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FEMA review may jeopardize flood insurance, buildings

FEMA review may jeopardize flood insurance, buildings

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News.

BRADENTON BEACH – The city’s National Flood Insurance Program (NFIP) insurance rate discounts, the ability to obtain flood insurance, and even some buildings may be in jeopardy after FEMA reviews the building department’s post-hurricane procedures, according to City Attorney Ricinda Perry.

“We’ve been flagged,” Perry said at a Feb. 6 city commission meeting.

Perry said she had a call from FEMA and the Florida Divi sion of Emergency Management in which she was asked “why we are letting our city run afoul of all the regulation s that FEMA puts out there in our floodplain requirements.”

“I did have a meeting with FEMA, and whether we like it or not, we have to deal with FEMA and it’s excruciating,” Perry said. “But they came in and they sat down, as they explored the city’s records, they discovered there are substantial problems here that under the prior building official, there were no standard operating procedures. That’s red flag number one. Red flag number two was they could not believe how much of the community was not determined to be substantially damaged.”

Perry said she was told there were major red flags on 76 properties.

“He also said that he drove around and saw way too much construction activity going on without placards, seeing materials and felt that there was no enforcement by the building department on unpermitted work,” she said.

After examining city building department records, FEMA is expected to review about 200 permits that were issued since Hurricanes Helene and Milton devastated the city in September and October 2024, and any work that was verbally approved by the former building official will have to be reviewed, she said.

Building Official Darin Cushing was suspended by city commissioners and terminated earlier this month by his employer, M.T. Causley, which contracts with the city for building services.

The city is in the process of replacing him, Perry said.

“What it means, is, anything that we allowed that we should not have allowed, whether it was by mistake of the building official and something that he did in the field, whether it was by errors or omissions by not having an SOP (standard operating procedure), or following it to a ‘t,’ whether it was somebody doing something and we didn’t catch it, FEMA has the right to tell us we have to tear that structure down,” Perry said.

Under the FEMA 50% rule, if 50% or more of the value of a building is damaged by a storm, it must be repaired in compliance with FEMA rules, which may require demolishing a ground-floor building and rebuilding it one story higher.

FLOOD INSURANCE AT RISK

The city could also be removed from the NFIP’s Community Rating System (CRS), which could affect insurance discounts and even the ability of city residents and business owners to obtain flood insurance.

Bradenton Beach is one of approximately 1,500 communities nationwide that participates in the CRS, a voluntary incentive program that recognizes floodplain management practices that exceed the minimum requirements of the NFIP. In communities that comply with CRS policies, flood insurance premiums can be discounted from 5% to 45%.

“What I want to avoid is going through an audit and that is what Lee County went through, and it did not go well for them,” Perry said. “It is something we cannot afford financially. Our staff cannot handle it. We do not have the budget for it, but more importantly, if we fail, our community will lose the ability to have flood insurance.”

Without flood insurance, some residential and commercial property owners with mortgages could be required by their lenders to pay off their mortgages early.

In November 2024, Lee County, Ft. Myers Beach, Estero, Cape Coral and Bonita Springs received FEMA letters following Hurricane Ian notifying those municipalities of potential probation from the NFIP based on the need to correct identified deficiencies or violations in their floodplain management programs.

“As a flood insurance policyholder, you are receiving this letter as an advanced notice that if your community is unable to correct the identified deficiencies or violations, if will be placed on probation from the NFIP,” the FEMA letter to the Lee County municipalities states in part. “As of April 1, 2025, you will lose any discounts you are receiving through the CRS. If your community is placed on probation, it may not rejoin the CRS program for at least two years after being removed from probationary status. Further, if your community does not address identified deficiencies or violations, it will be subject to suspension from the program.”

Bradenton Beach could possibly face similar sanctions.

“FEMA’s review indicates the city of Bradenton Beach’s processes demonstrate potential serious program deficiencies that do not meet substantial damage administration requirements,” according to the FEMA Feb. 1 email.

“Addressing these areas will help ensure the city of Bradenton Beach’s substantial damage and post-disaster permitting process meet the NFIP’s minimum requirements,” the Feb. 1 FEMA email to the city states. “As the city of Bradenton Beach progresses with recovery and permitting efforts, please ensure the permitting documentation reflects the established validation process. This will promote the consistent application of the substantial damage and substantial improvement procedures and facilitate any future reviews of documentation. Rescinding higher standards, or failure to enforce those adopted in your regulations, may reduce community rating systems, policy discounts and result in a CRS class downgrade.”

