household waste started today, stuff that people had taken out of their refrigerators or freezers. We’re having a pickup today and maybe trying to have another pickup tomorrow for residents who are just getting back,” Cosby said.
“I hope people will be patient. If you need a break, take a break. This is tough to take,” Mayor John Chappie said. “We are a strong community. We’re not going anywhere. We won’t live our lives out here as victims. We’re going to pick our feet up and take one step at a time. We’re going to beat this,”
Cosby said Bridge Street merchants have set a goal for a late November reopening.
He said certain contractors were let in on Thursday because of what they were cleaning and what the hazards were.
“Nobody is getting special privileges, Mr. (Shawn) Kaleta offered his property at First Street for comfort stations. There was no other place to put it. He also offered for the second location Circle K and Salt and we’re utilizing that,” Cosby said.
The curfew remains in effect daily from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.
CORTEZ – Many individuals and groups have stepped up to help Cortez residents who lost so much in last week’s hurricane.
The Cortez Church of Christ is a distribution center for residents of donated food and supplies.
“Right now, the one thing people here need is air mattresses. People are still sleeping on their wet couches,” Jenee Hall said.
Volunteers arrange donated clothing at the Cortez Church of Christ. – Leslie Lake | Sun
Volunteers will be distributing items and food at the church for as long as is needed.
Church members set up another distribution center at Sunny Shores on Wednesday and volunteers handed out paper goods, food, and cleaning and personal supplies.
“We do need air mattresses and bedding,” Kevin Hall said. “Another thing people could really use is charcoal grills.”
He said volunteers will be there for four to five days.
Bob Hooper, who has volunteered more than 1,000 hours in the past year doing repair and maintenance work for the Cortez Cultural Center and the Florida Institute for Saltwater Heritage (FISH), saw the flooding undo months of his work in refurbishing the old firehouse.
“We got about 4 feet of water in here,” Hooper said. “I’m going to have to clean this up, and probably repaint the walls. The cabinets and doors got wet and the refrigerator was tipped over and ruined.”
Hooper, who stores many of his own tools in a small outbuilding next to the Cortez Village Historical Society (CVHS)’s Cortez Cultural Center, lost those tools when the building caught fire Thursday night.
“There was a rechargeable battery in there and when the salt water hit it, the whole building went up,” he said. “The fire burned down to the water line.”
He said it was fortunate that the winds didn’t carry the flames to the Cultural Center, which contains many historical artifacts, records and photos of the fishing village.
Cortez Church of Christ volunteers distribute needed items at Sunny Shores. – Leslie Lake | Sun
CVHS President Cindy Rodgers sent The Sun a list of Hooper’s tools that she hopes people would be kind enough to help replace. They include a 6-foot ladder, extension cords, mitre saws, pipe wrenches, extended chain saw, jigsaw, skill saw, battery powered drills, impart driver drill and assorted socket sets, hammers and pliers.
On Thursday, a group of volunteers from the community and the Salvation Army helped clean up the burnt debris.
Rodgers also said many old books and historical records that had been stored in Fisherman’s Hall were ruined by the flood waters.
Burnt debris from an outbuilding at the Cortez Cultural Center is loaded into a dumpster. – Leslie Lake | Sun
Star Fish Co. posted the following on its Facebook page: “We also are going to try to be a hub to get volunteers where they can be the most helpful. Cortez and Sunny Shores residents need help removing large items from their homes (furniture and appliances specifically) and they need help cleaning up the mud and silt that seems to be everywhere.”
Potential volunteers can call Star at 941-794-1243 or A.P. Bell Fish Co. at 941-794-1249.
“We are creating a list of who here needs what type of help. We’ll then connect volunteers to those residents. So grab your rubber boots and come help us pick up the pieces,” the Facebook post stated.
Despite having flooding in her home, Gail, a longtime resident, said she would never move away from Cortez.
“You will never find another community where people help each other like this,” she said.
HOLMES BEACH – In the wake of Hurricane Helene, city leaders have enacted a moratorium banning vacation rentals for 45 days. Both city leaders and local rental owners are hopeful that the ban will be lifted quickly.
