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Damage assessments completed in Holmes Beach

Damage assessments completed in Holmes Beach

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

HOLMES BEACH – The hurricane-related substantial damage assessments have been completed in Holmes Beach and the debris removal efforts continue.

On Nov. 15, Superintendent of Public Works and City Engineer Sage Kamiya and Director of De­velopment Services and Planning and Zoning Administrator Chad Minor shared a statistical update of the efforts completed and still taking place in Holmes Beach.

According to Minor, the substantial damage assessments were completed on Nov. 12 by 20 two-person teams provided by a mission request fulfilled by the Florida Department of Emergency Management (FDEM). The damage assessment team was contracted by FDEM using AC Disaster Consulting. The Crisis Track damage assess­ment software application used by Manatee County was used to collect and record the residential and commercial damage in Holmes Beach.

The damage assessment team assessed 3,331 structures. Four structures were deemed destroyed, 243 structures were deemed to have major damage, 217 were deemed to have minor damage and 2,867 structures were deemed affected by Hur­ricane Helene and/or Hurricane Milton.

The assessed damage to residential structures totaled approximately $334 million and assessed damage to commercial structures totaled $17.6 million.

According to Minor, the AC Disaster Consulting firm is now moving to Bradenton Beach to as­sist with the damage assessments to be done there. He noted Holmes Beach’s building department staff has been working with the Bradenton Beach Building Official Darin Cushing to help train and set up the Crisis Track users that will assist with that damage assessment data collection.

“Holmes Beach staff will continue to support Bradenton Beach as needed,” Minor stated.

BUILDING DEPARTMENT

Since Sept. 27, the day after Hurricane Helene, the building department has issued 544 permits, 433 for hurricane recovery work. The building department has been open for extended hours, including on Saturdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., to help residents and businesses apply for and obtain the building permits needed for their recovery work. That work must be permitted and documented to ensure the city remains in compliance with FEMA National Flood Insurance Program requirements and maintains the city’s Community Rating System rating that provides property owners with discounted flood insurance rates.

“The building department, building official and city planner will continue to meet daily with homeowners and businesses to assist them in navigating the FEMA 50% rule, and to ensure they are aware and un­derstand their options as they move forward and begin the recovery/mitigation process,” Minor stated.

DEBRIS REMOVAL

Significant progress has been made and the debris removal efforts continue throughout the city. Ac­cording to Kamiya, the city and its contracted debris haulers removed 19,786 cubic yards (784 truckloads) of vegetative debris, 58,423 cubic yards (2,384 loads) of construction and demolition debris and 27,265 cubic yards (1,152 loads) of sand as of Nov. 14. According to Kamiya, 105,475 cubic yards of debris have been removed from city roadways and rights of ways.

“This is nearly 20 football fields 3 feet deep of debris,” he noted.

Damage assessments completed in Holmes Beach
City Field is being used as the city’s debris management site. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

The collected debris is first moved to the Florida Department of Environmental Protection-approved debris management site at City Field, where it’s crushed, loaded on to tractor trailers and hauled to the county landfill.

Sand is being hauled to the county-approved debris management site in the Coquina Beach parking lot, where the county is sifting out the debris before the sand is returned to the Island beaches.

City personnel have been hand-clearing the small debris left behind by the removal trucks. They are also straightening and replacing traffic signs and signals, sweeping streets, picking up city parks, vacuuming stormwater pipes and working with local fishermen to remove canal debris.

“The final day for moving storm-related debris to the roadside is Nov. 25. Anything moved out after that will need to meet the non-emergency, regular waste pickup requirements which can be found on the city’s website or by contacting code compliance,” Kamiya stated. “This entire removal process is expected to be completed by the end of December.”

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.

Commission discusses debris removal, recovery efforts

Anna Maria debris removal responsibility shifts

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

ANNA MARIA – The deadlines have passed to place hurricane-relat­ed household and landscaping debris streetside to be removed by the city. But both types of debris piles can still be found alongside city streets even though debris removal is now the responsibility of the property owner.

Oct. 24 was the city’s deadline to place hurricane-damaged household goods curbside to be removed by Oct. 27. Oct. 31 was the deadline to place landscaping debris curbside to be removed by Nov. 3.

On Nov. 1, Mayor Dan Murphy and the city commission discussed hurricane-related debris removal, street damage, swimming pool dewatering and FEMA damage assessments.

Debris removal

Murphy said city staff had already identified approximately 150 new household debris piles placed curbside since the Oct. 24 deadline.

