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Year in review: Environment

Year in review: Environment

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Environment, Outdoors, Special Sections, Year in Review.

MANGROVE VIOLATIONS

In January, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection levied an $8,500 fine for improper mangrove trimming and debris removal activities that occurred at Carlos Beruff’s Aqua development in unincorporated Manatee County in 2022.

Year in review: Environment
Some Aqua mangroves were trimmed to create better views for those occupying the development’s multi-family residential buildings. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

FOX HONORED AT CELEBRATION OF LIFE

At the celebration of Suzi Fox’s life in January, local dignitaries, family and friends painted a picture of a dedicated advocate for Island turtles, a fun-loving and funny friend, and a caring mother, sister and grandmother. Fox, longtime executive director of Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring, died on Sept. 30, 2022 after a fall. More than 150 people attended the event at the Center of Anna Maria Island to pay tribute to Fox.

EARLY START TO SEA TURTLE SEASON

Island sea turtles got off to an early start in 2023 as the first nest of the season appeared on Anna Maria Island. “AMITW got a big surprise early this morning, finding the first loggerhead nest of the season,” Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring Executive Director Kristen Mazzarella wrote in an April 18 statement. Sea turtle nesting season officially begins May 1 and lasts until Oct. 31.

SUZI FOX DAY DECLARED ON MAY 1

As turtle nesting season began, Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring declared May 1 as Suzi Fox Day to honor the legacy of its former executive director.

PINEY POINT CONTAMINATION EXTENDED FURTHER THAN ORIGINALLY THOUGHT

A study showed that contaminated water from the 2021 Piney Point spill, which contributed to algae blooms and red tide in Tampa Bay waterways, traveled farther than originally thought. According to the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program (SBEP), a chemical signature from the spill was found more than 30 miles away, in St. Joseph Sound near Tarpon Springs.

LOGGERHEAD SEA TURTLE ‘SUZI’ PARTICIPATES IN TOUR DE TURTLES

As hundreds of delighted onlookers gathered to see a publicized turtle release at Coquina Beach, loggerhead sea turtle “Suzi” made a grand entrance from the sand to the water. She hesitated several times walking on the beach, appearing to look at the crowd, but once she reached the water she was in her element and took off swimming. The June 27 release wasn’t the last time Suzi’s whereabouts was known – she was satellite-tagged and tracked during the Tour de Turtles race.

MULTIPLE TURTLE NESTS RUN OVER

On a daily patrol in July, Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring volunteers were shocked and saddened to find multiple turtle nests that had been trampled on and run over with vehicles. On its Facebook page, Turtle Watch posted photos of tire tracks and footprints through multiple nests with marker stakes broken and on the ground. Vehicles are illegal on the beaches of Anna Maria Island. The culprits were not found.

SEA CAPTAINS CATCH POACHERS

The vigilance of three local charter captains resulted in multiple citations against three men for poaching marine life in local waters.

TURTLE HATCHLINGS RESCUED FROM HOLE ON BEACH

Four turtle hatchlings that had fallen into a hole on the beach were found by Holmes Beach Code Enforcement staff on the morning of July 16. While entrapped, the turtles were using up energy they needed for their long swim to the floating sargassum line where they will spend the next few years.

HURRICANE IDALIA CAUSES BEACH EROSION

Hurricane Idalia’s Aug. 31 storm surge eroded the Island’s renourished beaches, but the full extent of the damage and when it will be repaired is not yet known. “It could be months before any decision on what efforts will be undertaken is made,” Manatee County spokesman Bill Logan said in a Sept. 8 email to The Sun.

Year in review: Environment
Mangrove trimming debris at the Aqua property was not properly removed and disposed of. – Rusty Chinnis | Sun

FLAMINGOS FLOCK TO FLORIDA

Hurricane Idalia’s Category 3 landfall in late August brought rain, wind, and, surprisingly, flamingos, to Florida. One flamingo was rescued by boaters in the Gulf off St. Petersburg Beach. Nicknamed “Peaches,” the bird was brought to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Tampa Bay and was then transferred to the Seaside Seabird Sanctuary in Indian Shores for rehabilitation. After a week, “Peaches” was self-feeding and becoming active. She was released and spotted later at Fort DeSoto in Pinellas County.

HURRICANE IMPACTS TURTLE NESTING

Turtle nesting season ended early this year, with Hurricane Idalia having left a large dent in nesting numbers. “Hurricane Idalia had a major impact on our nesting season, causing the loss of 18.5% of this season’s nests,” Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch and Shorebird Monitoring Executive Director Kristen Mazzarella said. The last nest on the Gulf of Mexico side of the Island hatched on Sept. 19. The season typically runs through October.