During an Oct. 2 special meeting, commissioners voted unanimously to enact the 45-day moratorium after much discussion and hearing from the public. Originally, commissioners were considering a 60-day moratorium, but that motion failed due to lack of support from Commissioners Greg Kerchner and Dan Diggins. Commissioner Carol Soustek was absent from the meeting.
Kerchner and Diggins reluctantly approved the 45-day moratorium.
The moratorium prevents vacationers from coming to Holmes Beach at a time when cleanup is still in progress and many property owners are making repairs from flooding due to the storm. While Gov. Ron DeSantis issued an executive order on Oct. 3 lifting required rental time periods, that order only pertains to how long a guest can stay at a vacation rental property. The governor said he trusted local municipalities to do what is right for their communities regarding allowing tourists to return to the area.
Mayor Judy Titsworth said the moratorium only affects vacationers, not locals, contractors or others who may be displaced by the hurricane. She said property owners can rent their vacation rental properties to those people, which she hopes will reduce some of the financial burden for business owners.
The moratorium can expire at the end of 45 days from Oct. 2 or be ended by city leaders when it’s determined that the city is safe for visitors to return to the city.
“It was certainly not a decision that was come to easily,” City Attorney Erica Augello said, a sentiment echoed by Mayor Judy Titsworth and Commissioner Terry Schaefer.
Titsworth said the moratorium is to assist the city’s recovery efforts and keep people safe. Since the hurricane there have been several structure fires due to damaged electrical systems and batteries from golf carts and low-speed vehicles catching fire that were damaged in the storm, she said.
Police Chief Bill Tokajer said he doesn’t want to see a tourist or their child injured or killed by a sinkhole or heavy equipment being used to remove sand and debris.
Public Works Superintendent Sage Kamiya said that roads remain narrow due to the large amount of sand washed across the Island. Sidewalks also remain under sand, crosswalk visibility is low and side streets remain covered by debris and sand, all of which can be safety hazards.
“I didn’t want to make this decision,” Titsworth said, adding that she reached out to Manatee County and Florida state leaders for advice. After hearing from many vacationers that their rental companies were telling them that it was fine to come and vacation in Holmes Beach or they wouldn’t get their money back, she said she felt like the moratorium was the only decision to be made at this time.
“I can’t imagine anyone other than someone with an extreme interest in tragedy wanting to be here,” Schaefer said.
“There is no doubt in our mind that safety is an issue,” rental and business owner Billi Gartman said during public comment. She said her concern is not only for the safety of their visitors but also the financial toll a prolonged ban on rentals will take on her business and staff.
Titsworth said it’s not only the safety component, but that debris removal could take weeks to be completed, which could also present a public hazard.
Real estate owner Larry Chatt said that he feels the return of tourists will temper itself without interference from city leaders. With it already being low season and with some rental properties requiring more damage remediation than others, Chatt said he doesn’t anticipate tourists coming back all at once.
Holmes Beach remains under a 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. curfew daily with only residents with a re-entry tag allowed to enter the city during those hours.
Tokajer said that anyone walking or driving the city during curfew hours can expect to be stopped by police to determine what their purpose is, with the exception of residents with the city’s green re-entry tags on their dashboards. He said anyone not there to work on a property or not a resident will be escorted out of Holmes Beach.
All Anna Maria Island beaches and parks remain closed as cleanup efforts continue.
Bradenton Area Convention and Visitors Bureau Executive Director Elliott Falcione issued a letter to all rental management companies on the Island:
“First and foremost, it is amazing to witness the hard work and resiliency of our hospitality industry on our barrier islands. We may be small, but we certainly are mighty, and we know that this passion will result in a quick recovery,” he said in the letter. “With that, we were made aware that some rental companies have notified their future guests that we are currently open for business. While we are excited to see your rentals reopen and understand the importance of your financial recovery, we must also follow the direction of our local governments for the safety and welfare of our citizens.”
Falcione went on to reiterate the restrictions already laid out by the Anna Maria Island communities, the 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. curfew that remains in effect for Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach, and that only residents, business owners and contractors are allowed to access Anna Maria Island via Manatee Avenue. The city of Anna Maria has rescinded its curfew. The city of Bradenton Beach has reopened Cortez Bridge for vehicular traffic to that city with access limited to residents, business owners and property owners.
