HOLMES BEACH – Debby passed by Anna Maria Island as a tropical storm, leaving Holmes Beach soaked, but not severely damaged.
As the storm passed by on the west coast of Florida, it dropped several inches of rain and delivered gusty winds to the Island, leaving some streets with flooding and some residents without power. Though most power was restored within a day, some residents reported losing power for several days before police and code compliance officers stepped in to get electricity restored by FP&L.
On Aug. 5, Mayor Judy Titsworth said that there was some flooding in Holmes Beach but the stormwater infrastructure helped to move water away from the surface to dry out roads and lawns faster. A tree fell in the middle of the Marina/Palm Drive thoroughfare, though police were able to remove it and reopen the road quickly.
“We fared well,” Police Chief Bill Tokajer said, noting that there was still standing water in some places the day after Debby passed. He took to social media to encourage drivers to move carefully through the Island city and avoid driving through standing water when possible.
Due to street flooding, Holmes Beach City Hall remained closed on Aug. 5 but reopened with regular hours on Aug. 6.