BIOLUMINESCENCE FASCINATES BEACHGOERS

The bioluminescent glow that came off the water in September may be related to the aftermath of Hurricane Idalia, according to one local expert. “This could be related to the nutrient pulse from Idalia,” said Dr. Dave Tomasko, executive director of the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program. “The water came up and much of the grass clippings and yard debris on our landscape got dragged back out into the bay as the water receded.”

U.S. COAST GUARD SUSPENDS INVESTIGATION INTO SEAPORT MANATEE OIL SPILL

Following testing of multiple potential sources, and with no responsible party identified, the U.S. Coast Guard suspended its investigation on Sept. 26 into the source of an oil spill at SeaPort Manatee, pending any new information. The spill was reported by SeaPort Manatee on Sept. 1, launching the Coast Guard’s examination of facilities and ships for evidence of an improper oil discharge.

PINEY POINT CLOSES FIRST OF FOUR WASTEWATER COLLECTION PONDS

In September, the Florida Department of Environmental Protection said the work on the first of four wastewater collection ponds was complete. The pond, built to contain industrial wastewater from phosphate processing operations, is located at the top of a phosphogypsum waste stack.

MANATEE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS REDUCE WETLAND BUFFERS IN A 5-1 VOTE

Commissioners voted on Oct. 5 to default to the less restrictive state of Florida minimums from more restrictive county standards. Buffers between sensitive wetlands and new upland development were reduced from 50 feet to 25 feet. Buffers between outflowing wetlands and new upland development were reduced from 30 feet to 15 feet.

MANATEE PROTECTION, ALGAL BLOOM RESEARCH FUNDED BY FEDS

Federal funding is coming to Florida to support two environmental initiatives critical to the state – the protection of manatees and harmful algal bloom research. Congressman Vern Buchanan’s office announced that the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed two of his amendments to the Interior and Environment government funding bill, one of which dedicates $1.15 million for the rescue and rehabilitation of manatees.

 – Sun Correspondent Joe Hendricks contributed to this story

Bioluminescence dazzles AMI beachgoers

Bioluminescence dazzles AMI beachgoers

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

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – The bioluminescent glow coming off the water in recent nights may be related to the aftermath of Hurricane Idalia, according to one local expert.

“This could be related to the nutrient pulse from Idalia,” said Dr. Dave Tomasko, executive director of the Sarasota Bay Estuary Program. “The water came up and much of the grass clippings and yard debris on our landscape got dragged back out into the bay as the water receded. So our water took a little bit of a hit.”

Tomasko said there are several types of organisms that could be responsible for the glowing flashes in local waters.

“It seems most likely to be a dinoflagellate called gonyaulax,” he said. “That’s a type of single-cell organism that’s known to cause California red tide, but not here. Our red tide here is caused by a different organism.”

Another organism, noctiluka, which comes from the Latin meaning “shines by night,” could also possibly be the cause of the glow, Tomasko said.

Tomasko said the organisms are not harmful to humans.

“It’s thought that this lighting is a protection against predators,” he said.

“The neat thing about these organisms is they create light from an enzyme they have that takes chemical energy and turns it into light,” he said. “It has to be there in a high enough amount to see the glow. It’s a neat little show.”

The best time to see the phenomenon is when the sky is darkest, he said.

Tomasko said the bioluminescence has often been seen south of Coquina Beach in Longboat Pass.

“One way to stir them up is to kick at the water, or the waves from a boat will do it,” he said. “I would not advise swimming at night though.”

Idalia erodes Island beaches

Idalia erodes Island beaches

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Beach, Outdoors.

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Hurricane Idalia’s storm surge eroded the Island’s renourished beaches, but the full extent of the damage and when it will be repaired is not yet known.

“It could be months before any decision on what efforts will be undertaken is made,” Manatee County spokesman Bill Logan said in a Sept. 8 email to The Sun.

The first step of the process – evaluation by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) – has been completed.

“Jacksonville District completed preliminary damage assessments of all federal shore protection projects Sept. 1-3,” according to David Ruderman of the USACE Jacksonville Corporate Communications Office.

“Non-federal sponsors of federally authorized and constructed coastal storm risk management projects which sustained damages resulting from Hurricane Idalia have until Oct. 1 to apply for rehabilitation assistance under Public Law 84-99,” Ruderman said in an email to The Sun.

As of Sept. 15, Ruderman said requests have been received from Manatee and Pinellas counties.

During the Aug. 29 hurricane, storm surge reached 3-4 feet in coastal areas in Manatee County.

“This is the beginning of what I am told is a long process whereby the beaches are hand-measured, staked-out and surveyed for damage estimates from the storm and what measures may be needed to renourish any impacted areas,” Logan said in the Sept. 8 email.