After acknowledging that number will probably grow, Murphy said city staff is recording the debris pile locations that include non-hurricane-related debris placed in front of vaca­tion rental homes and construction sites. He said Waste Management picked up some of the post-deadline debris piles even though they’re not obligated to do so.

Murphy said the city will continue assessing post-deadline debris place­ment and he and the commission will decide how to proceed during their next emergency meeting on Wednesday, Nov. 6. Murphy said the city will probably have to address post-deadline landscaping debris, too.

Commission discusses debris removal, recovery efforts
Sunday was the deadline for landscaping debris removal. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Although he doesn’t want the city to be taken advantage of, Murphy doesn’t want to see debris piles littering the city streets.

“Nobody wants that stuff sitting around,” he said. “It attracts rats. It’s ugly and it’s depressing to look at. Seeing your life out on the curb’s not good psychologically, and it’s not good morale-wise.”

On Oct. 24, Murphy estimated the city’s reimbursable debris removal costs to be approximately $1.5 million at that time. On Friday, he estimated it would cost an additional $80,000-$100,000 in reim­bursable costs to remove the remaining household debris piles.

During the Oct. 24 meeting, longtime resident and former city Commissioner Doug Copeland said, “I want to commend and thank the commission, the staff and all the private partners who have done an amazing job cleaning up the city under the leadership of Mayor Murphy. It’s a prime example of how city government should work and I thank you.”

Street damage

General Manager Dean Jones said five city streets sustained significant hurricane-related erosion and deterioration: Sycamore, Coconut, Beach, Peppertree and Maple. Jones said the Woodruff & Sons construction company placed #57 stone in the washed-out areas as a temporary safety measure. He estimates it will cost $825,000 to repair the five streets, which he hopes to have completed by the end of November.

Anna Maria debris removal responsibility shifts
The hurricanes eroded the southwest end of Maple Avenue. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Pool dewatering

Jones said the city is now allowing pool dewatering to take place in a controlled and city-permitted manner, with as many as 1,100 pools requiring hurricane-related dewatering. Jones said contractors must submit a dewatering permit for each impacted property. He then approves those permits in a manner that doesn’t allow any city street to become flooded and impassable.

Commissioner Gary McMullen noted many pool areas are now missing the fences required by city code. Murphy said that’s another matter to eventually be addressed by the code enforcement department.

FEMA Assessments

Commissioner Mark Short said FEMA’s 16-person site assessment team was expected to complete the initial damage assessments that day for the 1,173 Anna Maria properties requiring a damage assessment.

Anna Maria debris removal responsibility shifts
This beachfront home in Anna Maria was badly damaged by Hurricane Helene. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

“In a little over two weeks, they assessed almost 1,200 properties,” Short said.

During the Oct. 24 meeting, Short said the FEMA assessment teams are collecting information but are not telling property owners what percentage of their property is considered to be hurricane damaged.

Related coverage: Anna Maria completes household debris removal

Household debris removal ends in Anna Maria

Anna Maria completes household debris removal

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

ANNA MARIA – The city of Anna Maria is done removing hurricane-related household debris and the removal of any remaining household debris is now the responsibility of the property owner.

Thursday, Oct. 31 is the deadline for landscaping debris to be placed streetside for removal by the city.

Mayor Dan Murphy provided a recap of the city’s debris removal efforts during the Anna Maria City Commission’s Oct. 24 meeting. He also addressed the return of mail service and the dewatering of hurricane- impacted swimming pools. Commissioner Chair Mark Short provided an update on the FEMA assessment teams working their way through the city.

Debris removal

Before Murphy provided his update, longtime resident and former city commissioner Doug Copeland said, “I want to commend and thank the commission, the staff and all the private partners who have done an amazing job cleaning up the city under the leadership of Mayor Murphy. It’s a prime example of how city government should work and I thank you.”

Murphy said 1,130 truckloads and 4,798 tons of debris had been taken to the county landfill to date. He said hurricanes Helene and Milton have cost the city an estimated $3 million to date and the city used $1.5 million of its $3 million reserve fund to cover the initial debris removal costs.

“We expect to be reimbursed by the state next week,” Murphy said.

Murphy said he met with Sen. Jim Boyd and Florida Department of Emergency Management Executive Director Kevin Guthrie earlier in the week and they congratulated the city on its debris removal efforts.

“He (Guthrie) said we were far ahead of anybody else in the county, maybe the rest of the state,” Murphy said. “I know there have been rumors to the contrary coming from another city that we have not done things according to the book. We’ve done things according to the book. It bothers me that you’ve got to take hits for doing what’s right and be ambushed with false reports.”