“The good news is if we take steps to correct it, they’re going to be satisfied and they are not going to come down and destroy our community, which they could, with the ability to get flood insurance,” Perry said.

Cushing told The Sun he was reserving comment at this time.

He posted the following in part on The Sun Facebook page, “I was 100% following FEMA Guidelines, and they are just that, guidelines. I also executed my authority as the Licensed Building Official of Record and Floodplain Manager for the Community. They have no idea what the FEMA guidelines even are. There is something else behind all this, and everyone knows it!”

Wildlife Inc. co-founders hope to re-open soon

Wildlife Inc. co-founders hope to re-open soon

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Outdoors.

BRADENTON BEACH – Wildlife Education and Rehabilitation Center Inc. co-founders Gail and Ed Straight are working toward rebuilding not only their hurricane-damaged home, but restoring the non-profit wildlife rehabilitation center they’ve run for the past 34 years.

“I want people to know we’re working our way back to be able to take their animals in,” Gail said. “I miss having the animals here.”

While they rebuild their home and the rehabilitation center, the Straights are staying in a nearby apartment.

“We’ve been in this house 54 years and never got a drop of water,” she said.

Wildlife Inc. co-founders hope to re-open soon
Ed and Gail Straight’s home, the Wildlife Inc. animal rehab center, sustained damage during Hurricane Helene. – Leslie Lake | Sun

In between taking Ed to his dialysis appointments, Gail is back at home each day working.

“We’re waiting for drywall to be delivered. The floors need to be replaced,” she said. “I have no sinks. If I need warm water, I go outside and fill a bowl with the hose and take it over to the microwave and heat it up so I can wash things or just make a cup of tea.”

Ed and Gail were home during Hurricane Helene and watched as the water rose up to about 3 feet inside their house.

“We moved most of the animals before the storm, when we knew it was coming,” Gail said. “The water came pretty high. The big tortoises were here. My grandson, who’s a policeman, moved them out back and put them on top of cages.”

She said the freezers and refrigerators were destroyed in the storm and Wildlife Inc. recently received donations of a small freezer and refrigerator.

“Right before the storm, I had just bought $1,000 worth of food for the owls, that all had to go into the landfill,” she said.

Straight is currently taking care of five raccoons and several owls in cages behind the house.

“We’ve been taking some animals in,” she said. “Our phones are off right now.”

She said it will be at least another month or two before the rehabilitation center will be operational.

“I’ve gotten people coming to help,” she said. “I just wish I could get back to doing this full time.”

Gail said they are dealing with insurance issues as well as finding available electrical and plumbing contractors to get up and running. She said she and Ed are also appreciative of the help they’re received from the community.

“If this happened again, I couldn’t do it,” she said. “If we flood like this again, I’m gone.”

GOFUNDME

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help the Straights get back on their feet after the storms.

Page organizer Juli Vasilas wrote: “For nearly 40 years, Gail and Ed Straight have passionately and tirelessly organized Wildlife Inc. Education & Rehabilitation Center, a volunteer based non-profit which relies solely on private donations and receives NO funding from local, state, or federal governments. They have rescued, rehabilitated and aimed to release an estimated 150,000 injured or orphaned wildlife. They are some of the most selfless and dedicated people I know, who have made tremendous

sacrifices in order to serve the wildlife in their community. On Sept. 26, their Anna Maria Island location was severely damaged by Hurricane Helene. Risking their own safety, they were miraculously able to keep ALL of the wildlife safe, however their home, wildlife hospital and both of their vehicles are a total loss. I am hoping to spread their story and provide a platform for their loyal supporters to help them in what I am sure will be a very long and challenging road of rebuilding their lives. Thank you for considering a donation, any amount is hugely appreciated by these deserving animal advocates.” https://gofund.me/c6987b87

Post-hurricane property damage assessments begin

Post-hurricane property damage assessments begin

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News.

BRADENTON BEACH – Beginning with the mobile home parks, individual damage assessments are being conducted by the city along with state damage assessment teams.

The city of Bradenton Beach and vendor partners with the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM) began conducting post-hurricane assessments of properties on Nov. 14.

“They are starting at the north end with Sandpiper,” according to the City of Bradenton Beach Building Department Facebook page. “The city has been broken into six zones, after Sandpiper is completed, they will begin, in teams of two, the rest of the city. Each team will be assigned a different zone.”

The 20 state inspectors from AC Disaster Consulting may be identified by their vests and lanyards. If you are not home, or do not want them in your home, damage assessments will be conducted on the outside of the home.