BRADENTON BEACH – City commissioners unanimously approved an emergency resolution on Thursday afternoon that will allow residential occupancy only following satisfactory structural and electrical inspections.
The resolution stated that no occupancy will be permitted in any structure until the following conditions are met:
Structural inspection: Any structure built after Dec. 31, 2002 shall be inspected by a Florida licensed general contractor to determine if it is safe to occupy; and any structure built prior to Dec. 31, 2002 shall be inspected by a Florida licensed engineer to determine if it is safe to occupy.
Electrical inspection: All structures shall be inspected by a licensed electrician to determine if they are safe to occupy.
A third stipulation was added after City Building Official Darin Cushing, who is a certified inspector, said, “I do not feel that every single structure in this town needs a structural engineer to look at it, by any means. There are quite a few, but not every one. If we can determine that locally, these are ones we’re not sure of, you’ll have to get an engineer,” Cushing said.
He said he highly recommended that everyone have an electrician certify the safety of the electrical system before the power is restored to those properties affected by Hurricane Helene.
“Structurally there are some that are completely gone and I’ve put a red tag on them. There are others that if they’re questionable, then yes, we’re going to say before you can occupy that building let’s get a structural engineer out here,” he said.
City attorney Ricinda Perry added the following stipulations to the resolution: “In the event alternative inspections are needed, or alternative procedures for safety are needed, then the building official may in his determination provide an alternative process to determine if a structure is safe.”
The city will be waiving local permit fees. To expedite the permitting process, Cushing said he has the ability to issue handwritten permits.
City officials said there will be no moratorium on rentals in Bradenton Beach.
BRADENTON BEACH – Police Chief and Public Works Director John Cosby provided The Sun with an extensive update on Oct. 1 regarding the conditions in the city and when residents, property owners, and business owners might be able to return.
He also addressed the ongoing power restoration efforts, property damage assessments, potential condemnation of damaged structures and mail delivery.
John Cosby stood at the sand-covered Cortez Road/Gulf Drive intersection the morning after Hurricane Helene passed through Bradenton Beach. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Cosby said the damage Hurricane Helene inflicted in Bradenton Beach is much greater than the damage sustained in Holmes Beach and Anna Maria. He also said the recovery efforts in Bradenton Beach are far more daunting and challenging than what the other two Island cities are experiencing.
“We have been declared as ‘catastrophic.’ Gov. DeSantis has been to a lot of disaster sites and he said never seen this much sand moved by a storm,” Cosby said.
“The governor’s visit on Saturday is what got us to the point we’re at now,” Cosby said of the ongoing street-clearing efforts.
“The city of Bradenton Beach greatly appreciates the governor’s visit and assistance. His visit brought to Bradenton Beach the assistance of all the state agencies necessary for the recovery efforts,” Cosby said.
Return access
Cosby said the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has cleared Gulf Drive of sand and debris deposited by Hurricane Helene’s winds and storm surge.
FDOT utilized a small army of trucks and equipment to clear Gulf Drive of sand and debris. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“Gulf Drive is a state road and Gov. DeSantis also authorized FDOT to clear all public roads owned by the city of Bradenton Beach. As soon as FDOT is done clearing the secondary roads owned, we will let residents, business owners, insurance adjusters, vacation rental property owners and property management personnel to return. We will also allow the contractors that the property owners and businesses have contacted to come out and do work,” Cosby said.
“If FDOT gives me the green light on Thursday, then we’ll start this on Friday,” Cosby said of the controlled re-entry process that remains subject to change.
“At that point, you can start cleaning up and assessing your damage. You can stay until the curfew begins at 7 p.m. If you want to bring a van or truck to load up your belongings, you’ll be allowed to do that. That’s why I want residents to have a few days to try to salvage their lives before the general public starts driving around,” Cosby said.
Cosby said residents can resume living in their homes, if they wish, with or without electrical service. Still, there is a fire risk associated with power returning to damaged electrical systems.
