MANATEE COUNTY – The 2024 Atlantic hurricane season is underway. Two of the scariest issues when a storm heads toward Anna Maria Island are if an evacuation will be issued and where you and your family will go when you have to leave your home.
Manatee County addresses are assigned an evacuation zone based on proximity to the water and the elevation of the property. All of Anna Maria Island, Perico Island and Cortez are located in the Level A evacuation zone, the first zone that will be called in the event of a storm. All coastal areas of the county are included in this zone along with all mobile home communities.
From Anna Maria Island, the evacuation routes are east along Manatee Avenue and Cortez Road. When an evacuation is called, first responders advise making preparations and leaving as quickly as possible. Rather than attempting to catch a flight or drive to another state, residents are asked to evacuate 10s of miles, not 100s of miles. Once the storm passes, it might be difficult to get back due to heavy traffic and lack of supplies, such as gas, along the way.
Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer said while first responders cannot force a property owner to evacuate, all vacationers are required to leave in the event an evacuation is called for the area. And if a property owner chooses not to evacuate, he said they should remember that first responders cannot respond to an emergency once winds reach a certain speed. These first responders include fire, EMS and law enforcement. Once winds reach a sustained 45 miles per hour, the fire department’s staff is required to evacuate the Island. Once winds hit a sustained 55 mph, EMS and law enforcement are required to evacuate. When these agencies leave the Island, they are not allowed to respond to any emergency calls until after the storm passes. Anyone who calls 911 to report an emergency during this time will be placed on a list to be checked on once the storm passes, Tokajer said.
Learn your evacuation zone at https://www.mymanatee.org/departments/public_safety/emergency_management/evacuation_levels