Sarasota Bay Estuary Program (SBEP) Director Dr. Dave Tomasko evaluated the impact from Hurricane Idalia on the SBEP website.

“With Idalia, even though it was about 100 miles offshore, we were on its strong side, and thus we got the storm surge, even though we mostly experienced just tropical storm level winds,” he wrote. “This storm surge came a few hours before the peak of the full moon high tides.”

Water levels were retreating as the tide was coming up, Tomasko wrote.

“So, the dreaded ‘high tide on top of a storm surge’ did not happen,” Tomasko wrote. “That is lucky, because that could have added another foot or two. Still, water levels were about 3’ higher than they would have been otherwise.”

The last major beach renourishment locally was the 2021 Coquina Beach Storm Damage Restoration project, which placed approximately 74,805 cubic yards of sand at Coquina Beach.

“Beach renourishment projects not only provide recreational beach width for the benefit of residents and visitors, but during storm events, the sand also provides critical protection for structures and infrastructure landward of the beach. In addition, the beach provides critical habitat and nesting areas for protected species such as sea turtles and shorebirds,” according to Manatee County’s website.

Since 1992, Manatee County has participated in eight beach nourishment projects.

Approximately 6.9 million cubic yards of sand from offshore borrow areas have been placed as a result of the county’s and USACE’s beach preservation efforts.

Flamingos flock to Florida during hurricane

Flamingos flock to Florida during hurricane

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Birds, Outdoors.

TAMPA BAY – Hurricane Idalia’s Category 3 landfall in late August brought rain, wind and – surprisingly – flamingos to Florida.

American flamingos were commonly seen in Florida until about 1900 until they were hunted to near-extinction. Today, they are numerous in Mexico and Cuba, where they breed, with a few straying to the Everglades and Florida Bay in winter.

As Hurricane Idalia passed between the Yucatan Peninsula and Western Cuba, strong winds likely swept up flamingos from this region, carrying them to Florida’s coast, according to Audubon Florida.

Sightings have been reported in the Keys, Sanibel Causeway, Punta Gorda, Charlotte Harbor, Clearwater, Treasure Island, Siesta Key and Tarpon Springs, along with locations north of the state.

One flamingo was rescued by boaters in the Gulf of Mexico off St. Petersburg Beach. Nicknamed Peaches, the bird was brought to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Tampa Bay and was then transferred to the Seaside Seabird Sanctuary in Indian Shores for rehabilitation. After a week, Peaches was self-feeding and becoming active.

Before releasing Peaches on Sept. 9 at Ft. DeSoto Park in Pinellas County, Audubon Florida tagged her with a satellite transmitter in the hopes that scientists could learn more about the movements of these birds during storms.

The public is asked to give this and all flamingos in Florida space to rest and feed undisturbed.

“We want these flamingos to stay and raise their families here,” Audubon Florida’s Director of Research Dr. Jerry Lorenz said. “If we give them their space, restore their habitat, and keep their water clean, we can hope for a pink future in Florida.”

Commission approves funds to repair hurricane damage to pier

Commission approves funds to repair hurricane damage to pier

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

BRADENTON BEACH – Damage to the Bradenton Beach Pier and floating docks caused by boats during Hurricane Idalia on Aug. 30 was the focus of the Sept. 7 city commission meeting.

Images of the damage reviewed at the meeting showed missing and broken boards and a large boat against the docks.

“I am very disappointed it was the vessels that caused this damage. They did not secure themselves properly or move away from this,” City Attorney Ricinda Perry said. “In talking with Steve Porter (from Duncan Seawall) he said we would not be facing this if not for the boats.”

Bradenton Beach Police Chief John Cosby described the causes of the damage to the pier and floating docks.

“One boat broke loose and rammed into the others and broke them loose,” he said. “They were secured fine and it was a domino effect. It was a sailboat that broke loose and knocked the rest out of the way.”

Commissioner Jan Vosburgh asked if boat owners were responsible for the damage and Chappie said the city will be looking into whether or not the boat owners have insurance.

“There will be accountability to individuals that are not following the rules and not tying their boats down the way they should be or trying to find a safer port instead of just leaving it out there in the open seas at the north end of Sarasota Bay,” Chappie said.

“The city is going to do what it can do to hold people responsible for this kind of damage,” Perry said.

Cosby reminded the commission that the pier itself is uninsurable because it’s over water. The city is self-insured for the structure.

Commissioner Ralph Cole made a motion to issue a work assignment to Duncan Seawall for all repairs to the pier and floating dock in the amount of $42,225 to be paid from the 2022-23 city budget, and to authorize Cosby and Perry to work toward future reimbursement from FEMA or any other agency.