According to the City of Bradenton Beach Building Department:

“Damage assessments are conducted to:

• Guide City and County response efforts;

• Determine the severity and magnitude of the event;

• Quantify the damage to homes and businesses impacted by the disaster;

• Assess the need for federal assistance and estimate disaster impact to businesses, individuals and families; and

• Determine whether local resources will be sufficient to effectively respond and recover from the incident.”

Post-hurricane property damage assessments begin
State damage assessment teams will wear identifying lanyards. – Submitted

The assessment determines what was damaged, as well as when, where and how damage occurred. These assessments start the eligibility determination for disaster recovery programs, such as FEMA’s Public Assistance and Individual Assistance Programs, and other potential programs, according to the city Building Department Facebook page.

Substantial improvement and substantial damage determinations will be confirmed at the time of building permit in accordance with City Ordinance No. 21-536, which states:

For applications for building permits to improve buildings and structures, including alterations, movement, enlargement, replacement, repair, change of occupancy, additions, rehabilitations, renovations, substantial improvements, repairs of substantial damage and any other improvement of or work on such buildings and structures, the Floodplain Administrator, in coordination with the Building Official, shall:

1) Estimate the market value, or require the applicant to obtain an appraisal of the market value prepared by a qualified independent appraiser, of the building or structure before the start of construction of the proposed work; in the case of repair, the market value of the building or structure shall be the market value before the damage occurred and before any repairs are made;

2) Compare the cost to perform the improvement, the cost to repair a damaged building to its pre-damaged condition, or the combined costs of improvements and repairs, if applicable, to the market value of the building or structure;

3) Determine and document whether the proposed work constitutes substantial improvement or repair of substantial damage; the determination requires an evaluation of previous permits issued for improvements and repairs as specified in the definition of “substantial improvement;” and

4) Notify the applicant if it is determined that the work constitutes substantial improvement or repair of substantial damage and that compliance with the flood resistant construction requirements of the Florida Building Code and this ordinance is required.

“We greatly appreciate your willingness to allow our community inspectors to assess the condition of your property as this is required by the NFIP to protect lives and investment from future flood damages,” the city Building Department Facebook post continues.

“The City of Bradenton Beach must enforce these requirements for federally backed flood insurance to be made available to city residents and property owners at discounted rates based upon the Community Rating System (CRS). Please visit https://www.fema.gov/flood-insurance for more information or if you have any questions about this process or the inspectors, please contact us immediately by calling the Bradenton Beach Building Department at 941-778-1005.”

Bradenton Beach logo

Cosby offers update on sand, debris, road repairs

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News.

BRADENTON BEACH – Police Chief and Public Works Director John Cosby gave an update on sand removal, debris pickup and road repairs at an emergency city commission meeting on Nov. 13.

The weekly emergency meeting was called to continue the declaration of a tropical event for Hurricane Helene.

“We’re working on mitigating the sand at the end of 25th, 26th and 27th Streets,” Cosby said.

With some homeowners having repairs being done to their properties, construction debris has been piling up after the city completed its hurricane-related debris removal.

Effective Nov. 19, all debris and yard waste become the responsibility of homeowners and businesses. Waste Pro will only collect properly bagged debris and yard waste.

Code enforcement actions will begin on Dec. 20 for leftover debris.

He praised debris removal company Ashbritt and debris-monitoring company Debris Tech.

“I can’t say enough about them,” Cosby said. “We got a lot of equipment for a city our size and we’re very happy with that. Everything is going very smoothly.”

He said concrete chunks remain in piles of sand that were pushed aside. Those will be difficult for Ashbritt to process and will need to be removed in a different way.

Cosby said there are some roads damaged during and after the storms that will need repairs.

“We’re going to be meeting with Woodruff next week and we’re going to utilize them for road repairs,” he said. “We’re going to have to put some road base back down. They’ll also be doing the stormwater (drainage) cleanout. We have a good working relationship with Woodruff so they’re going to step up to the plate and help us out.”

Cosby said he will be meeting with FEMA next week, following the state announcement that the agency will be issuing low-cost loans for governments.

“Hopefully we can secure some money at a better rate to get us through until FEMA starts pushing money down,” he said.

Debris pickup complete in Bradenton Beach

Debris pickup complete in Bradenton Beach

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News.

BRADENTON BEACH—The city’s hurricane-related debris and vegetation pickup is complete, and homeowners are responsible for any further post-storm debris removal. The city’s focus is now on sand removal.