Regarding the initial wave of returnees, Cosby said, “I want to give the residents and the business owners a couple days to come out and collect their bearings because they are not prepared for what they are going to see. Some of these people have lost everything and their care and needs are our top priority. They are not prepared when they walk in their house and see that their house is totally destroyed, or see that their vehicles are totally destroyed and there’s two or three feet of sand in their garage. The business owners who’ve returned to Bridge Street are just overwhelmed. When I began talking to them, they were on the verge of tears,” Cosby said.
Regarding future re-entry for the general public, Cosby said, “When the time is right, I will then consider allowing other traffic into the city.”
Cosby provided no specific timetable as to when that additional traffic will be allowed to return, but if all goes well, he expects it could happen at some point next week.
Cosby said those who have questions or concerns, can stop the police department, at 403 Highland Ave, or speak with an officer patrolling the city.
Re-entry requirements
Re-entry checkpoints remain in effect at the Cortez Bridge, the Bradenton Beach/Holmes Beach border and the Longboat Pass Bridge. Tampa Police Department officers will begin assisting the city with those efforts tonight (Oct. 1).
Barring any unforeseen complications, when the first wave of authorized residents, property owners, business owners, and others begin returning later this week through the Cortez Road checkpoint only, they must present a city-issued re-entry tag or some other documentation that supports their entrance to the city.
Residents can also provide a valid driver’s license or state ID with a Bradenton Beach address, a utility bill, or a tax bill specific to their property.
Valid documentation for business owners includes a current re-entry tag or a city-issued business tax license. Business owners who want their employees to return to their workplace via their own vehicles must provide Cosby with a letter containing the business letterhead, the owner’s name, and the name of each employee authorized to return in their own vehicle.
The authorization letters are to be emailed to Cosby at jcosby@cityofbradnetonbeach.com. Cosby will print the employee authorization letters out and provide them to the law enforcement personnel stationed at the Cortez Bridge checkpoint.
Cosby encourages returning employees to share rides or caravan as much as possible to reduce the number of unnecessary vehicles returning, especially those with trailers and trucks coming out to remove the contents of a business.
Valid documentation for returning vacation rental owners and property managers includes a re-entry tag or a copy of a city-issued transient public lodging license. Arrangements can then be made for contractors to begin their recovery and restoration work. Returning contractors will be asked to provide a work order or some other documentation associated with the pending work.
This elevated residential structure along Gulf Drive South sustained hurricane damage. – Leslie Lake | Sub
Cosby noted that FDOT and Manatee County personnel are not clearing driveways and driveway entrances at this point and, for now, that remains the responsibility of the property owner. Returning vehicles will not be allowed to park alongside Gulf Drive and must be parked in driveways, along residential side streets, in public parking spaces or in business parking lots.
Due to ongoing public safety and law enforcement concerns, Cosby said the general public, “disaster tourists’ and others without a legitimate reason to return will not be granted access to the city.
Trolley service resumes
While awaiting allowed vehicular access to the city, residents, business owners, employees and others can now return to the city using MCAT’s free Island trolley service. According to Cosby, the free Island trolley buses began traveling through Bradenton Beach at approximately noon today after previously resuming service in Holmes Beach and Anna Maria.
Trolley busses entering Bradenton Beach through Holmes Beach will travel south along Gulf Drive to the S-Curve at 13th Street South. Passengers can get off the bus along the route to access their residential and commercial properties that may or may not have electrical service.
The trollies will turn around at the S-curve and will not travel to Coquina Beach or the Coquina boat ramps, which remain closed. The trollies will then travel north on Gulf Drive and take a right turn (east) on the Cortez Bridge to pick up passengers near the bridge where vehicular access remains restricted. There is no designated parking for trolley passengers so you must find a legal parking place on your own. The trollies will turn around at the Cortez Bridge and proceed north and toward Holmes Beach and Anna Maria. Trolley arrival times will likely be approximately every half-hour, with longer wait times possible.
Power restoration
Cosby said electrical service has been restored in some locations and that remains an ongoing, and sometimes challenging, work in progress.
“The FPL assessment team was out here yesterday and today analyzing and assessing the city’s underground electrical system south of Cortez Road. They are diligently analyzing and assessing the damage and formulating a plan to restore power to the south end of the city,” Cosby said.
FPL is analyzing the damage done to the electrical system at the south end of the city. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Cosby said power has been restored to the police station, city hall and other locations throughout the city.
