Skip to main content

Tag: Anna Maria Island

Hurricane Ian brings surge of tourism

Hurricane Ian brings surge of tourism

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Business, Featured, Tourism.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Hurricane Ian may not have flooded the Island with water, but there has been a different kind of surge since the storm’s passing – tourism.

Island residents are accustomed to having a break this time of year from the busy summer and winter tourist seasons, which have been returning to normal since COVID-19 restrictions were lifted in early 2021.

Pre-COVID, September through early December was the slowest time of year, with little traffic and a fraction of the visitors seen in peak seasons. This September followed that pattern, but after Hurricane Ian passed on Sept. 28, things changed.

“We come this time of year, every year for more than 20 years, except when we couldn’t travel during COVID. Are all these people here because of the hurricane, we wonder?” said Margaret Hatch, who is here with her husband from Brighton, England. “We don’t rent a car when we visit, but we’ve noticed that public transport takes much longer due to the increased volume of vehicles on the road.”

While data on how much of an increase the Island is experiencing since Ian hasn’t been aggregated yet by agencies such as Tampa-based Research Data Services, which gathers tourist and visitation data for Manatee County, traffic is an indicator. An Island resident told The Sun she sat through four traffic light cycles at the intersection of East Bay Drive and Manatee Avenue last Saturday afternoon, the kind of traffic the Island normally doesn’t see outside of March and April at the peak of the winter tourist season.

Hurricane Ian brings surge of tourism
Bridge Street in Bradenton Beach was free of traffic on a Saturday night, just four days before Hurricane Ian. – Jason Schaffer | Sun

“Some of the people coming here are from down south and have been displaced,” said Lisa Varano, property manager at Wagner Realty. “However, a lot of the calls from people who have been displaced are coming here around Christmas time.”

Most of these visitors are not residents of the affected area in Ian’s path, but rather people from north of the area and the rest of the U.S. who had planned trips to places like Fort Myers, Captiva, Sanibel Island and other areas hit hard by the storm, she said. Tens of thousands of rental units and hotel rooms are no longer available due to hurricane damage.

“We have definitely seen an uptick in bookings from this time next year, but we won’t have the data on where everyone’s coming from until the end of the year,” said Marianne Norman-Ellis of Mike Norman Realty in Holmes Beach. “We don’t know for sure, but we think the increase from last year is from people who were displaced from where they intended to travel.”

It’s not just casual vacationers coming to the Island after Ian. For two weeks following the storm, there were power trucks from around the country that had come to restore service to the Island, Cortez and Bradenton.

“There are 12 of us dirty, smelly guys staying in this house, so while it’s the fanciest and probably most expensive home I’ve ever slept in, we’re not exactly on vacation,” said Dale Miller, a power company line worker whose crew came here from New Jersey and was staying in a luxurious bayfront home in Holmes Beach. “We have it good though, a lot of these guys are sleeping in their trucks – at least we have beds. We have to say though, people down here are so friendly and appreciative. We get high fives, and more people driving by yelling thank you out of their car windows than we can count. I see why people want to live here, and I may bring my family down to enjoy it properly on vacation.”

Varano confirmed what Miller said, saying her office had not gotten calls for rental units for the line workers, but calls were coming in asking for places to park the trucks.

In addition to vacationers and workers, love is in the Island air.

Sally Dirbas, owner of the Monkey Bus, said she was told by some of her customers that weddings that had been planned south of the Island in places affected by Ian had been moved to AMI, and wedding planners were traveling here to fulfill their obligation to their customers despite the added distance.

“We have five wedding rides booked this weekend, this is crazy for this time of year,” she said. “Before the storm, things were really slow and we had a few charters, but nothing like we are seeing in the weeks following. This weekend it will be one wedding after another.”

Fireside Chats: Talking fire & life safety with WMFR

Written by Rodney Kwiatkowski on . Posted in Community News, West Manatee Fire Rescue.

In early 1933, United States President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) gave the first of many of his uplifting Fireside Chats. FDR used the growing medium of radio as a direct conduit to have “conversations” with the American people regarding the many challenges we were facing at the time. Topics included the ongoing banking crisis, recovery from the Great Depression, the New Deal, record home foreclosures and more.

Fireside Chats: Talking fire & life safety with WMFR
President Franklin Delano Roosevelt – Submitted | The History Channel

The purpose of our series of Fireside Chats is similar in that it is our hope to initiate open communication directly with the people of West Manatee Fire Rescue District about the issues we face as a community regarding fire and life safety. In this column, we will discuss all things fire and life safety related, both from an operational and prevention-based perspective. We’ll even discuss the differences between the two. We will also talk about fire codes, which are broad in breadth and scope, along with codes more narrowly related to specific types of occupancies, a term used to indicate the intended use of a space.

Other chats will feature talks about general everyday threats, such as drowning, and heat-related emergencies including exhaustion and stroke, among others. There also will be discussions on specific seasonal threats during holidays like Thanksgiving, Christmas, Independence Day, hurricane season and more.

Fireside Chats: Talking fire & life safety with WMFR
WMFR responded in Fort Myers during the aftermath of Hurricane Ian. – Submitted | Chief Ben Rigney

Fireside Chats is also an opportunity to learn about what goes on at your local fire station. Here we’ll talk about fire department call types, call volume, trends, demographics and a multitude of other topics. Along the way, much like FDR during his Fireside Chats, we hope to educate, be educated, spread a message that prevents loss to property and life and, most importantly, help our community members to be as safe as possible.

New Guild artist brings the color

New Guild artist brings the color

Written by Jason Schaffer on . Posted in Art, Entertainment.

HOLMES BEACH – There’s a new displaying artist at the Artists’ Guild of Anna Maria Island and she’s all about color.

Mixed-media artist Wendy Butcher grew up in upstate New York before spending seven years in Scottsdale, Arizona and finally settling in Sarasota. A self-professed lover of art since age 9, she said she enjoys exploring different creative directions and mediums.

“I use a lot of different mediums – watercolor, acrylic, pastels – and I love photography,” Butcher said. “Nature is always what I draw pictures of and I also love doing portraits. I’m definitely not afraid to try different things.”

She says in addition to wanting to move to the Gulf coast for the sunshine and beauty of the area, she was looking for a place that has a significant presence in the art community.

“It seemed like there wasn’t a strong local art community in Phoenix; it was very narrow compared to here,” Butcher said. “It seems like everybody comes together here. This is why I’m excited about working with the gallery. I want to help promote the artists and elevate them more. I just want to do what I can to help the art community on Anna Maria Island.”

In addition to her work as an artist, Butcher does graphic design and is currently revamping the gallery’s website. Her colorful artwork is on display and available for purchase at the Guild Gallery, 5414 Marina Drive, and at her online store.

The gallery is open Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. For more information, visit the Guild Gallery online.

Reel Time: Courtesy - An angler’s rules of the road

Reel Time: Courtesy – An angler’s rules of the road

Written by Rusty Chinnis on . Posted in Fishing, Outdoors, Reel Time.

Fall fishing is with us and, once again, anglers will be chasing schooling fish along the Gulf beaches. This is a good time to remember the angling “rules of the road” to be sure everyone has a chance at success.