The motion passed unanimously.

The repair work is expected to be completed within a week or two.

Hurricane floods local gas station tanks

Hurricane floods local gas station tanks

Written by SUN contributor on . Posted in Community News, Holmes Beach.

HOLMES BEACH – Customers who purchased gas at Jessie’s Island Store immediately following Hurricane Idalia may have received a surprise they weren’t counting on – floodwater in their vehicle’s gas tank.

After several vehicles broke down after getting gas from the station, it was discovered that seals on the station’s underground tanks had failed. When the area was flooded by Hurricane Idalia, representatives from the Sarasota-based ATCO Inc./Merit Petroleum said that floodwater mixed with the gasoline in two of the tanks. The company estimates that more than 200 gallons of the tainted gasoline was sold, resulting in damage to vehicles.

According to the mechanics at CarParts.com, mixing water with gasoline in a vehicle can cause several problems depending on the amount of water in the tank. Some of the most common issues include the vehicle running roughly, the check engine light coming on shortly after putting the fuel in the gas tank and the engine stalling. Water in a vehicle’s fuel system also can cause corrosion to occur, which can lead to more issues down the road. Repairs to the vehicle may include flushing the fuel system and draining the gas tank to remove any water from the vehicle.

The underground gas storage tanks at the Island convenience store were cleaned out over the weekend of Sept. 8-10 and refilled with clean gasoline, according to ATCO representatives. At press time for The Sun, it was unconfirmed whether repairs to the seals on the tanks had been completed to prevent water from re-entering the storage tanks if the area floods in the future.

Anyone who believes they purchased some of the tainted gas is asked to stop by Jessie’s at 5424 Marina Drive in Holmes Beach and pick up a form to fill out and return to ATCO with any documentation concerning repairs needed to the vehicle after purchasing gas at the convenience store. Anyone who believes they may have purchased some of the ruined gas is advised to have their vehicle checked out by a certified mechanic and should not attempt to continue driving their vehicle without first having the gas tested to determine if any water is in the fuel tank, even if no performance issues with the vehicle have been noted.

The ruined gas is estimated to have been sold between the store’s reopening after Hurricane Idalia passed on Aug. 30 until the issues were noted the week of Sept. 4.

When Hurricane Idalia swept past Anna Maria Island on Aug. 29, storm surge combined with a king tide caused widespread flooding in all three Island cities. Holmes Beach police reported that there were several inches of standing water throughout the city center area where Jessie’s Island Store is located.

Cortez cleans up minor damage after Hurricane Idalia

Cortez fishing village inundated by Hurricane Idalia

Written by Leslie Lake on . Posted in Awards, Awards 2024, Special Sections.

CORTEZ – As residents and business owners cleaned up on Thursday morning following the storm surge from Hurricane Idalia that flooded local roads, the recurring consensus was: “We got lucky.”

“There was no boat damage (to the fleet of fishing boats). We lost a few boards on the dock,” A.P. Bell Fish Co. owner Karen Bell said. “We were very lucky.”

Cortez is one of Florida’s last commercial fishing villages. It hugs the north shore of Sarasota Bay. On Wednesday morning, its roads were underwater, but by that evening, the waters had receded and roads were passable.

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In advance of the storm, A.P. Bell workers had secured the fleet of fishing boats with extra dock lines.

Bell also owns the Star Fish Co. restaurant and co-owns the Tide Tables restaurant.

“Star Fish sits so high we had no water encroachment,” she said. “But Tide Tables got about 6 inches of water.”

Tide Tables co-owner Bobby Woodson said they prepared for the storm by moving out large equipment.

“Before the storm, we moved all the equipment out east,” he said. “This isn’t something we wanted to mess around with.”

On Thursday, the equipment – including freezers – was in the back of a moving truck in the Tide Tables parking lot and ready to be reinstalled.

Tide Tables’ interior had been cleaned and dried by Thursday morning, and workers were shoveling yard debris into the back of a truck for removal.

“We expect to be back open by Saturday,” Woodson said, adding, “This could have been a lot worse.”

Boats at Cortez Bait and Seafood fish house that had been pulled from the water before the storm were back in the water Thursday.

In that same complex, owned by John Banyas, are two restaurants – Cortez Kitchen, which is undergoing renovation, and the Swordfish Grill and Tiki Bar.

“The parking lot was flooded, but the restaurants were OK,” Swordfish manager Adam Sears said on Thursday. “Swordfish sits 10 feet above the water so that was fine, and the work at Cortez Kitchen is moving along. That will be open fairly soon.”