Household debris removal ends in Anna Maria
Mayor Dan Murphy helped guide the city’s debris removal efforts. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Murphy said the debris removal trucks would make one more pass through every city street on Friday or Saturday and that would end the city’s household debris removal efforts.

“Anything after that is going to be the responsibility of the homeowner,” Murphy said.

Any remaining household debris removal issues will be addressed by the city’s code enforcement and public works departments.

“Landscaping debris a different story,” Murphy said. “We have mounds of landscaping debris. It was far greater than we expected, so we’re extending that landscaping debris removal for an extra week. That has to be on the street by midnight on Thursday (Oct. 31). We’ll divide the city into five sectors and pick it up on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.”

Murphy then said, “I want to thank Dean Jones, the rest of the city staff and the contractors we’ve had working for us. People have gone out of their way to get this debris out. I know we still have a way to go, but through your coordination efforts Dean we’ve come a great distance.”

Pool dewatering

Murphy also addressed dewatering swimming pools. He said it didn’t make sense to begin dewatering pools until the household debris was removed and the dewatering allowances would start on Monday, Oct. 28.

“So many pools were destroyed. My own was loaded with mud. My wife found fish in it,” Murphy said. “We’re going to regulate that street-by-street so we don’t have everybody dewatering at one time.”

Regarding Gulf Drive, Pine Avenue, North Shore Drive, North Bay Boulevard and South Bay Boulevard, Murphy said, “The main arteries of the city need to be passable for emergency vehicles and our own traffic. If we had everybody dewatering at once, it would create impassable streets and we can’t have that.”

Mail service

Murphy expressed his gratitude for the assistance U.S. Sen. Rick Scott provided in getting a temporary post office established at City Pier Park. Murphy said he texted Scott on Friday night and told him Anna Maria needed mail service restored. The following day, Murphy received a call from a vice president of the U.S. Postal Service and on Monday three mail trucks were stationed at City Pier Park for mail retrieval.

Household debris removal ends in Anna Maria
A temporary post office was established at City Pier Park. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

FEMA assessments

Commissioner Mark Short said FEMA’s 16-person site assessment team arrived in Anna Maria the previous week and are going door-to-door conducting site assessments. Short said the FEMA teams are filling out forms to be used for informational purposes but they are not telling property owners what percentage of their property is considered to be hurricane damaged.

Short said the FEMA teams will attempt to assess 1,173 properties in Anna Maria. As of the previous day, they had assessed 415 properties. Short said each assessment takes 20 to 30 minutes. The FEMA teams are assessing approximately 80 properties per day and are expected to finish their work on Friday, Nov. 1.

Chief gives hurricane recovery update

Chief gives hurricane recovery update

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

BRADENTON BEACH – At an Oct. 28 emergency city commission meeting, Police Chief and Public Works Director John Cosby updated commissioners on post-storm progress.

Debris removal

“Debris removal is moving very quickly I’m still very confident that the debris operation will be over before Thanksgiving,” Cosby said. “They’re finishing up the first push today.”

Cosby said a service announcement will be posted on the Bradenton Beach Police Department Facebook page.

“Thursday (Oct. 31) we’re going to start the second push from C and D (construction and demolition),” Cosby said. “This is your last opportunity to get whatever it is you want out there, to put it out there. We are only allowed to do two passes by FEMA regulations so, once we make the second pass, after that, you’re on your own. “

After that is complete, the city will make a second pass for sand.

“In the midst of that we’ll be picking up vegetation and white goods,” he said. “We’re only going to do one pass on vegetation and white goods because there’s not a lot out there.”

Cosby said that the Florida Department of Transportation is in the process of clearing sand and debris from Gulf Drive which he expects will cause some traffic issues for motorists.

“Overall we are really moving quick. We are really way ahead of schedule,” Cosby said.

He estimated the cost of post-storm debris removal in the city would be about $5 million.

“We’re looking at sources to get money,” Cosby said. “We’re sending a letter today to the state requesting immediate pay-down for the cost of the debris, or most of it.”

Condemned properties

City Building Official Darin Cushing has deemed a number of properties unfit for occupancy due to storm damage and is continuing the assessment of properties throughout the city.

“The two things that we’re dealing with is getting all these buildings assessed. We did bring in Steve Gilbert, our old building official, and Darin (Cushing) has another assistant we’re going to meet today to hopefully speed that up a little bit,” Cosby said.

