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.
City updates
Continuing hurricane-related updates and information are available at the city of Anna Maria website, www.cityofannamaria.com and the City of Anna Maria Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100067051575662.
Additional information can be found at the Holmes Beach Police Department Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/HolmesBeachPD and the Bradenton Beach Police Department Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100080990498526.
Manatee County
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.
County updates
Continuing hurricane-related updates and information can be found at Manatee County’s Severe Weather Information Center, https://extreme-weather-dashboard-manateegis.hub.arcgis.com/, and also at the Manatee County Government Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/manateegov.