Over the years, I’ve adopted a policy that I call “show them the courtesy they don’t show you.” My intention is to carry this in the back of my mind at all times. I found it necessary to do this because for so many years it was a knee-jerk reaction to unload on anyone who got in my “space” while I was fishing. I’ve mellowed over the years after coming to the realization that I was the

one that suffered the consequences of my actions. Most of the time after an outburst, I’d move on anyway, carrying with me a bit less serenity. At some point in time, it dawned on me to keep my composure. After all, there’s a lot of water to fish, so move on.

When we’re fishing, we have no idea what’s going on with the others we’re sharing the water with. They could be fishing to eat, indulging in a passion, finding solace from a traumatic experience, enjoying a day with friends or family or just getting some relaxation. We all get caught up in our fishing at times and let our awareness drift as we stalk a school of fish or head to the next spot we’re going to target. Most anglers start out with areas in mind where they’ve caught fish before and, more often these days, we either find someone there or nearby.

All too often this can mean that fishermen get crowded together, which has the potential to ruin everyone’s experience. There are lots of places to fish, so if you find someone else nearby, move on to another location. You may even find that you discover fish or a fishing spot you didn’t know about.

I generally hunt fish by poling in shallow water or in schools along the beaches. When I encounter another angler I either ask them if it’s okay to pass or just give them a wide berth. Most everyone appreciates this gesture and will tell you to proceed, but sometimes they want you to stay completely away, even if there’s little chance of disturbing the action. If this is the case, I don’t argue, I just move on. Even though I don’t fish offshore, I know that many anglers work hard to find a ledge or hard bottom where they target fish and they carefully guard it, never overfishing it. One of the worst things they experience is anglers who look for spots that others are fishing. Most often they don’t have the same respect as the original angler and mark the spot on their GPS, returning later to catch every fish they can. If care isn’t taken, it’s possible to ruin a good hole by overfishing it.

Fishing schooling species like tarpon, Spanish mackerel, little tunny and kingfish is another time when anglers need to be considerate of each other. Savvy anglers make

a stealthy approach, working the edges of a school where they know predators patrol for prey. They understand that a careful approach is their best chance of success.

Anglers who don’t know the ropes often troll right through schools of baitfish and breaking fish, causing them to sound and ruining the action for everyone. When anglers take the time to consider others on the water, everyone wins. Fishing should be fun and with a little consideration, it can be. When you’re on the water, make it a habit to stay well away from other anglers and if you encounter someone who isn’t playing by those rules, move on. Show them the courtesy they don’t show you.

Young soccer competitors eye playoffs at The Center

Young soccer competitors eye playoffs at The Center

Written by Monica Simpson on . Posted in Soccer, Sports.

ANNA MARIA – With fall youth soccer past mid-season, the coaches and players are looking toward playoffs and strengthening their records going into week 5 action.

LaPensee Plumbing and Island Real Estate are on top of the ranks for the U10 league with nearly identical records, with the win going to LaPensee last Tuesday night.

The 2-1 win against Island Real Estate put LaPensee Plumbing’s record to 3-0-1, while Island Real Estate’s record moved to 3-1-0. In the win, TJ Hagey and Preston LaPensee put the points up for their team.

Island Real Estate’s consistent striker and top scorer of the league, Callin Westfall, scored his team’s only goal, while Vincent Gollamudi continued to impress in goal with two critical saves.

Owen Mahoney worked his magic as the keeper for LaPensee Plumbing with three saves in the game.

In the second U10 game of the night, team Cloud Pest Control searched for their first win of the season, but the hot foot of Brandon Sato proved to be too much for the Cloud defense.

Scoring a hat trick with three goals in the game, Sato was the top scorer of the week. His brother, Dylan Sato, added a goal to the game statistics, giving him seven goals in the season.

Gunnar Maize prevented two Cloud Pest Control points with nice saves in the game to help his team to victory.

In a shutout, Solid Rock Construction won the last U10 game of the night against AMI Coconuts with a score of 2-0. Renan Kesten and Mathew Darak each had a goal for Solid Rock.

Goalkeeper Riley Karecki made four big saves against the Solid Rock Construction offense to help keep the AMI Coconuts squad in the game.

The U14 league is dominated by the undefeated HSH team. Winning against the Mac Parkman squad by two goals gave HSH a 3-0-1 record.

Scoring by Sterling Holiday, Krosby Lamison and Jayden Sparks for HSH and a solo goal by Ryk Kesten closed out the youth soccer action at The Center of Anna Maria Island for the week.

With three regular season games left to play, the title of champion is still up for grabs in the Island’s youth soccer leagues.

 

 

Sun Scoreboard

OCT. 11

Youth Soccer – Week 4

U10

 

LaPensee Plumbing (3-0-1) 2

Island Real Estate (3-1-0) 1

 

Sato Real Estate (2-0-2) 4

Cloud Pest Control (0-4-0) 0

 

Solid Rock Construction (1-2-1) 2

AMI Coconuts (1-1-2) 0

U14

 

 

HSH (3-0-1) 3

Mac Parkman (0-2-1) 1

 

Progressive Cabinetry (0-2-0) Bye Week

OCT. 13

Adult Soccer – Week 4

 

Pool America (1-2-0) 6

Ross Built Construction (1-2-0) 1

 

Sato Real Estate (0-2-1) 6

Servis First Bank (0-2-1) 5

 

Slim’s Place (4-0-0) 4

Gulfview Windows and Doors (2-2-0) 2

 

Moss Builders (2-1-1) 9

Wash Family Construction (2-1-1) 7

 

(scores and statistics provided by The Center)

Castles in the Sand

Higher mortgage rates affect everything

Written by Louise Bolger on . Posted in Business, Castles in the Sand.

Think of an octopus – the head of the octopus is the housing market and the tentacles are all of the industries dependent on the housing market. Too much of a stretch? You get the idea.

Anyone who has ever purchased a home goes into it knowing that there will be a lot of out-of-pocket expenses, during the first year at least. New appliances, decorating, paint, furniture, lawn maintenance and a full litany of other homeownership necessities are just a few of the expenses homeowners can expect. Some of these projects are done by the new owners but many are performed by professionals who may see the demand for their services eroding if home sales slow down. Not to mention the effect slower home sales are having on the mortgage industry. Lenders and their employees, many of whom work on commission, are having their own personal recession.

Higher interest rates affect virtually every corner of the economy, but it affects the housing market the most. The higher the rates, the higher homebuyers’ monthly payments are, adding hundreds of dollars every month. This is exactly what our over-inflated economy doesn’t need right now. What it also doesn’t need are homeowners with low mortgage rates making the decision to stay in their homes with their ultra-low mortgage interest rates instead of moving up or out and taking on a loan rate double what they are currently carrying.

The higher the rates go, the less inventory there is or will be on the market. You don’t have to be a Harvard-educated economist to recognize that the supply and demand law is alive and well in the United States housing market. Some economists are calling this the golden handcuffs, tying homeowners to their low mortgages and just sitting on their property even if they want to move. A lot of homeowners are waiting for rates to go down before making their move, but is that really in the foreseeable future? Certainly, some people will still need to move because of personal life events, but those who have the option to not move probably won’t.