The next step is to compile a list of condemned buildings.

“And then we need to get a list of the buildings that are condemned so we can get letters out to them reminding the property owner that they are responsible for getting rid of that debris on the property,” he said. “If they don’t, then the city will be placing a lien on that property. In the event that we have to take that responsibility on, then we would do whatever is necessary to get that property in order to sell it and cover our losses.”

He said city attorney Ricinda Perry is currently working on that.

“We need a list and we’re going to give them approximately 45 days,” Cosby said. “The letters will go out by certified mail or hand-delivered and see what their intention is with the property. Once the letter goes out, I’m almost sure, but I haven’t talked to Ricinda yet today, we will be placing liens on those properties, because if we have to clean it up, obviously we need to be reimbursed.”

Mayor John Chappie asked about properties that are over the 50% FEMA restoration guideline.

“There’s no reason to pay somebody to clean the place out. If you’re over the 50%, you need to concentrate more on demolition,” Cosby said.

Pool draining

“People want to drain their pools but the storm drains are clogged, so we’re going to be in contact with the company that we use to see what kind of timeline we can get from them to at least do the north drains, that’s where the majority of the pools are,” Cosby said.

Cosby said that property owners on Gulf Drive are allowed to drain into the Gulf of Mexico and the ones on the city’s bayside are allowed to drain into Anna Maria Sound.

“Some of the drains are still under sand,” Cosby said. “ I’m confident that they will be taken care of, we’ll get this company to get those cleaned out and we’ll move forward from there.”

Bridge Street

“Businesses on Bridge Street are either opened or getting ready to open or have decided to make some substantial improvements,” Cosby said. “So that is going well.”

He said some Airbnb properties have been rented.

“They just want to make sure the restaurants are open and we have quite a variety to pick from,” Cosby said.

Trailer Parks

With regard to the Pines Trailer Park Cosby said, “I don’t believe Mr. Kaleta has sent out any letters to his renters of what his intention is.”

“Ricinda and I have called other communities to see how they’re handling the 50% rule and it is by the letter of the law. It is causing some serious heartache. It’s not just our two trailer parks, the three right over the bridge are in the same situation,” he said.

Ferry update

The Gulf Island Ferry is expected to be operational this week.

“We’re shooting for the end of this week,” Cosby said. “I was out there this weekend and it looks good. If we operate this weekend, we’re good to go.”

The state of Florida is handling marine hurricane debris removal, he said.

“We will probably go out this week in our boat,” Cosby said. “We see a couple of obstructions where the ferry comes in and where people have their personal boats. We’re going to see what’s in there and at least flag it or move it out.”

Emergency declaration

Commissioners unanimously approved an extension of the city’s state of emergency declaration for Hurricanes Helene and Milton. The declaration must be renewed every seven days while recovery is ongoing.

Mounds of debris remain as hurricane approaches

Mounds of debris remain as hurricane approaches

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

CORTEZ — Hurricane Milton is expected to bring high winds and a storm surge to the area late Wednesday night, and time was running short on Tuesday to remove household debris left out following Hurricane Helene.

On Monday, a Manatee County clean-up crew was in Cortez using a claw lift to put roadside household debris into the back of a dump truck.

Some of the roads there were cleared of debris, but others were not and, as of Tuesday afternoon, multiple piles of discarded items remained on side streets in Cortez and along the roads in Sunny Shores.

Manatee County spokesperson Bill Logan responded to an email from The Sun Tuesday afternoon, saying county clean-up crews will attend to Cortez Village and Sunny Shores.

“All haulers (including those who would normally be on trash/recycling routes) are working to clear the debris as they are able to get to it,” he wrote.

Homes in Cortez and Sunny Shores were inundated with more than three feet of water from Hurricane Helene’s storm surge and residents fear that floating debris during the storm surge from Hurricane Milton may cause further damage to their homes.

One Sunny Shores resident Tuesday said she hopes to see county cleanup crews.

“That would really help us if they did,” she said.

Anna Maria, Manatee County preparing for Hurricane Milton

Anna Maria, Manatee County preparing for Hurricane Milton

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

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – City and county officials are preparing for Hurricane Milton as the Hurricane Helene recovery efforts continue.

Mayor Dan Murphy and the Anna Maria City Commission held an emergency meeting this morning (Sunday) at 11 a.m. Manatee County public safety officials held a brief hurricane-related press conference at 1:30 p.m. this afternoon.