Sears said Sunny Shores trailer park on the north side of Cortez Road was hit hard with flooding during the storm. Sunny Shores fronts Palma Sola Bay.

At Annie’s Bait and Tackle, water never got into the building, but the docks there sustained damage.

“The water came up to the building, but it didn’t get in. I’d say we were lucky,” Annie’s manager said. “The docks need to be repaired though. The middle dock is still usable, but the gas dock is trashed. It’s going to take a little while to get this all fixed.”

Cortez residents Cindy Rodgers and Paul Dreyfoos live about a block from the water. The flooding from the roads in front of their house did not impact their home.

“All good here,” Rodgers wrote in an email to The Sun. “Lucky once again.”

CORTEZ - Boats were pulled out of the water Tuesday at Cortez Bait and Seafood Inc. in advance of storm. - Leslie Lake | Sun

CORTEZ - Boats were pulled out of the water Tuesday at Cortez Bait and Seafood Inc. in advance of storm. - Leslie Lake | Sun

Rising water from the Intracoastal Waterway made its way toward the Tide Tables restaurant in Cortez. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

Rising water from the Intracoastal Waterway made its way toward the Tide Tables restaurant in Cortez. - Joe Hendricks | Sun

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Hurricane Idalia floods Anna Maria Island

Hurricane Idalia swamps Anna Maria Island

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

ANNA MARIA ISLAND – Much of Anna Maria Island experienced storm surge and king tide-related flooding, but the barrier island survived Hurricane Idalia mostly unscathed.

During the evening hours of Tuesday, Aug. 29 and the overnight and the early hours of Wednesday morning, Hurricane Idalia passed by Anna Maria Island as a category 3 storm, far enough to the west to spare the Island from the worst of its wind damage and storm surge.

On the Island, the hurricane produced significant flooding but minimal structural damage, electrical outages or disruptions of the water and sewer services provided by Manatee County.

The storm produced no Island fatalities or reported injuries.

Hurricane Idalia floods Anna Maria Island
The plywood used to protect Hurricane Hanks in Holmes Beach was previously used during Hurricane Irma and Hurricane Ian. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Hurricane Idalia floods Anna Maria Island
A hurricane party broke out at Slim’s Place in Anna Maria Tuesday afternoon. – Charlie Trygg | Submitted

A drive around the Island early Tuesday evening before the hurricane arrived indicated most residents and visitors had already evacuated or retreated to the safety of their homes and almost all Island businesses were closed. A hurricane party was unfolding at Slim’s Place in Anna Maria and folks were also still enjoying libations at the Sports Lounge in Bradenton Beach.

Storm unfolds

While the storm unfolded Tuesday night, many Island residents shared information at the Island Ratz Unite Facebook page and elsewhere on the social media platform. The Tuesday evening posts included notice of a structural fire in Holmes Beach, limited power outages and rising floodwaters.

The Bradenton Police Department posted a Facebook notice stating the Palma Sola Causeway was closed due to high water flooding one of the three roadways that lead to the Island.

Hurricane Idalia floods Anna Maria Island
Bradenton Beach police officer Tom Ferrara cautioned people not to drive on Gulf Drive during the unfolding hurricane. – Tom Ferrara | Submitted

Early Wednesday morning, well before daylight, Bradenton Beach Police Officer Tom Ferrara posted this information: “Please stay off Gulf Drive in Bradenton Beach. It’s impassable and very dangerous.”

Hurricane Idalia floods Anna Maria Island
Police officer Tom Ferrara witnessed the street flooding as it occurred in Bradenton Beach early Wednesday morning. – Tom Ferrara | Submitted

At 4:25 a.m., Lexi DeLeon posted the following information: “Thigh-high flooding through Bradenton Beach. Waves are crashing at beach entrances and flooding out to Gulf Drive. Both bridges are closed.”

The morning after

The Sun’s attempted trip to the Island at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday morning ended at the foot of the Cortez Bridge, where Manatee County Sheriff’s Office deputies blocked access to the Island while Bradenton Beach officials assessed the storm damage.

Hurricane Idalia floods Anna Maria Island
Manatee County Sheriff’s deputies restricted access to the Cortez Bridge Wednesday morning. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Nearby in Cortez, Tide Tables restaurant co-owner Bobby Woodson and others watched the water rising over the docks and seawall and creeping up against the restaurant building. Woodson said the restaurant equipment was removed before the storm and even if some minimal interior flooding occurred, he expected to reopen on Friday.

Hurricane Idalia floods Anna Maria Island
Rising water from the Intracoastal Waterway made its way toward the Tide Tables restaurant in Cortez. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

The rising waters also spilled over into the adjacent Cortez Park mobile home park, and all the side streets south of Cortez Road in Cortez were flooded.