Because rates haven’t climbed this rapidly in decades, it’s almost impossible to predict how much the increase in mortgage rates could reduce home listings. Mortgage rates rose for five consecutive weeks in September, reaching the highest level since the financial crisis. Per Lawrence Yun, The National Association of Realtor’s chief economist, “I really don’t see inventory rising.” That’s a really scary open-ended statement. Does he mean the inventory will never improve?

Back to the law of supply and demand, the lack of inventory is one of the major reasons home prices have remained near record highs. Sales are declining, inventory is being suppressed and interest rates going up make for the perfect storm for selling prices to also keep going up.

As far as Florida is concerned, here’s one little tidbit that the Census Bureau reported in 2019, “Florida had the most domestic in movers, with 566,476 people moving from another state within the past year.” That was almost three years ago. I would love to know that number now but, based on the fact that over 321,000 people moved to Florida from the beginning of this year, it will likely be enormous. This could explain why you can’t get a doctor’s appointment lately.

The poor octopus has been called a sea monster but they’re not to blame, especially when the economists don’t really know anything either. The housing market is also a monster in many ways and how the housing market goes, so goes the economy. Buckle up, things aren’t changing anytime soon.

Reel Time: Memories of Matlacha

Reel Time: Memories of Matlacha

Written by Rusty Chinnis on . Posted in Outdoors, Reel Time.

No one who lives on the coast of Florida has escaped the fury of a hurricane in one form or another. Here on the Suncoast, we’ve managed to dodge the worst of the damage that these increasingly frequent and powerful storms bring, both to those of us who live here and the unique habitat we treasure.

Now, for the second time in the last two decades, a hurricane (Charley, then Ian) that was predicted to impact us directly devastated an area less than two hours to our south. As we were spared, one of Florida’s most prized angling destinations has been forever altered by what is being called one of the most powerful and damaging storms ever. 

As I ponder the unimaginable tragedy that the inhabitants of this region are living through, my thoughts keep returning to memories of better times, as a boat rises to a plane, Smokehouse Bay’s labyrinth of mangrove-lined channels stretching out in the distance to Matlacha Pass. The feel of the soft southwest Florida breeze in my hair causing me to remove my cap and lift my gaze to the promise of the day ahead. This is how I will forever remember Pine Island, Matlacha, Cayo Costa and the myriad islands that dot Pine Island Sound and Charlotte Harbor. I first visited this area in the early 90s and it instantly became my favorite “travel” destination. Just an hour and a half south of our home waters of Sarasota Bay and Anna Maria Sound, these communities and the waters that surround them were among the finest examples of an “Old Florida” that is quickly disappearing. Located seven miles south of fabled Boca Grande Pass, Matlacha and Pine Island are bookmarked by the aquatic preserves that bear their name and Little Pine Island, an uninhabited, 4,700-acre island. These unique communities still hadn’t been spoiled by development and Matlacha’s streets were lined with quaint, brightly-colored homes, businesses and art galleries. On Pine Island, the communities of St. James City, Bokeelia and Pineland featured only one traffic signal. Conspicuously absent were the shopping malls and high rises that blight much of Florida’s coastal landscape. With a little imagination, anglers could visualize a seascape reminiscent of what the first settlers might have found then. 

While the history of Matlacha spans less than a hundred years, Pine Island’s first documented settlers, the Calusa, are thought to have inhabited the island from approximately 30 AD until just after 1513 when the Spanish conquistador, Ponce de Leon, arrived. Anglers who have fished these rich waters could visualize the clear waters and their vast seagrass beds as the Calusa might have. Even these first settlers experienced devastating storms, as is evidenced by artifacts found on their mounds in Pineland, which is the site of a museum and interpretive center. While there is a history of destructive storms constantly altering the resilient marine landscape, recovery is now impeded by “civilization” that taxes these waters with sewage, agricultural runoff and the thousand other cuts that development has brought in its wake.

This is a cautionary tale reminding us to take care of our habitat and waters so that when they are impacted by a hurricane, they have a better chance at recovery. That’s also why it’s urgent that Island residents and anglers be part of the solution by working with advocacy groups like Suncoast Waterkeeper. You have an opportunity to hear about the work they are doing and support their efforts by attending their annual fundraiser, Brunch For The Bay, at the Bradenton Yacht Club this Saturday, Oct. 15. The continued health of the area we love depends on our commitment to action.

Slim’s Place undefeated in adult soccer action

Slim’s Place undefeated in adult soccer action

Written by Monica Simpson on . Posted in Soccer, Sports.

ANNA MARIA – On the beautiful fall night at The Center, players, friends, family and referees all came together for a night of soccer, grateful to have been spared by Hurricane Ian. Even though the action on the pitch was a bit overshadowed by non-stop conversations of gratefulness on the sidelines and in the stands, the eight adult soccer teams played hard-fought battles.

In the first game last Thursday night, Joey Hutchinson had the hot foot for Slim’s Place. Scoring six of the nine goals in the game for his team, Hutchinson also made an assist in the team’s 9-6 win against Pool America.

Kris Yavalar, for Pool America, lit up the scoreboard scoring the first goal of the game, finishing with four goals and an assist. Yavalar and Hutchinson worked for position on the field throughout the match-up, ending with Hutchinson doubling his scoring record for the season.

At the end of week three, Hutchinson leads the scoring in the league with a total of 12 points and three assists.

Slim’s Place scored three additional goals with a single by Eliza Faillace and two by Eric Pullen. Early in the game, Pullen sailed his strikes over the crossbar. Making the necessary adjustments, Pullen moved into third for scoring. With five goals, Pullen is tied with four other players in the scoring ranks. Amy Ivin, Kevin Roman, Keith Mahoney and Yavalar each closed out the third week of play with five goals.

For Pool America, Gerardo Urbiola Bolano put up two points in the loss. These are the first two points of the season for Bolano.

In the goal, Jack Goodier was credited with two saves in the game. Goodier was relieved by Pool America teammate and captain Chris Klotz, who had an injury in the game. 

Slim’s Place’s P.J. Smargisso made critical saves for his team. Making six stops in the game helped his team to victory.

Ties and close scoring action was the name of the game for the rest of the night. Wash Family Construction tied Servis 1st Bank in game two. The third game of the night ended in a tie between Moss Builders and Sato Real Estate.

Wash Family Construction’s Kevin Roman had a hat trick in the game, while Yuri Pereira made three saves for Servis.

Pereira’s teammates put five goals on the scoreboard with solo goals by Luca Vecchio and Juan Carlo Perez.

Servis 1st Bank’s Ugur “Lucky” Durmaz matched Roman’s hat trick with three goals of his own.

In the keeper position, Mark Long made eight critical saves in the game for Wash Family, keeping them in the game.

Tyler Brewer’s two goals helped to get the Wash Family team to the tie.

Saving 11 shots, Ryan Moss kept the shooting power of Sato Real Estate to six goals. Moss’ team, Moss Builders, made their six shots count, with six points scored in the tie-ending game.

For Moss Builders scoring, Damir Glavan had four goals, with an additional two by Daniel Hampton and Jessica Williams.

Sato Real Estate’s points came at the foot of Danny Anderson with a hat trick and two by Lindsey Styka. Teammate Pedro Gonzalez added a goal in the 6-6 game.

Ending the night, Ross Built Construction matched up against Gulfview Windows & Doors. Gulfview eked out the win with two goals, scored by captain Keith Mahoney and Raul Loera.