Anna Maria

The city of Anna Maria’s previously declared local state of emergency remains in effect as Tropical Storm Milton approaches Anna Maria Island as a potential Cat 2 or Cat 3 hurricane with possible life-threatening winds and storm surge.

This morning, Murphy ordered a mandatory city of Anna Maria evacuation effective at noon on Monday. This afternoon, Manatee County issued a mandatory evacuation for zones A and B effective at 2 p.m. Monday.

At 2:30 p.m. today (Sunday), Murphy sent city commissioners an email informing them that a Manatee County Sheriff’s Office re-entry checkpoint will be established at the entrance to the city at noon on Monday, but there is no city curfew in place at this time.

“Our intent is to not allow in sight-seers, party goers and looters and those who simply have no business or purpose in coming to our city at this time of emergency preparation,” Murphy stated in his email that noted the following vehicles will be allowed to pass through the Anna Maria checkpoint:

  • Vehicles with a city of Anna Maria re-entry tag
  • Residents with an Anna Maria address, supported by a driver’s license, state-issued ID, mail and deputy discretion.
  • Anna Maria property owners
  • Anna Maria vacation rental customers
  • Anna Maria business owners and employees
  • County, state and federal restoration employees
  • Building contractors/employees with an Anna Maria job site
  • Delivery vehicles (UPS,  FedEx, Amazon, etc.)
  • Transport vehicles (Uber, Taxis, etc.)
  • Clean up workers with an Anna Maria destination
  • Debris haulers, street sweepers, etc.
  • Any other vehicles, at the sole discretion of the deputy on site

City-issued evacuation re-entry tags can still be acquired at city hall until noon on Monday when city hall is expected to close to the public until Hurricane Milton passes.

Debris removal

As of 11 a.m., Murphy was awaiting the arrival of 34 FDOT and/or National Guard dump trucks and claw trucks to help clear the Anna Maria rights of way of Hurricane Helene debris before Hurricane Milton arrives, with a focus on removing the debris along North Shore Drive, from Pine Avenue to the Rod & Reel Pier, and also along Bay Boulevard.

At 3:30 p.m., the following announcement was posted at the city of Anna Maria Facebook page: “The city of Anna Maria has employed debris removal trucks from five agencies to remove debris and deposit it either in Bayfront Park or to the Lena (Road) landfill. Although we have made some progress, the amount of debris is increasing exponentially and consideration must be taken for the impending effects of Hurricane Milton. Accordingly, do not place any further debris in the city right-of-way until after the hurricane passes. This debris can become dangerous projectiles; endangering lives, creating further property damage and blocking access to our streets. Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.”

Holmes Beach, Bradenton Beach and Manatee County have issued similar debris placement requests.

Murphy said no looting has been reported in Anna Maria, but anything placed in the city right of way can be removed by scrappers and others and that is not considered looting or stealing.

Sandbags

Empty sandbags are available today and early tomorrow near the north end of Bayfront Park. You might want to bring your own shovel and someone to hold the bags while you fill them.

City updates

Continuing hurricane-related updates and information are available at the city of Anna Maria website, www.cityofannamaria.com and the City of Anna Maria Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100067051575662.

Additional information can be found at the Holmes Beach Police Department Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/HolmesBeachPD and the Bradenton Beach Police Department Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100080990498526.

Manatee County

At 1:30 p.m. Sunday, Manatee County officials held a brief Hurricane Milton-related press conference. Public Safety Director Jodie Fiske announced mandatory evacuations in evacuation zones A and B beginning at 2 p.m. on Monday.

Fiske said the Hurricane Milton storm surge is expected to be worse than the Hurricane Helene storm surge and she strongly encourages anyone in evacuation zones A and B to heed the evacuation orders and find safety on higher ground. You can check your evacuation zone level and the potential storm surge inundation for your specific address at: https://www.mymanatee.org/residents/information

School closings

At 3 p.m. (Sunday) the Manatee County School District announced that Manatee County school and school-related will be closed Monday, Oct. 7, through Wednesday, Oct. 9. Some schools will be used as hurricane shelters.

County updates

Continuing hurricane-related updates and information can be found at Manatee County’s Severe Weather Information Center, https://extreme-weather-dashboard-manateegis.hub.arcgis.com/, and also at the Manatee County Government Facebook page, https://www.facebook.com/manateegov.

Power, mail restored in Bradenton Beach, new storm concerns emerge

Power, mail restored in Bradenton Beach, new storm concerns emerge

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

BRADENTON BEACH – On Friday morning, (Oct. 4), City Attorney Ricinda Perry provided an update on the ongoing hurricane recovery efforts taking place in the city.