Hurricane Idalia floods Anna Maria Island
The Cortez Park mobile home park was partially flooded Wednesday morning. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Hurricane Idalia floods Anna Maria Island
The side streets along Cortez Road were flooded. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

A subsequent trip to Manatee Avenue ended east of the causeway, where officers from the Bradenton Police Department blocked access to the roadway leading to the center of the Island. An officer there said return access to the Island was not expected until 2 p.m. or later, after the mid-day king tide subsided.

Hurricane Idalia floods Anna Maria Island
Officers from the Bradenton Police Department restricted Island access via Manatee Avenue. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

After an afternoon conference call with the three Island mayors and others, the Holmes Beach Police Department posted on its Facebook page that return access to the city would begin at 4:30 p.m., with no re-entry tags or proof of residency or business interests required.

Before the bridge reopenings were announced, Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer said, “We still have some flooding. The water is receding and Gulf Drive receded much quicker than Marina Drive. We’re hoping that within the next couple hours, it recedes enough so you can discern the difference between the roadway and the ditches.

“The city did well but I think we’re going to see some water damage because the roadways were inundated with high water. I think we had a surge of at least 6 to 7 feet,” he added.

Regarding the fire, he said, “A power line went down on a shed. The shed caught fire, then the fence next to the house caught fire and the house next to the fence caught fire. After FPL shut off the power grid, they (the fire department) quickly knocked down the fire,” Tokajer said.

Tokajer said power outages and downed power lines were minimal and he wasn’t aware of any fallen trees.

When contacted before the Cortez Bridge reopened, Bradenton Beach Police Chief John Cosby said, “We had a lot of water and it just wasn’t safe for people to come back yet. The main road is open and the water’s gone down on the secondary roads that are passable now.

“Every street in Bradenton Beach was under a minimum of 2 feet of water, and closer to 3 or 4 feet in some places, including the avenues at the north end of the city. The Gulf flowed over to the bay and that has not happened since the ‘Storm of the Century’ in 1993. It pushed a lot of sand onto Gulf Drive and we needed extra time for Public Works to get the sand off the road to make it passable, which they accomplished in record time. Kudos to them,” Cosby said.

“Bridge Street itself flooded and we had some water intrusion, but I won’t know where until the owners get back. The pier has some damage and we’ve got some boats tied to the pier. Some of the new finger docks may have separated from their connections to the floating dock and we’ll do a full assessment tomorrow,” Cosby said.

Cosby said the Longboat Pass Bridge that leads to Longboat Key at the south end of the city would remain closed until further notice Wednesday evening.

When contacted Wednesday afternoon, before the bridges reopened, Sgt. Brett Getman said, “We’re still flooded down here. The water on North Bay is pretty deep. When the bridges open, we’ll be restricting access to residents and business owners. The city fared well. We didn’t lose electricity and there’s not a lot of wind damage. It’s mostly flood damage.”

Back on the Island

The Sun was part of the first wave of people returning to the Island on Wednesday afternoon via the Anna Maria Island Bridge on Manatee Avenue. Gulf Drive was dry but motorists encountered several inches of standing water on Marina Drive near Keyes Marina, the Island Branch Library and Holmes Beach City Hall. Gulf Drive was free of any significant standing water, but some of the residential streets between Marina Drive and Gulf Drive remained flooded.

Hurricane Idalia floods Anna Maria Island
Returning and departing motorists encountered remaining floodwater along Marina Drive in Holmes Beach. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Hurricane Idalia floods Anna Maria Island
Standing water remained near the 61st Street/Holmes Boulevard intersection late Wednesday afternoon. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

At the entrance to Anna Maria, near CrossPointe Fellowship, sheriff’s deputies asked motorists to provide reentry tags, proof of residency or proof of business intentions and those unable to provide that information were turned away.

Hurricane Idalia floods Anna Maria Island
Sheriff’s deputies restricted vehicular access to Anna Maria after the Island bridges reopened. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Nearby, a crew from Manatee County worked to unplug a plugged sewer line.

A portion of Magnolia Avenue, near Ginny’s and Jane E’s Café, was flooded and a safety barricade remained in place. A portion of North Shore Drive near Linda Lane was flooded and remained impassable for some motorists. Around the corner, Jacaranda Road was flooded and remained impassable for some motorists.