In the 2-1 game, Gulfview’s goalie Tuna McCracken supported his team defensively with seven big stops in the game. Steve Oelfke made five critical saves. 

Avoiding the goose egg, off an assist by Raul Castano, Eduardo Schlueter scored Ross Builts’ only goal in the game.

After three games, Slim’s Place is on top with a 3-0-0 record. With more than half the season left to play, can the Slim’s crew stay on top?

Sun Scoreboard

OCT. 4

Youth Soccer

Week 3

U10

LaPensee Plumbing (2-1-0) 2

Solid Rock Construction (0-2-1) 1

 

 

Island Real Estate (3-0-0) 6

Cloud Pest Control (0-3-0) 0

U14

HSH (2-0-1) 4

Progressive Cabinetry (0-2-0) 1

 

 

Mac Parkman (0-0-1) Bye Week

OCT. 6

Youth Soccer

Week 3

U10

Sato Real Estate (1-0-2) 1

AMI Coconuts (1-0-2) 1

Adult Soccer

Week 3

 

Slim’s Place (3-0-0) 9

Pool America (1-2-0) 6

 

 

Wash Family Construction (2-0-1) 5

Servis First Bank (0-2-1) 5

 

 

Sato Real Estate (0-2-1) 6

Moss Builders (1-1-1) 6

 

 

Gulfview Windows and Doors (2-1-0) 2

Ross Built Construction (1-2-0) 1

New fiscal year off and running at The Center

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Anna Maria Island, Center of Anna Maria Island, Community News.

ANNA MARIA – Anyone who’s been to The Center of Anna Maria Island recently has probably noticed a flurry of construction work.

The nonprofit is in the midst of a number of capital improvements, including having the exterior pressure washed and repainted, replacing the shade sails over the playground, remodeling the foyer, replacing flooring on the first floor and completely remodeling the second-floor bathrooms and showers, just to name a few. Executive Director Chris Culhane said the renovations have been long-planned and are being done in the off-season to lessen the impact on Center members.

The improvements began as summer camps drew to a close and the nonprofit’s new fiscal year began. The new fiscal year started July 1 and financial results from that first month have been released. While the numbers show The Center ending July with -$76,765 in net income after all expenses, it’s not necessarily a negative issue considering that historically, the late summer months are lean months for the nonprofit leading up to high season in the winter and spring with the return of snowbirds and several signature fundraising events.

In July, The Center brought in $105,617 from programs, with $65,696 in direct costs and $62,691 in general, indirect and administrative expenses to create a $22,769 loss from operations. Fundraising brought in $22,855, though coupled with direct costs of $44,385, that cost center ended the month with a $44,300 loss. After $32,465 in capital expenses for the ongoing improvements at The Center, the nonprofit ended with -$76,765 in net income.

To view The Center’s financial statements, visit www.centerami.org.

Castles in the Sand

The Ian effect

Written by Louise Bolger on . Posted in Business, Castles in the Sand.

My friend who lived near me in Cortez calls it the “Cortez Effect.” The legend is that the Native Americans who inhabited the Cortez peninsula put a curse on the storms so they wouldn’t come ashore in their homeland, keeping their burial grounds protected. She and I lived through many storms and almost-storms during the more than 20 years we both lived in Cortez, and we always seemed to dodge the bullet. Well, this time we dodged the biggest bullet of all, and we should all be grateful.

The other question is now that we’re all safe and comfortable, we can start to think about the economic impact of one of the most expensive storms to ever hit Florida. The economists are already addressing this and indicate that Ian will likely negatively affect the economic growth of the country through this year. Typically, when the rebuilding and recovery starts, the economic benefits will be spread out over the next few years. Unfortunately, because of the shortage of construction workers and materials, Florida’s economic comeback could take some time.

The economists’ consensus is that natural disasters have a relatively modest economic impact, especially short term once businesses start to rebuild and reopen. As far as real estate values, Florida’s worst hit regions were also the fastest growing in the state and indeed the country and won’t be permanently damaged. The unemployment rate in both Tampa and Fort Myers were 2.7% in August, lower than the national rate. Both of these regions have seen a rapid influx of new residents during the pandemic. In addition, Florida’s economic growth has outpaced the country’s every quarter since the beginning of 2021.

Long-term Florida residents are used to major storms, and they and the state have prepared for them. In May the state set aside $2 billion to help insurance companies handle claims. That said, you can be sure the fallout for insurance companies will be big. Underfunded companies may go out of business, homeowner’s policies will be dropped, and rates will go up. This is just what we don’t need at a time when attracting new insurance companies to the state has been a challenge. As always, my recommendation is if you have a good homeowner’s policy and you don’t get dropped, live with the possible premium increase and be happy, especially for the next few years.

Finally, the U.S. Census Bureau and the Bureau of Labor Statistics say that the earnings of people affected by hurricanes outpaced other workers who weren’t affected within three years of the storm. As previously stated, this is all because of workers needed to help rebuild and get the economy rolling again.

There will be pain at the beginning a lot of it – just look at those awful pictures from our neighbors not too far south and try and imagine yourself in that situation. Help is needed, mostly donations – especially to the Red Cross – but anything you and your family can do to ease their pain even a little would certainly be appreciated.

I don’t hold a lot of belief in legends, and, as another friend pointed out, maybe the indigenous Native Americans actually studied weather patterns over a period of decades and never really cast spells. But legend or not, we in Cortez and on Anna Maria Island have been extraordinarily lucky, and we shouldn’t forget that eventually, luck runs out. Let’s remember that in 1921 the Cortez fishing village was all but destroyed by a major hurricane.

This is October, the month of Halloween, so let’s hope the Native Americans are still casting their magic spells if indeed that’s the reason. I for one want to believe whatever keeps those storms away, magic spells or the study of weather science. I’ll accept either one as long as it works.

Anna Maria Island dodges Hurricane Ian’s bullets

Anna Maria Island dodges Hurricane Ian’s bullets

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

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Hurricane Ian inflicted significant damage on some mobile homes in Bradenton Beach, but Anna Maria Island as a whole survived the hurricane without the widespread devastation many feared.

On Monday, Sept. 26, Manatee County ordered a mandatory evacuation of all three Island cities, to be effective the following evening. A drive around the Island just before sundown on Tuesday evening revealed many boarded-up businesses and homes and a mostly deserted and evacuated Island.

Residents, business owners and others were allowed to return to the Island at 10 a.m. on Thursday morning,

Manatee County restored water and sewer service to the Island on Friday morning, but as of late Saturday afternoon, most of the Island remained without electrical power.

In Bradenton Beach, power was restored to the Bridge Street area and the residential area south of Bridge Street on Friday night. The power in those areas went out again Saturday morning and was then restored to some locations.

Bradenton Beach Police Chief John Cosby said the power outage that occurred after the power was initially restored was due to a switching device catching fire and needing to be replaced.

With the power partially restored again, the Drift In bar in Bradenton Beach was the first Bridge Street establishment to reopen late Saturday morning.

“With everything that’s happened in the past few years, including COVID, my team needs to work,” Drift In Manager Doreen Flynn said shortly after the reopening. “I feel sick thinking of all those people who were not as lucky as us.”