“All debris is done, no more C&D, no more vegetation, no more white goods, everything has been picked up,” Police Chief and Public Works Director John Cosby updated city commissioners at a Nov. 4 emergency commission meeting. “We did two passes, we do have a few down on the south end that we’re finishing up today and the only thing we have left is the sand removal and that is starting today.”

Cosby said the debris removal timeline exceeded his expectations.

“Ashbritt (Debris Removal Company) did an awesome job for us,” Cosby said. ”We thought it would be mid-January before we were done and they did it in five weeks.”

Cosby said FEMA provided guidance regarding debris removal on private and small commercial property.

“Basically, what they have said now is we can get right of entry to go into the trailer parks and clear the debris from the private roads,” he said. “We are allowed to pick the debris for small commercial, such as the Moose Lodge and Bridge Street vendors. Under their guidance, we still cannot remove any debris from Runaway Bay. That’s considered large commercial and they will not allow us to go in there and do debris removal.”

The city right of entry ordinance pertains to city workers entering private property to remove storm-related debris in an emergency situation. Under that ordinance, the city must have written consent from the property owner before entering the property. The owner must also sign an affidavit stating they do not have insurance that covers debris removal.

“We’ve gotten the go-ahead to do right of entry for the structures that have collapsed or have been marked as unsafe,” Cosby said. ”We’ll need the property owner to give us the right to go on the property. Ricinda (City Attorney Ricinda Perry) is working on that, and trying to get as many as we can.”

Cosby said that once the sand is removed from city streets, public works will begin sweeping the streets.

“The crew is taking the loader and scraping some of the sand off, because there’s still quite a bit of sand on the road, and the street sweeper is going in behind them and will take a few passes,” he said. “Now that I know there’s going to be rain coming potentially Wednesday and Thursday we’re going to do one pass and get as much as we can before things get wet.”

Cosby said the city is in the process of getting contractor bids for stormwater drain clearing.

“There is no sense in doing that until we get all the sand because the sand is going to wash right back in,” he said. “When the sand goes this week, then we’ll be in a position to start that.”

Cosby said the Florida Department of Transportation will begin sand removal on Gulf Drive, which is a state road, in Bradenton Beach around mid-November.

“They started north and did their first push going south to the end of Longboat, now they’re turning around and headed back this way,” he said. “They’re estimating the week of Thanksgiving they’ll be in the city and starting that.”

Cosby said storm debris remains on the rocks by the city pier.

“We don’t have the equipment to get that close,” he said. “I’m going to reach out to Duncan (Duncan Seawall) because they have the correct equipment to get close in shallow water and see if they can help us clear that stuff out of there.”

Mayor John Chappie said Cosby and the public works department have done an amazing job in post-storm cleanup.

Bradenton Beach merchants work to reopen

Bradenton Beach merchants work to reopen

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News.

BRADENTON BEACH – As Bridge Street comes back to life with merchants reopening businesses following back-to-back hurricanes, the Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) discussed their vision for the area, including Christmas on Bridge Street.

“We had already paid to complete the pergola, and we know that’s an important vision for the street, and in talking with Chief (John) Cosby one of the goals and objectives we have that ties in with is that we are going to be open and supporting Christmas on Bridge Street,” City Attorney Ricinda Perry said at the Oct. 17 CRA meeting. “That is not an option, that is going to happen.”

She said Bridge Street merchants have been working hard to get up and running by Nov. 23.

“It is my goal to execute what we’re going to call our Table of Hope, and that is going to be our kickoff to Christmas on Bridge Street,” Perry said. “The Table of Hope we put together for everybody who’s been a part of this experience, we’re going to shut Bridge Street down, line it with tables, get a bolt of fabric, we’re going to write what we want on that fabric and we’re going to hang that banner over our street for everybody to know that we are strong, that we are standing and that we are a hopeful community.”

The date for that event has not yet been determined.

“Mayor and I are going to be working with the decorators,” Perry said. ”It may not be pretty but it’s going to be something and we’re going to celebrate that heart of the city. “

She invited community members to reach out with thoughts and ideas.

“The merchants are certainly pressed to get where they need to be,” she said, noting that multiple businesses in Bradenton Beach have already reopened including Daiquiri Deck, Anna Maria Oyster Bar on the Pier, SALT Bar and Table, Bridge Tender Inn, Circle K (north location open with fuel, south opens this weekend), and Smoqe House (opens Oct. 21).

Staff at Drift-In AMI, Blue Marlin, Island Time and Island Creperie, among others, told The Sun that they are working to get back up and running as soon as possible.