Hurricane Idalia floods Anna Maria Island
Magnolia Avenue, near Ginny’s and Jane E’s, was one of several Anna Maria streets that flooded. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Hurricane Idalia floods Anna Maria Island
North Shore Drive in Anna Maria was flooded near Linda Lane. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Hurricane Idalia floods Anna Maria Island
The flooding on North Shore Drive extended to nearby residential structures. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Hurricane Idalia floods Anna Maria Island
Jacaranda Road in Anna Maria experienced significant flooding. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Near the City Pier, a barricade blocked one lane of North Bay Boulevard atop the humpback bridge and the roadway north of the bridge was severely flooded, as were several adjacent side streets.

Hurricane Idalia floods Anna Maria Island
North Bay Boulevard remained submerged as of Wednesday evening. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

By early Wednesday evening, much of the flooding in Bradenton Beach had subsided. The most visible storm damage was seen at the T-end of the Bradenton Beach Pier. A cabin cruiser anchored south of the pier broke loose during the storm, crashed into the pier and shattered a portion of the wooden pier railing.

Hurricane Idalia floods Anna Maria Island
The railing at the T-end of the Bradenton Beach pier was damaged by a careening cabin cruiser that broke free during the storm. – Joe Hendricks | Sun
Hurricane Idalia floods Anna Maria Island
Five live-aboard boats were tied to the Bradenton Beach Pier and the floating dock Wednesday evening. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

Another cabin cruiser that broke free during the storm was tied up to the pier with its motor running, joined by another large sailboat. Two more sailboats that broke free were tied to the new finger docks connected to the floating public dock.

On Bridge Street, the Drift In bar was the first Island business to reopen that evening.

Final thoughts

When contacted Thursday afternoon, Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy said the storm surge and high tide reached a maximum height of approximately 4 feet in some locations.

Hurricane Idalia floods Anna Maria Island
South Bay Boulevard, near The Waterfront Restaurant in Anna Maria, was completely underwater on Wednesday. – MCSO | Submitted
Hurricane Idalia floods Anna Maria Island
Some Anna Maria beaches experienced significant hurricane-related erosion. – Joe Hendricks | Sun

“The biggest issue we’ve had to deal with in the city has been flooding; and secondly, debris on the streets, including sand. We lost nearly 50 yards of beach in some locations, maybe more in others. It’ll take us a while to get the city back to normal. We’ve had crews and contractors out pumping and clearing the streets. County Commissioners Kevin Van Ostenbridge and Jason Bearden toured our city this morning and promised us whatever help we need to bring our city back to a state of normalcy,” Murphy said.

Tracking Hurricane Idalia

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

Tuesday, Aug. 29, 5 p.m. UPDATE:

MANATEE COUNTY – Hurricane Idalia has been upgraded to a Category 2 storm with maximum sustained winds of 100 miles per hour. The storm is anticipated to continue to impact Anna Maria Island and the surrounding area this evening and overnight. County officials warn that the greatest risk the storm poses to this area is the chance for tornadoes to spawn from the hurricane and storm surge combined with a king tide expected to come in tomorrow morning at 11:30 a.m. Currently, NOAA shows that Anna Maria Island, Cortez and coastal areas of west Bradenton remain in the 4-7 foot peak surge warning zone.

 

Tuesday, Aug. 29, 3 p.m. UPDATE:

MANATEE COUNTY – Hurricane Idalia is classified as a Category 1 storm with sustained winds of 90 mph near its core. The storm is forecast to increase in strength to a Category 3 storm before making landfall. Currently, the hurricane is anticipated to make landfall mid-morning Aug. 30 near Cedar Key.

The outer bands of Idalia are bringing rain to the area. Anyone choosing to stay on the Island are asked to avoid driving through flooded areas and to shelter in place as the storm moves through the area.

A significant storm surge is expected with Hurricane Idalia. Due to a king tide expected Wednesday, Aug. 30 around 11:30 a.m., the highest storm surge is expected tomorrow morning. County officials advise residents and visitors to continue to shelter in place through tomorrow’s high tide. NOAA predicts 4-7 feet of storm surge for Anna Maria Island.

Hurricane Idalia storm surge forecast
Hurricane Idalia is expected to bring 4-7 feet of storm surge to Anna Maria Island. – Submitted

NOAA predicts sustained winds of 35 mph with wind gusts up to 50 mph for coastal Manatee County. County officials note that once winds reach a sustained 35 mph or roads become impassible due to flooding, first responders will not be able to respond to emergency calls.

There will be no trash pickups today or tomorrow. Recycling and yard waste pickups are canceled for the week.

Currently, there are no plans to cut water or other utilities to Anna Maria Island. Anna Maria Mayor Dan Murphy said that water will be shut off if Hurricane Idalia reaches a Category 3 designation or storm surge is expected at 7 feet or higher.

Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer said that the drawbridges would not be raised at any time to prevent people from leaving the Island during the hurricane.