As of late Saturday afternoon, several other Bridge Street businesses remained without power or closed for other reasons.

Assistant General Manager Shannon Dunnan said the Bridge Tender Inn & Dockside Bar had power and hoped to reopen early Sunday afternoon.

Island Time General Manager Michael Davis said they did not yet have power as of Saturday afternoon and hoped to have a soft reopening on Monday and be fully reopened on Tuesday.

Bridge Street Bazaar owner Jake Spooner said his business remained closed on Saturday afternoon because there was no power. The Daiquiri Deck also remained closed on Saturday.

Bradenton Beach

On Thursday morning, Bradenton Beach Police Chief John Cosby provided The Sun with a damage assessment.

“We started operations at 3 o’clock this morning and we had the team fully operational by 5 a.m. We did good. The only real damage we had to our city facilities was the police department roof was leaking. The worst damage is in the two trailer parks where some roofs and carports were blown off. We also had some damage to a condo on the 600 block,” Cosby said.

Unlike past storms, none of the live-aboard boats south of the Bridge Street Pier broke free and struck or damaged the pier or floating dock.

“The pier and floating dock did good,” Cosby said. “We’ve got two boats missing, one boat down and one boat – we don’t where it came from – leaning against the bridge. There’s no damage to the bridge and FDOT’s been notified.”

“The cell tower is damaged. It got hit by some flying debris that left some good-sized dents in it. I don’t know if it’s operational or not. Our cell service is terrible right now, so it may have been disrupted,” Cosby said.

Cosby said there was a lot of tree and landscaping debris to clean up, but the main roads had already been cleared by the city’s public works department.

“We had no major power lines down, so that should make it quicker to restore power. Right now, we do not have any power, water or sewer; and we have no idea when those are coming back,” he said Thursday morning.

Cosby noted the county and FPL were dealing with significantly worse damage in eastern Manatee County.

“The east side of the county got destroyed. When the storm went over that way, it was a Cat 2/Cat 3. They were rescuing people off roofs this morning,” he said. “The county’s got a lot to take care of. Hopefully, we can get the utilities up as fast as we can, but I think it’s going to be a while,” he said.

When asked about the city being reopened to those who wished to return, Cosby said, “We’re allowing them to come back. If they want to stay, they can, but there’s no power, no water and no sewer.”

Holmes Beach

When contacted later that morning, Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer said, “We had minimal damage – some trees and limbs. Power’s out. We have no water yet. We have no Spectrum connectivity.”

He also said, “Full access to Holmes Beach through Manatee Avenue was opened at 10 o’clock this morning. Once the Island was deemed an evacuation zone, we limited the number of people that returned to public safety personnel, but we never raise the bridges and we never stop people from leaving the Island.”

Tokajer reflected on what could have been had Hurricane Ian not taken an unexpected turn to the south, including catastrophic damage to the Fort Myers/Sanibel Island area.

“We were truly blessed. The damage and devastation we’re seeing to the south is what we were expecting as a direct hit to our area. It’s truly daunting to see the devastation that happened down there – and to see what a true storm surge looks like in real life, instead of just projections,” he said.

On Friday, traffic coming into Holmes Beach on Manatee Avenue was being detoured south on East Bay Drive because a fallen power pole was leaning on the metal pole that holds the traffic signal.

Anna Maria

When visited in his generator-powered city hall office early that afternoon, Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy said, “We did good. We didn’t take a direct hit. If we had, it would have been devastating for our city. We had a lot of trees down and several wires down, but we have most of that cleared. The city’s without power and water. I have no idea when utilities are being restored. People can come back but it’s not real comfortable without water and power.”

The exterior skin of the Anna Maria cell tower had a large tear in it, but Murphy said he wasn’t aware of any significant structural damage that occurred within the city, other than one home having its front door blown off.

“The only significant problem I see is turned over port-a-potties at construction sites. Several contractors picked theirs up, but one contractor didn’t bother to tie them down or pick them up. That’s a problem and a health hazard, and that’s something we put in our construction checklist,” Murphy said.

In 2017, the damage inflicted by Hurricane Irma led to the City Pier being closed and later replaced. When asked how the new pier fared during its first hurricane, Murphy said, “Our new pier held up fine. There’s no structural damage at all. It was built right. I was concerned – like a father whose daughter goes on her first date.”
Anna Maria residents JoAnn and Anthony Manali chose not to evacuate and rode the storm out at their home and business, Captain Anthony’s Stone Crab Store.
“I was scared and I’ll never do it again. It was worse than I could have ever imagined,” JoAnn Manali said of that experience.

On Friday morning, Murphy was advised that it could take another four or five days to restore power in Anna Maria.

On Saturday, Murphy said the storm debris removal efforts were already underway and storm recovery updates and information were available at the city website.

Hurricane Ian, a day at a time

Hurricane Ian, a day at a time

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

Hurricane Ian caused a burst of activity and emotion on and around Anna Maria Island last week.

On Tuesday, it was projected to make landfall here, but by that afternoon, new projections had it veering slightly south, where it made landfall the next day at Cayo Costa.

Local residents were left feeling both relief and distress over the misfortune of their southwest Florida neighbors, and more than a little apprehension about the next storm.

Here’s what happened while thousands prepared to either face or run from the disaster.

 

Sept. 25 – City leaders in Anna Maria declare a local state of emergency in preparation for Hurricane Ian.

Sept. 26 – City leaders in Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach declare a local state of emergency.

Sept. 26, noon – A mandatory evacuation of zone A, including Anna Maria Island, Cortez and sections of unincorporated Manatee County is issued, effective at 8 a.m. on Sept. 27.

Sept. 26, 2 p.m. – Manatee County schools, libraries and The Center of Anna Maria Island announce closures effective at the end of the day. Trash and yard waste collection cease.

Sept. 26, 5 p.m. – The latest Hurricane Ian update from the National Hurricane Center shows the storm taking a turn for Tampa Bay.

Sept. 27, 8 a.m. – Evacuation of zone A goes into effect. Manatee County shelters open at local schools. The projected track of Hurricane Ian takes a turn for a direct hit to Anna Maria Island.

Sept. 27, 11 a.m. – Manatee County leaders issue mandatory evacuation orders for zone A and B with a voluntary evacuation for zone C.

Sept. 27, 5 p.m. – Water and sewer services are turned off to Anna Maria Island. Traffic to the Island is limited with Manatee Avenue and Cortez Road traffic limited to eastbound only. Anna Maria Island is placed under a flash flood warning. The Island, Cortez, Perico Island, Flamingo Cay and parts of coastal unincorporated Manatee County are placed under a storm surge warning. Manatee County is under a hurricane warning. Hurricane Ian is expected to come onshore near Port Charlotte and hit Manatee County around 2 a.m. Sept. 29 as a Category 1 storm.

Sept. 28, 10 a.m. – Hurricane Ian is upgraded to a Category 4 storm. Manatee County is already experiencing high winds and rain from the hurricane.

Sept. 28, 3:10 p.m. – Hurricane Ian makes landfall as a Category 4 storm with sustained winds of 155 mph at Cayo Costa, near Captiva Island and Sanibel. Manatee County is under a flash flood warning and storm surge warning.