The CRA board unanimously approved Christmas on Bridge Street and the Table of Hope.

Commissioners receive update on Hurricane Helene recovery

Commissioners receive update on Hurricane Helene recovery

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News, Featured.

BRADENTON BEACH – In what Police Chief and Public Works Director John Cosby described as an ever-changing situation, he gave commissioners the latest update on progress and steps forward for storm recovery on Thursday afternoon.

Cosby said he decided to allow residents to return to the city on Oct. 3 via a checkpoint at the Cortez Bridge.

“Today’s re-entry went well,” he said. “We had no issues.”

He said he is considering allowing access soon from Holmes Beach to allow contractors’ trucks an easier way to get through to the city.

“We’re very fortunate with our other government entities the cooperation has been immense, Manatee County, we’ve not been told no on anything we’ve requested,” Cosby said. “DOT (Florida Department of Transportation) has gone above and beyond. The governor even signed an order to clear our roads. DOT is starting to clear rights of way, and it is possible that they may even be removing construction debris from the state right of way.”

“This is all being pushed from the governor’s office so this is huge for us,” Cosby said.

He said Gov. Ron DeSantis told him he’s never seen that much sand in as many disaster sites as he’s been to.

“Even FEMA said they’ve never seen anything like it,” Cosby said. “This is an anomaly that we had here, and it found us.”

Cosby said progress in getting roads reopened is ahead of schedule.

“The first time I came out here Friday morning at 4 a.m. I was driving around processing where I thought we would be at certain time periods,” he said. “I’m going to tell you we’re at least two or two-and-a-half weeks ahead of schedule where I felt we should be with the type of impact we incurred.”

Cosby said city public works employees have been doing a great job along with Bradenton Beach police officers who have been working 12-hour days with no days off.

“We’ve had no major thefts and no deaths or injuries,” Cosby said. “We’re moving forward. The roads don’t look pretty, but they’re useable.”

Mail delivery may resume as early as Friday, according to City Attorney Ricinda Perry.

“Pick up of household waste started today, stuff that people had taken out of their refrigerators or freezers. We’re having a pickup today and maybe trying to have another pickup tomorrow for residents who are just getting back,” Cosby said.

“I hope people will be patient. If you need a break, take a break. This is tough to take,” Mayor John Chappie said. “We are a strong community. We’re not going anywhere. We won’t live our lives out here as victims. We’re going to pick our feet up and take one step at a time. We’re going to beat this,”

Cosby said Bridge Street merchants have set a goal for a late November reopening.

He said certain contractors were let in on Thursday because of what they were cleaning and what the hazards were.

“Nobody is getting special privileges, Mr. (Shawn) Kaleta offered his property at First Street for comfort stations. There was no other place to put it. He also offered for the second location Circle K and Salt and we’re utilizing that,” Cosby said.

The curfew remains in effect daily from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.

Police chief addresses return access, power restoration, damage assessment

Police chief addresses return access, power restoration, damage assessment

Written by Joe Hendricks on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News, Featured.

BRADENTON BEACH – Police Chief and Public Works Director John Cosby provided The Sun with an extensive update on Oct. 1 regarding the conditions in the city and when residents, property owners, and business owners might be able to return.

He also addressed the ongoing power restoration efforts, property damage assessments, potential condemnation of damaged structures and mail delivery.

Police chief addresses return access, power restoration, damage assessment
John Cosby stood at the sand-covered Cortez Road/Gulf Drive intersection the morning after Hurricane Helene passed through Bradenton Beach. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Cosby said the damage Hurricane Helene inflicted in Bradenton Beach is much greater than the damage sustained in Holmes Beach and Anna Maria. He also said the recovery efforts in Bradenton Beach are far more daunting and challenging than what the other two Island cities are experiencing.

“We have been declared as ‘catastrophic.’ Gov. DeSantis has been to a lot of disaster sites and he said never seen this much sand moved by a storm,” Cosby said.

“The governor’s visit on Saturday is what got us to the point we’re at now,” Cosby said of the ongoing street-clearing efforts.

“The city of Bradenton Beach greatly appreciates the governor’s visit and assistance. His visit brought to Bradenton Beach the assistance of all the state agencies necessary for the recovery efforts,” Cosby said.

Return access

Cosby said the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) has cleared Gulf Drive of sand and debris deposited by Hurricane Helene’s winds and storm surge.