“FPL has already charged the overhead lines on Gulf Drive and sporadically some people are getting power back. The city’s planning department is working with FPL to ensure that every individual home or building is inspected and certified before receiving electrical services. If the home or building is not certified, the power meter will be removed and the building will not have electricity when the power line is charged,” Cosby said.
Property damage
“People don’t realize how bad it is,” Cosby said. “A picture only shows a certain angle, but not the entire degree of the damage. When talking to the Bridge Street merchants when we first brought them out, I told them before we went over the bridge to be prepared for shock and awe. You are not going to believe what you’re going to see because we’ve never had anything like this. A lot of buildings are going to have to be torn down,” Cosby said.
The storm surge left its mark on this elevated Bradenton Beach home. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Cosby said the storm surge was three or four feet high on Bridge Street and over six feet high in other places, with reported wave heights of eight to 11 feet.
Water erosion threatens the foundation at this home along Gulf Drive South. – Joe Hendricks | SunHurricane Helene demolished this home and deposited it at the end of the street. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“Our building official has already determined that several structures have been condemned and the building department will continue to evaluate structures to determine whether or not they can be occupied,” Cosby said.
Mail service
Today, the city issued a press release regarding mail service that states Bradenton Beach mail service is being temporarily re-routed to the Longboat Key post office at 560 Bay Isles Road for approximately one month. Cosby said the Bradenton Beach post office may have sustained storm damage and many residential mailboxes are buried or missing.
“Starting Thursday (Oct. 3), mail can start being picked up at the Longboat Key post office. There will be no mail delivery until further notice,” he said.
Final thoughts
“The city of Bradenton Beach appreciates the efforts of FDOT, Gov. DeSantis, the state of Florida, Manatee County and the Manatee County Emergency Operations Center, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, the West Manatee Fire District, and the other Island municipalities for their response and assisting us with our ongoing recovery efforts,” Cosby said.
Real-time updates and information are being posted daily at the Bradenton Beach Police Department’s Facebook page.
(Sun reporter Leslie Lake contributed photos to this story)
(Editor’s note: As conditions and circumstances continue to evolve, the information provided in this story is subject to change at any time.)
ANNA MARIA – As hurricane recovery efforts continue, the city’s focus shifts to debris removal efforts that began on Monday morning.
“Our top priority now is to get household goods out to the right of way and picked up,” Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy said. “This is a long process and it will continue until it’s complete.”
Murphy said the first priority is removing the mattresses, furniture and other household goods and the two contracted debris removal companies will send trucks though most areas two or three times per week. There are also dumpsters located at Bayfront Park and debris can be taken there. For now, the removal of trees, palm fronds and other natural debris is a secondary concern.
The previously enacted re-entry checkpoint was suspended Sunday and the previously-enacted curfew was lifted Monday.
Damage assessment
Murphy and his wife, Barb, evacuated their Anna Maria home before Hurricane Helene arrived and he returned Friday morning to assess the damage and lead the recovery efforts.
“The city is severely damaged,” he said. “Almost every home, except the new and higher ones, likely had some water intrusion. My wife’s car went underwater and is destroyed. The homes along South Bay took on 2-3 feet of water, some maybe more. Most of the businesses, residences and the historical museum on Pine Avenue had water intrusion on the ground floor. In our city annex building, we had 6 inches of water but no extensive damage.”
A visit to the museum on Saturday revealed a brown line on the side door that indicated where the floodwaters rose to approximately 3 feet.
The rising floodwaters at the Anna Maria Island Historical Museum left a mark on the outside wall. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
As of Monday morning, water and sewage service was restored, electrical service was mostly restored and the city streets were clear and accessible with one exception: “Sycamore Avenue’s washed out. It’s destroyed,” Murphy said.
The sun set on Anna Maria Saturday evening after a long and trying day. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
“The beaches are eroded and dangerous,” Murphy said.
The City Pier reopened Monday morning despite some minor damage to the landing area used by the Gulf Island Ferry service. The City Pier Grill and Mote Marine outreach center didn’t open Monday.
Ginny’s and Jane E’s Café in Anna Maria is expected to reopen in a few weeks.