Sept. 28, 5 p.m. – Manatee County lift stations have lost power and water treatment facilities are near capacity. Three potable water main breaks have been identified and two have been fixed. Residents are asked to limit water usage.

Sept. 29, 10 a.m. – Manatee County evacuation orders have been lifted and shelters are closing. Utility crews are assessing system damage. Access to Flamingo Cay and Perico Island is reopened.

Sept. 29, 10:20 a.m. – Holmes Beach police announce that Anna Maria Island is reopened to residents.

Sept. 30, 5 p.m. – Water and sewer utilities are returned to Anna Maria Island. The Island is under a 48-hour boil water notice. Some electrical utilities have been restored, then lost again.

Oct. 1, 5 p.m. – Electricity has been returned at 90% to Anna Maria Island, Perico Island, Flamingo Cay and Cortez. The Center of Anna Maria Island is expected to reopen on Oct. 3 along with county beaches, parks, libraries and other amenities. The weather is sunny and cool, with no storm in sight.

Turtle Watch director Suzi Fox dies

Turtle Watch director Suzi Fox dies

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Anna Maria Island, Community News.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Suzi Fox, a longtime former Island resident and executive director of Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring, died last week at HCA Florida Blake Hospital.

Suzi Fox, director of Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring for more than 30 years, died Sept. 30 at HCA Florida Blake Hospital due to complications from a recent fall. – Cindy Lane | Sun

Fox, 65, died due to complications following a fall at home on Sept. 24, according to family members, who said her death was unexpected. Her son, Dereck Norfleet, said she had been in the hospital for six days prior to her death.

Fox’s interest in the Island’s sea turtles began in 1990. She had moved with her mother and sisters from Michigan to Miami, where she was a hotel manager, then they relocated again to Anna Maria Island. Her turtle career began after she found a turtle nest at Bayfront Park.

She told The Sun in 2011 she felt she had a calling and joined the organization’s 40 volunteers.

“We didn’t go to all the training we go to today,” because so little was known about sea turtles at the time, she said on the occasion of her 20th anniversary with Turtle Watch. Most turtle eggs were dug up and relocated to hatcheries, then the hatchlings were raised for several weeks before their release into the Gulf of Mexico.

As more became known about sea turtles, some in the organization decided to try nature’s way, and leave the eggs in their nests to hatch. Fox agreed to try it for a year.

“I wasn’t certain this was going to work,” she said. “The first nest we left on the beach was at Park Avenue. We saw it hatch and I was so excited.”

In 1996, Fox became the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s turtle permit holder for the Island, adding nesting shorebird monitoring and protection to her duties.

Under her directorship, the organization grew. According to the AMITW website: “For 30+ years Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch (AMITW) has coordinated conservation efforts for 12 miles of Manatee County shoreline. In three decades, we monitored 7,339 turtle activities, protected 4,454 nests, 301,694 turtle eggs, and watched 271,680 hatchlings depart to become a future generation of loggerheads that will return to the region as they reach maturity – in about 30 years.”

Turtle Watch director Suzi Fox dies
Suzi Fox and her late partner, Skip, patrol Anna Maria Island’s beaches for signs of sea turtle nesting. – Cindy Lane | Sun

Sea turtles broke both nesting and hatchling records this year on the Island.

In an email to The Sun from Charlie Hunsicker, director of the Manatee County Natural Resources Department, he wrote, “Words cannot explain the complications of life and fleeting moments mixed with joy of recovery and tragic endings. She will live on each and every time we remember her smile, her passion, and her good works for all the creatures that relied upon her for their very existence on the Island.”

Fox moved from the Island to West Bradenton a few months ago.

She is survived by her son Dereck, his wife Katherine, and their two children, Elizabeth and Ashley. She is also survived by her sister, Nanci Banman and her husband Gene, and her sister, Kendra Fox.

The family said that a memorial service will be planned for later this year at the beach.

Donations in Fox’s memory may be made to Turtle Watch online.

Hurricane Ian takes it easy on Anna Maria Island

Hurricane Ian takes it relatively easy on Anna Maria Island

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

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Although some damage occurred, Anna Maria Island survived Hurricane Ian without suffering the widespread devastation many residents and business owners originally feared.

As of Thursday evening Sept. 29, most of Anna Maria, Bradenton Beach and Holmes Beach remained without the water and sewage services provided by Manatee County and the electrical services provided by Florida Power & Light (FPL).

Before the hurricane arrived, Manatee County ordered a mandatory evacuation of the Island as of Tuesday evening. A drive around the Island just before sundown on Sept. 27 revealed several boarded-up buildings and homes and a mostly deserted and evacuated Island.

Residents, business owners and others were allowed to return to the Island via Cortez Road and Manatee Avenue at 10 a.m. Thursday morning.

Bradenton Beach

At 10:05 a.m. Sept. 29, Bradenton Beach Police Chief John Cosby provided The Sun with his damage assessment.

“We started operations at 3 o’clock this morning and we had the team fully operational by 5 a.m. We did good,” Cosby said. “The only real damage we had to our city facilities was the police department roof was leaking. The worst damage is in the two trailer parks where some roofs and carports were blown off. We also had some damage to a condo on the 600 block.”

Hurricane Ian takes it easy on Anna Maria Island
This home in the Pines Trailer Park was damaged. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

None of the live-aboard boats south of the Bridge Street Pier broke free and damaged the pier.

“The pier and floating dock did good,” Cosby said. “We’ve got two boats missing, one boat down and one boat – we don’t where it came from – leaning against the bridge. There’s no damage to the bridge and FDOT’s been notified.”

“The cell tower is damaged. It got hit by some flying debris that left some good-sized dents in it. I don’t know if it’s operational or not. Our cell service is terrible right now, so it may have been disrupted,” Cosby said.

Cosby said there was a lot of tree and landscaping debris, but the main roads had already been cleared by the city’s public works department.

“We had no major power lines down, so that should make it quicker to restore power. Right now we do not have any power, water or sewer; and we have no idea when those are coming back,” he said.

Hurricane Ian takes it easy on Anna Maria Island
This mobile home in the Sandpiper Resort felt the wrath of Hurricane Ian. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Cosby noted the county and FPL were dealing with significantly worse damage in eastern Manatee County.

“The east side of the county got destroyed. When the storm went over that way, it was a Cat 2/Cat 3. They were rescuing people off roofs this morning,” he said. “The county’s got a lot to take care of. We’re working together and hopefully, we can get the utilities up as fast as we can, but I think it’s going to be a while.”

When asked if folks should return to the city yet, Cosby said, “We’re allowing them to come back. If they want to stay, they can, but there’s no power, no water and no sewer.”

Holmes Beach

When contacted at approximately 11:30 a.m., Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer said, “We had minimal damage – some trees and limbs. Power’s out to about 90% of the people on the Island. We have no water yet. We have no Spectrum connectivity and we’re waiting for them to fix that.

“Full access to Holmes Beach through Manatee Avenue was opened at 10 o’clock this morning. Once the Island was deemed an evacuation zone, we limited the number of people that returned to public safety personnel, but we never raise the bridges and we never stop people from leaving the Island.”

Hurricane Ian takes it easy on Anna Maria Island
The folks at Hurricane Hanks left messages for Hurricane Ian. – Leslie Lake | Sun

Tokajer reflected on what could have been had Hurricane Ian not taken an unexpected turn to the south, making landfall in the Fort Myers area.