Police chief addresses return access, power restoration, damage assessment
FDOT utilized a small army of trucks and equipment to clear Gulf Drive of sand and debris. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

“Gulf Drive is a state road and Gov. DeSantis also authorized FDOT to clear all public roads owned by the city of Bradenton Beach. As soon as FDOT is done clearing the secondary roads owned, we will let residents, business owners, insurance adjusters, vacation rental property owners and property management personnel to return. We will also allow the contractors that the property owners and businesses have contacted to come out and do work,” Cosby said.

“If FDOT gives me the green light on Thursday, then we’ll start this on Friday,” Cosby said of the controlled re-entry process that remains subject to change.

“At that point, you can start cleaning up and assessing your damage. You can stay until the curfew begins at 7 p.m. If you want to bring a van or truck to load up your belongings, you’ll be allowed to do that. That’s why I want residents to have a few days to try to salvage their lives before the general public starts driving around,” Cosby said.

Cosby said residents can resume living in their homes, if they wish, with or without electrical service. Still, there is a fire risk associated with power returning to damaged electrical systems.

Regarding the initial wave of returnees, Cosby said, “I want to give the residents and the business owners a couple days to come out and collect their bearings because they are not prepared for what they are going to see. Some of these people have lost everything and their care and needs are our top priority. They are not prepared when they walk in their house and see that their house is totally destroyed, or see that their vehicles are totally destroyed and there’s two or three feet of sand in their garage. The business owners who’ve returned to Bridge Street are just overwhelmed. When I began talking to them, they were on the verge of tears,” Cosby said.

Regarding future re-entry for the general public, Cosby said, “When the time is right, I will then consider allowing other traffic into the city.”

Cosby provided no specific timetable as to when that additional traffic will be allowed to return, but if all goes well, he expects it could happen at some point next week.

Cosby said those who have questions or concerns, can stop the police department, at 403 Highland Ave, or speak with an officer patrolling the city.

 Re-entry requirements

Re-entry checkpoints remain in effect at the Cortez Bridge, the Bradenton Beach/Holmes Beach border and the Longboat Pass Bridge. Tampa Police Department officers will begin assisting the city with those efforts tonight (Oct. 1).

Barring any unforeseen complications, when the first wave of authorized residents, property owners, business owners, and others begin returning later this week through the Cortez Road checkpoint only, they must present a city-issued re-entry tag or some other documentation that supports their entrance to the city.

Residents can also provide a valid driver’s license or state ID with a Bradenton Beach address, a utility bill, or a tax bill specific to their property.

Valid documentation for business owners includes a current re-entry tag or a city-issued business tax license. Business owners who want their employees to return to their workplace via their own vehicles must provide Cosby with a letter containing the business letterhead, the owner’s name, and the name of each employee authorized to return in their own vehicle.

The authorization letters are to be emailed to Cosby at jcosby@cityofbradnetonbeach.com. Cosby will print the employee authorization letters out and provide them to the law enforcement personnel stationed at the Cortez Bridge checkpoint.

Cosby encourages returning employees to share rides or caravan as much as possible to reduce the number of unnecessary vehicles returning, especially those with trailers and trucks coming out to remove the contents of a business.

Valid documentation for returning vacation rental owners and property managers includes a re-entry tag or a copy of a city-issued transient public lodging license. Arrangements can then be made for contractors to begin their recovery and restoration work. Returning contractors will be asked to provide a work order or some other documentation associated with the pending work.

Police chief addresses return access, power restoration, damage assessment
This elevated residential structure along Gulf Drive South sustained hurricane damage. – Leslie Lake | Sub

Cosby noted that FDOT and Manatee County personnel are not clearing driveways and driveway entrances at this point and, for now, that remains the responsibility of the property owner. Returning vehicles will not be allowed to park alongside Gulf Drive and must be parked in driveways, along residential side streets, in public parking spaces or in business parking lots.

Due to ongoing public safety and law enforcement concerns, Cosby said the general public, “disaster tourists’ and others without a legitimate reason to return will not be granted access to the city.

Trolley service resumes

While awaiting allowed vehicular access to the city, residents, business owners, employees and others can now return to the city using MCAT’s free Island trolley service. According to Cosby, the free Island trolley buses began traveling through Bradenton Beach at approximately noon today after previously resuming service in Holmes Beach and Anna Maria.

Trolley busses entering Bradenton Beach through Holmes Beach will travel south along Gulf Drive to the S-Curve at 13th Street South. Passengers can get off the bus along the route to access their residential and commercial properties that may or may not have electrical service.

