Anna Maria Island storm Archives

Tag: Anna Maria Island storm

Hurricane Debby leaves AMI soaked

Written by Sun staff on August 5, 2024. Posted in Anna Maria Island, Community News, Featured.

Hurricane Debby passed over Anna Maria Island on Sunday as a tropical storm, strengthening to a Category 1 hurricane by late evening and making landfall on Monday morning in north Florida, while still whipping AMI with its tail.

The Island was not placed under a mandatory evacuation order, although evacuation was encouraged by Manatee County Emergency Operations staff. Power to the Island was not intentionally turned off to encourage people to voluntarily evacuate, but power outages, false fire alarms and flooded roads affected the Island.

No serious injuries were reported as of press time.

Bradenton Beach Police Chief John Cosby reported that roads were flooded and trees were down on Monday morning, and that Debby damaged the floating dock and the police boat at the Bradenton Beach Pier.

Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy reported flooding on the north end of the city, with saltwater from Tampa Bay breaching seawalls. Pine Avenue was without power Monday morning, as well as other parts of the city, and Sen. Jim Boyd escalated power outage response. Murphy also said that sightseers caused problems driving through flooded streets, which can push water into homes.

Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth said the city weathered the storm well despite some flooding. A tree fell on Marina Drive on Monday and police were able to move it and reopen the road; another tree tell on Sunday in the 6800 block of Palm Drive and police used chainsaws to remove the tree and reopen the road. Police Chief Bill Tokajer said the city fared well, but still had roads with standing water on Monday morning.

FEMA announced that federal disaster assistance is available to Florida residents resulting from Debby.

Nearly 12 inches of rain was reported at the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport on Sunday, a record daily rainfall.

While the surf stood up on its hind legs off Anna Maria Island, Hurricane Debby dumped band after band of rain, flooding area roads - and sea turtle nests. - Cindy Lane | Sun

Hurricane Debby approaches Anna Maria Island with clouds over Coquina Beach. - Submitted | Let's Go Mega Waterslides and Obstacle Courses

Storm, high tides flood AMI

Written by Joe Hendricks on December 18, 2023. Posted in Anna Maria Island, Community News, Featured.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Heavy rains, high tides and storm surge produced localized flooding throughout Anna Maria Island Saturday night and Sunday morning.

Shortly after 11 p.m., ABC 7 Chief Meteorologist Bob Harrigan noted on TV that the Rod & Reel Pier camera showed the Tampa Bay waters rising nearly to the level of the pier decking and the base of the pier-based restaurant building.

In Bradenton Beach, around that same time, Drift In employee Mike Cook said rising water was crashing over the shoreline and flooding Bay Drive South. A short time later, two Bradenton Beach police officers arrived at the Bradenton Beach Pier to further secure the police boat that sits on an elevated boat lift that was nearly submerged.

At the other end of the floating dock next to the Bridge Street Pier, two boats, including one that appeared to be sinking, were pushing up against the recently installed perpendicular finger dock pilings. The owner of the non-sinking boat braved the high waves and rough surf in her efforts to better secure her boat to prevent it from damaging the new finger docks.

A post-midnight tour of the north end of Bradenton Beach revealed street flooding along Gulf Drive North and significant street and yard flooding between 22^nd Street North and 25th Street North, from the bay nearly to Avenue C in many locations. Street flooding also occurred in the Sandpiper Resort mobile home park.

In Cortez, the Tide Tables restaurant parking lot flooded.

When the Sun rose on Sunday morning, several areas were still flooded. In Holmes Beach, Marina Drive was flooded with deep standing water near city hall and the Island Branch Library.

In Anna Maria, Ginny’s & Jane E’s parking lot was flooded. So was North Bay Boulevard, where Anna Maria resident Doug Copeland said a couple of inches of water seeped into his house.

When asked about the flooding in Anna Maria Sunday morning, Mayor Dan Murphy said, “Not as bad as Hurricane Idalia, but close. We are pumping on the north end, near Bean Point.”

He also said there was significant shoreline erosion near the Rod & Reel Pier.