“We were truly blessed. The damage and devastation we’re seeing to the south is what we were expecting as a direct hit to our area. It’s truly daunting to see the devastation that happened down there – and to see what a true storm surge looks like in real life instead of just projections,” he said.

Anna Maria

When visited in his generator-powered office at city hall early Thursday afternoon, Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy said, “We did good. We didn’t take a direct hit. If we had, it would have been devasting for our city. We had a lot of trees down and several wires down, but we have most of that cleared. The city’s without power and water. I have no idea when utilities are being restored. I wish I did. People can come back but it’s not real comfortable without water and power.”

The exterior skin of the Anna Maria cell tower was damaged but Murphy said he wasn’t aware of any significant structural damage within the city other than one home having its front door blown off.

“The only significant problem I see is turned over port-a-potties at construction sites. Several contractors picked theirs up, but one contractor didn’t bother to tie them down or pick them up. That’s a problem and a health hazard, and that’s something we put in our construction checklist,” Murphy said.

Hurricane Ian takes it easy on Anna Maria Island
The new Anna Maria City Pier suffered no hurricane damage but remained closed on Thursday. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

In 2017, the damage inflicted by Hurricane Irma led to the City Pier being closed and later replaced. When asked how the new pier fared during its first hurricane, Murphy said, “Our new pier held up fine. There’s no structural damage at all. It was built right. I was concerned – like a father whose daughter goes on her first date.”

Anna Maria residents JoAnn and Anthony Manali chose not to evacuate and rode the storm out at their home and business – Captain Anthony’s Stone Crab Store.

“I was scared and I’ll never do it again. It was worse than I could have ever imagined,” JoAnn Manali said of that experience.

Cortez

Sun reporter Jason Schaffer’s tour of Cortez revealed no significant damage. He said there was slight damage to the Fisherman’s Hall building and some siding damage to a storage building on 124th Street West.

The street sign took a ride in Hurricane Ian’s powerful winds. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

The street sign took a ride in Hurricane Ian’s powerful winds. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

A sailboat came to rest alongside the Cortez Bridge. - Leslie Lake | Sun

A sailboat came to rest alongside the Cortez Bridge. - Leslie Lake | Sun

Fisherman's Hall in Cortez lost a little bit of its siding. - Jason Schaffer | Sun

Fisherman's Hall in Cortez lost a little bit of its siding. - Jason Schaffer | Sun

Manatee County Sheriff’s Office deputies left their post at Cortez Bridge at 10 a.m. Thursday morning. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

Manatee County Sheriff’s Office deputies left their post at Cortez Bridge at 10 a.m. Thursday morning. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

Hurricane Ian damaged this mobile home at the Sandpiper Resort. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

Hurricane Ian damaged this mobile home at the Sandpiper Resort. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

A sailboat stored at the Bradenton Beach Marina fell off its support stands during the storm. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

A sailboat stored at the Bradenton Beach Marina fell off its support stands during the storm. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

The Sand Dollar store in Holmes Beach was ready for the storm. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

The Sand Dollar store in Holmes Beach was ready for the storm. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

This parking lot in Holmes Beach was among the few flooded areas on Anna Maria Island. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

This parking lot in Holmes Beach was among the few flooded areas on Anna Maria Island. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

A dolphin swam near this sunken boat Thursday morning. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

A dolphin swam near this sunken boat Thursday morning. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

This tree fell perilously close to Bradenton Beach City Commissioner Jake Spooner’s home. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

This tree fell perilously close to Bradenton Beach City Commissioner Jake Spooner’s home. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

A displaced screen wound up in this tree near the Pines Trailer Park. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

A displaced screen wound up in this tree near the Pines Trailer Park. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

Hurricane Ian inflicted damage on this mobile home the Sandpiper Report. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

Hurricane Ian inflicted damage on this mobile home the Sandpiper Report. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

This home near Herb Dolan Park in Bradenton Beach suffered storm damage. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

This home near Herb Dolan Park in Bradenton Beach suffered storm damage. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

The crosswalk signal pole near the Sandpiper Resort fell during the storm. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

The crosswalk signal pole near the Sandpiper Resort fell during the storm. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

The Bradenton Beach cell tower was dented during the storm. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

The Bradenton Beach cell tower was dented during the storm. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

Bridge Street resembled a ghost town on Tuesday evening. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

Bridge Street resembled a ghost town on Tuesday evening. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

Bayfront Park in Anna Maria suffered some toppled trees. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

Bayfront Park in Anna Maria suffered some toppled trees. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

Hurricane Ian toppled these signs in Anna Maria. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

Hurricane Ian toppled these signs in Anna Maria. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

Tom Aposporos Jr. was among the last to grab sandbags at Bayfront Park in Anna Maria. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

Tom Aposporos Jr. was among the last to grab sandbags at Bayfront Park in Anna Maria. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

These business owners did not want to get rocked by Hurricane Ian. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

These business owners did not want to get rocked by Hurricane Ian. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

Pine Avenue in Anna Maria was deserted Tuesday evening as the evacuation deadline loomed. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

Pine Avenue in Anna Maria was deserted Tuesday evening as the evacuation deadline loomed. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

The top of the Anna Maria cell tower was damaged. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

The top of the Anna Maria cell tower was damaged. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

Anna Maria Island prepares for Hurricane Ian

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Anna Maria Island, Community News, Featured.

SEPT. 29, 10:20 A.M. UPDATE: Holmes Beach police have announced that Anna Maria Island is back open for residents.

SEPT. 29, 10 A.M. UPDATE: Manatee County evacuation orders have been lifted and shelters are closing this morning. Utility crews are assessing system damage. Anna Maria Island is still closed to residents with drivers being turned around at the base of the Anna Maria and Cortez bridges while first responders and work crews assess the state of the Island. Residents can access Flamingo Cay and Perico Island on Manatee Avenue. Anyone out driving is asked to be cautious of downed or sagging powerlines, storm debris and standing water.

SEPT. 28, 5 P.M. UPDATE: Manatee County officials have asked that residents who still have water limit what goes down their drains. With lift stations losing power and water treatment facilities at capacity, along with potable water breaks reported, residents are asked to limit toilet flushing, showering, doing dishes and doing laundry.

Hurricane Ian made landfall around 3:10 p.m. near the Captiva Islands and Sanibel as a Category 4 storm. Manatee County is under a flash flood warning until 7 p.m., an extreme wind warning until 6 p.m. and an ongoing storm surge warning for coastal low-lying areas.

SEPT. 28, 10 A.M. UPDATE: Power outages are expected to occur in our area over the next several hours. Hurricane Ian has been upgraded to a Category 4 storm and our area is already experiencing high winds and rain. The storm is expected to make landfall to our south late morning or early afternoon today. The Sun will post updates here and on our Facebook page as we’re able due to internet and power outages. Everyone, stay inside, stay safe and we’ll see you on the other side.

SEPT. 27, 5 P.M. UPDATE: The National Hurricane Center’s latest update is showing that Hurricane Ian is expected to come onshore near Port Charlotte early Wednesday afternoon as a possible major hurricane. If the storm follows the current track, it’s anticipated that it will approach the Manatee County area early Thursday, Sept. 29 around 2 a.m., potentially as a Category 1 storm.