The trollies will turn around at the S-curve and will not travel to Coquina Beach or the Coquina boat ramps, which remain closed. The trollies will then travel north on Gulf Drive and take a right turn (east) on the Cortez Bridge to pick up passengers near the bridge where vehicular access remains restricted. There is no designated parking for trolley passengers so you must find a legal parking place on your own. The trollies will turn around at the Cortez Bridge and proceed north and toward Holmes Beach and Anna Maria. Trolley arrival times will likely be approximately every half-hour, with longer wait times possible.

Power restoration

Cosby said electrical service has been restored in some locations and that remains an ongoing, and sometimes challenging, work in progress.

“The FPL assessment team was out here yesterday and today analyzing and assessing the city’s underground electrical system south of Cortez Road. They are diligently analyzing and assessing the damage and formulating a plan to restore power to the south end of the city,” Cosby said.

Police chief addresses return access, power restoration, damage assessment
FPL is analyzing the damage done to the electrical system at the south end of the city. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Cosby said power has been restored to the police station, city hall and other locations throughout the city.

“FPL has already charged the overhead lines on Gulf Drive and sporadically some people are getting power back. The city’s planning department is working with FPL to ensure that every individual home or building is inspected and certified before receiving electrical services. If the home or building is not certified, the power meter will be removed and the building will not have electricity when the power line is charged,” Cosby said.

Property damage

“People don’t realize how bad it is,” Cosby said. “A picture only shows a certain angle, but not the entire degree of the damage. When talking to the Bridge Street merchants when we first brought them out, I told them before we went over the bridge to be prepared for shock and awe. You are not going to believe what you’re going to see because we’ve never had anything like this. A lot of buildings are going to have to be torn down,” Cosby said.

Police chief addresses return access, power restoration, damage assessment
The storm surge left its mark on this elevated Bradenton Beach home. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Cosby said the storm surge was three or four feet high on Bridge Street and over six feet high in other places, with reported wave heights of eight to 11 feet.

Police chief addresses return access, power restoration, damage assessment
Water erosion threatens the foundation at this home along Gulf Drive South. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Police chief addresses return access, power restoration, damage assessment
Hurricane Helene demolished this home and deposited it at the end of the street. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

“Our building official has already determined that several structures have been condemned and the building department will continue to evaluate structures to determine whether or not they can be occupied,” Cosby said.

 Mail service

Today, the city issued a press release regarding mail service that states Bradenton Beach mail service is being temporarily re-routed to the Longboat Key post office at 560 Bay Isles Road for approximately one month. Cosby said the Bradenton Beach post office may have sustained storm damage and many residential mailboxes are buried or missing.

“Starting Thursday (Oct. 3), mail can start being picked up at the Longboat Key post office. There will be no mail delivery until further notice,” he said.

Final thoughts

“The city of Bradenton Beach appreciates the efforts of FDOT, Gov. DeSantis, the state of Florida, Manatee County and the Manatee County Emergency Operations Center, the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, the West Manatee Fire District, and the other Island municipalities for their response and assisting us with our ongoing recovery efforts,” Cosby said.

Real-time updates and information are being posted daily at the Bradenton Beach Police Department’s Facebook page.

(Sun reporter Leslie Lake contributed photos to this story)

(Editor’s note: As conditions and circumstances continue to evolve, the information provided in this story is subject to change at any time.)

Related coverage:
Residents and business owners return to Holmes Beach
Recovery process continues in Anna Maria
Duncan leads community recovery efforts
DeSantis prioritizes temporary Gulf Drive repairs
Cortez cleans up after Helene
Hurricane recovery underway on Anna Maria Island
DeSantis prioritizes temporary Gulf Drive repairs

DeSantis prioritizes temporary Gulf Drive repairs

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News.

BRADENTON BEACH – Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, along with federal and state officials, was in Bradenton Beach on Saturday to provide an update on Hurricane Helene recovery efforts locally and statewide.

DeSantis addressed the need for reopening Gulf Drive, which suffered extensive damage that included several feet of sand over the road, buckling and sinkholes following the storm surge from the Category 4 storm.

“Here in Bradenton Beach one of the things we wanted to do is get this road fixed as soon as possible,” DeSantis said. “People were talking about many weeks, we don’t have that kind of time.”

Gulf Drive (SR-789) falls under the jurisdiction of the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). As of Sunday, Bradenton Beach is the only Anna Maria Island city that was not allowing residents to return except on foot due largely to the conditions along Gulf Drive.

DeSantis said FDOT has a temporary fix started on Gulf Drive under an emergency contract.