When speaking to The Sun, Perry addressed power restoration, new tropical weather concerns, debris collection, mail delivery, access to and from Longboat Key, FEMA assistance, and the arrival of FEMA and a Manatee County assessment team.

Power restoration

According to the Florida Power & Light update the city received this morning (Oct. 4), Wilco had restored all but three lateral undergrounded power lines on the south end of the city, with work on the remaining three lateral lines ongoing. Wilco is the company that installed many of Bradenton Beach’s underground power lines south of the Cortez Bridge.

Perry said FPL has restored power to 98% of the city as of late Friday morning. FPL is releasing its power restoration resources for reassignment elsewhere and shutting down the FPL staging area at Coquina Beach.

Power, mail restored in Bradenton Beach, new storm concerns emerge
The Bradenton Beach Police Department shared this FPL update Friday morning. – FPL | Submitted

Perry said some properties are still without power and some property owners have damaged electrical systems that prevent them from receiving power.

When asked if electrical service is being restored to the residential properties south of Bridge Street, Perry said, “Yes. Mayor Chappie has power at his house (on 12th Street South).”

Most, if not all, of the businesses along Bridge Street had power as of this morning.

Tropical concerns

Perry said city officials are monitoring the tropical weather activity predicted to start as early as Saturday and potentially produce more heavy rain on the Island. The city is expected to release additional information regarding those weather concerns later today.

Today, Manatee County included this statement in a recovery-related press release: “An additional state of emergency declaration was signed earlier today allowing for preparations to occur for the upcoming weather systems. With some rainfall forecast models approaching or having an even greater potential impact than Hurricane Debby earlier this year, county emergency leaders are encouraging citizens to monitor the weather and make any needed preparations for their property.”

The potential for more heavy rain comes at a time when the city’s storm drains have not yet been cleared of Hurricane Helene debris.

“FDOT is finishing up their street and right of way clearing efforts today and will resume activity on Monday. FDOT has not cleaned out our storm drains yet. FDOT and the city can’t get to the storm drains yet,” Perry said, noting that could impact drainage.

The city hopes to place empty sandbags and shovels near the comfort station on Bridge Street and the comfort station at the north end of the city by the Circle K convenience store, but as of 1 p.m. the county had not yet delivered them.

“Upon arrival, you can pick up your sandbags and use the sand on your property,” Perry said.

Debris collection

Perry said the city’s contract with its emergency debris removal company, Ashbritt, only provides for two city-funded hurricane debris pickups.

“We want to get as much debris out to the curb as we can before our first pickup,” she said.

Power, mail restored in Bradenton Beach, new storm concerns emerge
Hurricane debris collection has not yet begun in Bradenton Beach. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

The debris must be sorted and cannot be placed in a single pile. Debris needs to be sorted into three piles: Household/construction debris (mattresses, furniture, siding, fences, etc.), white goods (appliances) and landscaping debris.

“We only get two city-funded pickups and we need to allow time for people to return to the city and clean their houses up,” Perry said.

Waste Pro serves as the city’s regular trash and recycling collection company and those collection activities have resumed.

 Mail delivery

“Mail to delivery started today to anyone who has a mailbox. If you don’t have a mailbox your mail will be held at the Longboat Key post office,” Perry.

Perry said cleanup efforts are underway at the Bradenton Beach post office but it’s not yet known when service will resume at that location.

Longboat Key access

Perry said per an agreement between both cities, vehicular access between Bradenton Beach and Longboat remains closed to motorists with a checkpoint still in place.

“We’re turning away people who are trying to get to Longboat Key for work or to collect their mail. It’s a joint agreement between Longboat Key and Bradenton Beach. We both support that,” Perry said.

FEMA/county assistance

Perry said three FEMA representatives arrived in Bradenton Beach Friday morning and began going door-to-door, starting at the Pines Trailer Park, using mobile devices to help hurricane-impacted residents file FEMA claims. The FEMA reps will continue from there and a FEMA Corps team will be joining those outreach efforts.

“They will go door-to-door to every single house and structure in the city, starting at The Pines,” Perry said she’s still trying to get a mobile FEMA site established on Bridge Street.

Perry said a Manatee County needs assessment team consisting of 20 individuals and four vehicles will begin going around the city today, starting at The Pines.

“They’re going to ask the people that live here what they need. Do they need fuel, groceries, gloves, etc.?” Perry said. “Residents are going to see two different teams approaching them: the county needs assessment team and FEMA.”

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