Anna Maria General Store and City Pier Grill owner/operator Brian Seymour said he hoped to open his general store on Pine Avenue on Tuesday and the City Pier Grill soon. Ginny’s and Jane E’s Café owner Paul Foster anticipates reopening in a few weeks.
Murphy suspects the Waterfront and Sandbar restaurants sustained significant water damage.
The Rod & Reel Pier walkway was shredded by the storm. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Hurricane Helene inflicted major damage on the privately-owned Rod & Reel Pier. Most of the pier planks are gone, the utility lines are exposed and the restaurant building is damaged. A sign on the gate says, “Pier closed until further notice.”
The Rod & Reel Pier restaurant now sits at the end of a storm-damaged pier. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Unlike previous storms, the city used its City of Anna Maria Facebook page to provide real-time updates and information before, during and after the hurricane.
Vacation rentals
Hurricane Helene’s impact on the vacation rental community will be significant. On Sunday, Duncan Real Estate owner Darcie Duncan said all their guests evacuated before the hurricane hit and were given refunds or used travel insurance to offset lost lodging days.
“We cancelled our guests through October and we’ll keep our November guests informed as we assess our properties. We just don’t know yet,” Duncan said. “I know we’re resilient and we’ll get back up but with the extensive damage to the restaurants and stores those people will need some time to recover; and our guests need something to do when they’re here.”
Duncan said those impacted by cancellations are being offered refunds or credits for future stays and many are opting for future stays.
“Most of our guests have been extremely accommodating,” she said.
“I would say 90-95% of the ground-level structures we handle are flooded and we do have some total losses. With the elevated rentals, it’s pool damage and other ground-level damage. Now that the power’s coming back on, we’re being very cautious with the houses that flooded. There was a house on fire on Oak Avenue about an hour ago,” Duncan said.
Duncan Real Estate is doing damage assessments for rental owners who don’t live in the area and will help their clients secure the services of contractors and other restoration professionals.
“Because we’ve had such mass damage, how hard will it be to get materials? The resources are going to be spread thin. There’s only so many contractors and there’s so much to rebuild. I think we’re in for a really long haul,” Duncan said.
The Rod & Reel Pier and restaurant remains closed until further notice. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
A Spectrum work crew worked well into Saturday evening as part of their service restoration efforts. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
The city of Anna Maria’s re-entry check point was established Saturday morning and Sunday. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
A generator powered city hall after the electrical service failed. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
HOLMES BEACH – Residents and business owners began returning to Holmes Beach on Saturday to assess the damage inflicted by Hurricane Helene.
At 10 a.m. Saturday morning, Mayor Judy Titsworth and Police Chief Bill Tokajer greeted the first wave of arrivals, some of whom passed through Holmes Beach on their way to Anna Maria, with law enforcement personnel checking for re-entry tags or other forms of proof of residency or business ownership.
“The chief and mayor have met and the mayor has asked to let residents and business owners to be allowed to enter the city to start their cleanup efforts,” said the reopening notice posted at the Holmes Beach Police Department Facebook page earlier that day.
With Cortez Bridge vehicular access still restricted, a law enforcement-monitored barricade was deployed at the south end of the city to prevent motorists from entering Bradenton Beach through Holmes Beach.
A Holmes Beach police officer was stationed near the barricaded Bradenton Beach border Saturday afternoon. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
As Sunday unfolded, Tokajer decided to eliminate the checkpoint and he explained his decision in another Facebook message.
“Today, we were allowing the residents, employees and contracted cleaning crews to enter the Island. In the first three hours of the checkpoint, we did not have to turn anyone away and the line of cars was backed up past 75th Street causing huge delays. I decided it would be more helpful to the residents to get them, their cleaning crews and employees onto the Island faster so they are not sitting in traffic for hours…The curfew is still in place from dusk to dawn and it will remain in place until the police chiefs decide it is no longer necessary. We will still be closing access to the Island at 7 p.m.”
DAMAGE AND RECOVERY
A late Saturday afternoon tour of Holmes Beach revealed the damage done and the recovery efforts underway.
The stretch of Gulf Drive between Walgreens pharmacy and Skinny’s restaurant was limited to a single lane carved out of the sand by a front-end loader.