There will be no trash pickups today or tomorrow. Recycling and yard waste pickups are canceled for the week.

MANATEE COUNTY – Hurricane Idalia is on a collision course with the west coast of Florida. The Sun is committed to giving you the latest updates as the storm moves closer to Anna Maria Island.

County officials issued a press release at 9:37 a.m. today including newly announced closures. Manatee County Area Transit buses will stop operations at 2 p.m. today or earlier if weather conditions call for an earlier suspension of service. Transportation services will remain suspended until it is safe to restart them.

Level A residents and visitors, including everyone living in mobile homes, Anna Maria Island, Perico Island, Flamingo Cay, waterfront areas of west Bradenton, and Cortez, are under a mandatory evacuation with Level B residents and visitors under a voluntary evacuation notice. All residents who evacuate are reminded to take their re-entry tag issued from their city in order to gain access to the Island after the storm passes. Anyone who chooses to shelter in place on the Island is advised that all first responders and emergency personnel will be grounded once winds reach a sustained 45 mph.

County officials warn that while wind and rain are expected as Hurricane Idalia moves closer to the west coast, the major cause for concern is storm surge, which could happen near an already expected king tide on Wednesday. As of a 4 a.m. update, NOAA was projecting a storm surge near Anna Maria Island of 4-7 feet.

Hurricane Idalia surge
The current peak surge forecast for Hurricane Idalia as of 4 a.m. on Aug. 29. – Submitted

Sandbagging stations are open at Bayfront Park in Anna Maria, City Field in Holmes Beach, Coquina Beach in Bradenton Beach and GT Bray on 59th Street in Bradenton.

All Manatee County libraries are closed until Thursday, including book drops.

All Manatee County schools are closed until Thursday morning at this time pending assessments after the storm passes.

Emergency shelters are open for those who need them. Shelters should be considered a last resort and anyone who can is asked to shelter in place with friends or family outside of the evacuation zone. A list of open shelters can be found online. If going to a shelter, take bedding, food, water, medications and other supplies to last for at least three days. Note that not all shelters are pet-friendly. If you’re taking a pet, make sure the pet has a crate, food, water, leash, litter box (if needed) and any other supplies necessary for a three-day stay. All pets must be accompanied by their owners and owners must furnish proof of recent vaccinations.

Manatee County officials are scheduled to give a 3 p.m. update from the Emergency Operations Center which can be viewed live on YouTube and Facebook.

While Idalia is not currently forecast to make a direct impact on Anna Maria Island, county officials warn residents and visitors to keep an eye on the weather and watch as models of the path of the storm are updated throughout the day. Keep checking back to this post for the most up-to-date information from The Sun.

Bradenton Beach declares state of emergency

Bradenton Beach declares state of emergency

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

BRADENTON BEACH – In advance of Tropical Storm Idalia, which is forecast to potentially make landfall as a major hurricane on Florida’s west coast, city commissioners voted unanimously on Aug. 28 to declare a local state of emergency.

The state of emergency will remain in place until Tuesday, Sept. 5 and will be extended if needed.

“What we’re expecting now is a storm surge of 4-7 feet,” Bradenton Beach Police Chief John Cosby said. “Tuesday night around 1 a.m. is high tide. We’re going to have some water. That’s going to be our biggest issue. Winds anywhere from 35 (miles per hour) gusting to 73.”

At 2 p.m. Monday, a mandatory evacuation order was in place for Level A residents and all Manatee Couty residents in mobile home parks. The county also issued a voluntary Level B evacuation.

“The reason we’re issuing the evacuation order so soon is sometimes it takes people a while to get out,” Cosby said. “You don’t have to go at that time. You’re probably going to be pretty comfortable staying here through tomorrow (Tuesday). But tomorrow night is when you really need to start thinking about it.”

Cosby suggested people closely monitor the weather forecast.

“The concern is if it shifts to the right, we’re going to have a problem,” he said. “The best situation for us is it moves a little more to the left. The further away the better.”

He said city businesses, along with city hall, will be closed Aug. 29-30. Manatee County government offices closed at noon on Monday.

“There are three shelters open – Miller, Freedom and Mills,” Cosby said.

Virgil Mills Elementary School is located at 7200 69th St. E., Palmetto; Jesse P. Miller Elementary School is located at 6014 Third St. W., Bradenton and Freedom Elementary School is located at 9515 FL-64, Bradenton.

City officials said public works staff is preparing for the storm by checking storm drains and code enforcement is clearing the beaches. Construction sites in the city also will be shut down.

Cosby said there would be extra police staff on duty.

Residents who do evacuate Anna Maria Island will need to show a driver’s license as proof of residency upon return, Cosby said.