“It could be finished in five days, but we’re hoping they’ll do better than that,” DeSantis said. “There’s part of the road where you have structural damage. And they’ll do temporary repairs. People will be able to use the road. It’s not going to be a permanent solution, but I’d rather get the road back open so people can use it, then we’ll address it on a permanent basis.”

He said the goal is to get everything functioning so people can get back to their homes and businesses as soon as possible.

At 3 p.m. on Sunday, FDOT was authorized by DeSantis to begin immediate sand removal and clearing of all City of Bradenton Beach local roads, according to a Bradenton Beach city press release.

“Please stay out of their way,” the release states. “The city remains open to foot traffic only.”

DeSantis called the amount of sand on the road in Bradenton Beach “significant” and said he has not seen that amount of sand following the storm in any other part of the state he’s visited.

“I think what we’re going to do, we’re going to store the sand and then if folks here need it for beach renourishment they can use it for beach renourishment,” DeSantis said. “In some areas the sand was 5 feet. That’s pretty incredible.”

Much of Anna Maria Island remains without power. The governor said that sand inhibits the ability to deal with some of the underground transmission lines.

“For folks here, there’s a lot of damage, but there’s no question you’ll be able to bounce back,” he said.

DeSantis was joined by FDOT Secretary Jared Purdue, FEMA Executive Director Kevin Guthrie, FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell and Major General John Haas from the Florida National Guard.

Purdue said FDOT solicited bids and got under contract quickly to repair Gulf Drive.

“We’re standing here on State Road 789 which sustained significant damage from Helene and with mounds and mounds of sand, and as soon as the water receded our FDOT team here in District 1 jumped in and immediately started doing damage assessments,” Purdue said. “There’s a schedule of five days, but you heard the governor – there’s a full anticipation we’re going to work around the clock to get this done as quickly as possible.”

“We’ve reopened the Florida Disaster Fund, this is a private fund, this is a tax-deductible charitable contribution you can make. It’s a partnership with our partners in the private sector, other non-government groups who work to help people when things like this happen. It can help fund meals and help displaced people get essential items,” DeSantis said.

He gave the telephone number for the state’s non-emergency information line, which is 800-342-3557 and the Hope Florida line for assistance with food and shelter at 1-833-GET-HOPE.

City cleans up minor damage following Debby

City cleans up minor damage following Debby

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Bradenton Beach, Community News.

BRADENTON BEACH – City officials reported minor damage and flooding from Tropical Storm Debby on Aug. 4-5 before it became a hurricane, but said that the city fared well overall.

Several of the coconut palms on Bridge Street toppled over during the tropical storm force winds and rain from Debby and were removed by the city.

“We took out five, they were the ones that just could not hold,” Police Chief and Interim Public Works Director John Cosby said. “This was the last straw for them. We made the decision that if they went down again because of the wind, they have to go. We’re going to put some kind of plant in there, but the five won’t be going back.”

Mayor John Chappie said the trees will be planted elsewhere in the city.

“Thankfully we didn’t have a lot of wind,” Cosby said. “We just got a ton of rain.”

Ingrid McClellan, coordinator of the Scenic Manatee Advisory Committee, reported that several palm trees fell on the Gulf Drive medians near the Coquina Beach entrance.

She noted that is an evacuation route for Longboat Key going north.

“We just received a report from Manatee County that crews are onsite taking care of this item,” FDOT Landscape Architect Daryl Richard wrote in an Aug. 6 email, adding that the Alexander palms were restaked.

Two of the city’s finger docks were damaged in the storm and were repaired quickly.

“One came completely loose; the weld snapped,” Cosby said. “We had Duncan (Seawall Dock-Boat Lift) check it and they are being repaired.”

Cosby said there will be no interruption to the Gulf Island Ferry service to Bradenton Beach.

Cosby said five structures had water inundation and one in the Sandpiper Trailer Park had some damage.

BEACH EROSION

Charlie Hunsicker, Manatee County Natural Resources director, characterized beach erosion from the storm as “measurable but marginal.” On a scale of 1-10, he rated Anna Maria Island’s shoreline between 3-5.

“We were fortunate that the timing of the storm and tides was not as critical as it could have been. The beaches did a great job protecting our parks, infrastructure and private property,” Manatee County Information Outreach Manager Bill Logan wrote in an email to The Sun on behalf of Hunsicker.

The next beach renourishment project will take place at least a year from now and that will be based on damage from Hurricane Idalia with FEMA assistance, according to Logan.