The peak storm surge warning for Anna Maria Island and Cortez has been lowered to an estimated maximum of 4-6 feet. The estimated storm surge for Anna Maria Island and Cortez has been reduced to 1-3 feet above ground level.

Manatee County officials announced that water and sewage lift stations on Anna Maria Island will be turned off at 6 p.m. today, Sept. 27. Water and sewage services will not be restored until after the storm threat has passed. County Administrator Dr. Scott Hopes warned residents that sewage lift stations, needed to operate toilets, will not work if electricity is out.

Westbound traffic on Manatee Avenue and Cortez Road to Anna Maria Island from the mainland became restricted at 4 p.m. today and will be closed by 8 p.m. this evening. Traffic lanes will not reopen to the Island until local law enforcement and first responders determine that it’s safe for residents to return.

SEPT. 27, 11 A.M. UPDATE: Manatee County has issued mandatory evacuation notices for zones A and B with a voluntary evacuation notice in place for zone C. If you’re unsure of your evacuation level, visit the county website for more information.

County officials advise that all residents should be sheltered where they plan to ride out the storm as of 8 p.m. tonight when some of the first effects of Hurricane Ian are expected to be felt in the area. All county shelters are now open. A list of shelters in the area can be found here.

All pet owners are advised to bring their pets inside for the duration of the storm. Manatee County Animal Services will close today and not reopen until safe to do so after Hurricane Ian has passed.

All of Manatee County, including Anna Maria Island, is under a flash flood warning beginning Sept. 28 and continuing through Friday, Sept. 30.

Anna Maria Island, Cortez, Perico Island, Flamingo Cay and parts of coastal unincorporated Manatee County are under a storm surge warning. While most areas can expect storm surge of over 3 feet, some areas of the Island, including in Anna Maria and Holmes Beach, can expect storm surge of over 6 feet during high tide. The National Hurricane Center’s storm surge flood map is consistently being updated online as the storm’s track is updated. Peak storm surge along coastal Manatee County is expected to be between 5-9 feet.

City commission regular and work session meetings in Holmes Beach scheduled for today at 5 p.m. have been canceled. Commissioners will go forward with a final budget hearing and emergency special meeting at 5:01 p.m. today via Zoom. The public is invited to participate online or by telephone.

SEPT. 26, 5 P.M. UPDATE: Manatee County is now under a hurricane warning from the National Weather Service. Anna Maria Island and surrounding low-lying areas in Manatee County also are under a storm surge warning. The storm surge warning is in effect until Friday, Sept. 30 and states that the Island could see waters rise 3 feet or more above sea level. Peak storm surges could exceed 10 feet in some areas if Hurricane Ian arrives in the area at high tide.

SEPT. 26, 2 P.M. UPDATE: Closures have been announced for Manatee County.

Manatee County schools are closed for students and staff beginning tomorrow. Schools will be closed until the threat of Hurricane Ian has passed.

The Center of Anna Maria Island and all Manatee County Libraries will close at end of business today, reopening after the storm threat has passed. The Anna Maria City Pier will close at noon Sept. 27 and remain closed until further notice.

There will be no trash, recycling or yard waste collection on Wednesday until after the storm threat passes. Due to evacuation notices for Anna Maria Island, collection services may end early on Tuesday.

All Manatee County facilities and buildings will close to the public at close of business today with the exception of the county administration building which is scheduled to close to the public after a scheduled county commission meeting the morning of Sept. 27.

Shelters in Manatee County will open tomorrow morning at 8 a.m. Manatee County officials ask that no one go to a shelter prior to the 8 a.m. opening on Sept. 27. A list of shelters is available online. Everyone going to a shelter needs to bring their own cot or sleeping bag and personal items.

Manatee County Sheriff Rick Wells has announced that emergency services will be very limited once winds hit a sustained 45 mph. He advises that officers will do their best to respond but may not be able to get to all areas of the county while the effects of Hurricane Ian are being felt in the area. Emergency services in Manatee County, including EMS, fire response and law enforcement will all be limited during the storm event.

Storm surges, high winds and heavy rain are expected to begin as early as 2 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 27 and continue through early morning Friday, Sept. 30. A mandatory evacuation is effective beginning at 8 a.m. Sept. 27 for zone A, which includes Anna Maria Island, and a voluntary evacuation for zone B. Manatee County Administrator Scott Hopes recommends that everyone be where they intend to ride out Hurricane Ian by tomorrow night at 8 p.m. Hurricane Ian is predicted to have a high probability of spinning off tornadoes.

Anna Maria Island will be closed down at sundown tomorrow afternoon, Sept. 27. Water utility services will be shut off one hour after sundown tomorrow afternoon and Hopes said service will not be restored until it can be safely determined that the system has not sustained any significant damage.

SEPT. 26, 12:10 A.M. UPDATE: A mandatory evacuation of zone A, including Anna Maria Island, Perico Island, Cortez and parts of unincorporated Manatee County, has been issued by Manatee County effective at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 27. Evacuation of zone B is advised but not mandatory.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Residents and city leaders in the three Island cities are preparing for potential impacts this week from Hurricane Ian as the storm is projected to pass by to the west in the Gulf of Mexico as a major hurricane.

As of the National Weather Service’s Sept. 26 11 a.m. briefing, the Tampa Bay area, including Manatee County, is under a hurricane watch with the storm expected to rapidly intensify. Hurricane Ian is currently expected to pass by the area as a category 2 or 3 storm. Early forecasts predict 7-10 inches of rain in our area and storm surges of 5-8 feet. Impacts from Hurricane Ian are expected to begin in Manatee County as early as Wednesday evening and continue through Thursday, Sept. 29.

Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer and Mayor Judy Titsworth said the Island is anticipated to be under a mandatory evacuation by 8 a.m. on Tuesday, Sept. 27. While residents will not be forced to leave, it is important to note that emergency services, including police, fire response and EMS, will not be available during a storm. West Manatee Fire Rescue personnel will be required to leave the Island once sustained winds exceed 45 mph.

Anna Maria

A state of emergency has been declared by city officials. Residents are advised to prepare for impending impacts from Hurricane Ian. A sandbagging station has been set up for residents at Bayfront Park, however, supplies of sandbags and sand are limited. Reentry tags are available for residents at city hall with proof of residency.

Bradenton Beach

City officials declared a state of emergency during an 11 a.m. meeting this morning. Manatee County staff have delivered pre-filled sandbags to Coquina Beach for residents over the weekend but those supplies have quickly been depleted. Reentry tags for residents are available at the Bradenton Beach Police Department with proof of residency.

Holmes Beach

Titsworth declared a local state of emergency for the city early Monday morning. Sand and sandbags are available as supplies are replenished at the Manatee Beach and by the pickleball courts at city field. Reentry tags are available for residents with one tag being issued per residence at the Holmes Beach Police Department.

The Holmes Beach Code Compliance Special Magistrate hearing scheduled for 10 a.m. Sept. 27 has been canceled. The city commission meeting and work session scheduled to follow the budget hearing at 5:01 p.m. on Sept. 27 have been canceled. Titsworth said she anticipates that the budget hearing also will be canceled due to the mandatory evacuation.

The Sun will continue to update this post as more information becomes available.