Gulf Drive began with a single lane in the sand. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
At the five-unit, ground-level Bamboo Apartments vacation rental complex, St. Petersburg-based owners Alice and Stephen Sutton and their sons had already removed the carpeting and other items damaged by the floodwaters that they said could have been much worse.
Holmes Beach vacation rental owner Alice Torres Sutton shows how high the storm surge rose. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Alice, the third-generation owner, said, “This is the only time we’ve ever flooded.”
With some drywall replacement potentially looming, Alice had already cancelled their guest reservations for the coming week and possibly until the end of October.
At Manatee Beach, a heavy equipment operator was removing sand piled up on Anna Maria Island Beach Café’s beachfront patio.
A heavy equipment operator spent Saturday afternoon removing sand from the patio at the Anna Maria Island Beach Café at Manatee Beach.
A large puddle covered much of the Gulf Drive S-curve near the beach parking lot and some traffic signals worked and some did not. Throughout the city, water, sand and mud were common sights and many property owners had already hauled their damaged furnishings and belongings to the curb.
Hurricane-damaged furniture and home goods sat in front of this Holmes Beach home. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Along Avenue F, Hurricane Helene demolished two beachfront homes, severely damaged others and partially buried an SUV.
Hurricane Helene tore apart this house along Avenue F. – Joe Hendricks | SunThis beachfront home in Holmes Beach sustained heavy damage. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
On Sunday evening, Titsworth said, “Holmes Beach was totally devastated from the flood waters. The Holmes Beach police, public works, building and code enforcement departments have been working non-stop and we were able to quickly get property owners back on the Island to assess their damage and begin cleaning up. I had 3 feet of water in my home and lost most everything. I have much empathy for our property owners as to the magnitude of the devastation. I can’t thank FPL enough for getting our power back on so quickly and the county’s rapid response in getting our lift stations back in operation was commendable. We will get through this recovery together.”
Approximately two feet of stand washed up against this auxiliary building at the Bamboo Apartments in Holmes Beach . - Joe Hendricks | Sun
One of the Martinique condo buildings was missing some roofing material. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
Floodwaters rearranged the inventory at the Holmes Beach Ace Hardware store. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
This vehicle was partially buried along Avenue F in Holmes Beach. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
Hurricane Helene pushed a lot of stand up this beachfront home in Holmes Beach. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
The deck on this beachfront home in Holmes Beach is now tilted. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
Damaged belongings are common sight in Holmes Beach. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
A buoy washed ashore in Holmes Beach. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
The storm surge left sand piled high against the Anna Maria Island Beach Café tiki-bar. - Joe Hendricks | Sun
The days following a disaster are critical in storm recovery. It’s important that while you’re working to clean up that you also take advantage of community resources.
The Better Business Bureau recommends:
• Assess the damage – take pictures, contact your insurance company, document damage and don’t make any permanent repairs until you get approval from your insurance company;
• Clean and make temporary repairs – make minor repairs to help limit further damage, clean up standing water, remove debris and treat the property for mold. Wear protective clothing including close-toed shoes, gloves and masks while cleaning;
• Hire a contractor – once you get the go-ahead from your insurance company, hire a contractor to complete permanent repairs. Get references, do your research, look out for price gouging and make sure you read and understand everything you sign. Get written contract agreements, never pay in full in advance and contact your local building department to ensure the contractor is licensed in your area.
One major thing to look out for is “storm chasers,” people who take advantage of those suffering in the wake of a natural disaster. These people may pose as insurance claim adjusters, contractors or others offering unsolicited repairs or work for a price. Offers to purchase damaged homes should be viewed skeptically.
A great source of help for those recovering from a storm is the FEMA website. Visit www.fema.gov/disaster/current/hurricane-helene to see what emergency and financial assistance is available to you. Assistance can include vouchers for hotel and Airbnb rentals, emergency utility, clothing and housing assistance, food and other assistance. If you qualify for FEMA assistance, it’s important to apply quickly.
In Manatee County, you can also visit www.mymanatee.org/storm to register for local assistance.
Business owners can contact the Small Business Administration for loans and relief options at www.sba.gov.
