Tag: Hurricane Irma

Hurricane Irma has passed Anna Maria Island without the feared storm surge, allowing islanders to take their first deep breath after a tense few days.

Bridges to Anna Maria Island opened Monday at 3 p.m., and lines of people, some who had waited since early morning and managed to remain mostly civil to each other, streamed to the Island to survey the damage.

They found that power is out in some places in Anna Maria. Power lines were downed by trees and trees were downed by Irma, some toppling over from the roots.

Bright House cable is down, so most have no television or Internet.

Most traffic lights are out, with drivers treating the intersections as four-way stops and waving each other through.

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Water is running, but a boil water notice is in effect on the island until further notice, probably within a day or two, according to Manatee County Emergency Operations officials, who ask that you limit water usage if your power is out, because sewage may back up as some lift stations are without power.

Beaches are covered with seaweed, but erosion appears minimal. The National Weather Service predicted before Irma hit that up to 8 feet of storm surge would wash over flood zone A, which includes the Island, but it did not happen.

Good wishes

People all over the world have offered encouragement to Anna Maria Island residents on The Sun’s Facebook page.

We made a storm joke on Facebook that when everyone evacuated the Island, it rose a foot and perhaps was a bit safer from storm surge. One or two people took the jest seriously, but most saw that it was a stress relief post. Sue Hummel Cinka said, “To AMIS… probably the best way to handle stress, laugh in its face… your humor came at just the right time.”

A short while later, we posted a photo of the Rod & Reel Pier gated shut, with a message, “Godspeed AMI. We will see you on the other side.”

More than 23,000 well-wishers and friends responded to the post to give us hope, many recalling their memories of Anna Maria Island vacations and many more sending prayers.

Locals told each other to stay safe, checked on where they were riding out the storm and encouraged each other that they would help rebuild the Island.

A surfer from South Carolina sent good vibrations. A reader quoted Winston Churchill, “If you’re going through hell, just keep going.” Another reader from England told us to “Keep calm and carry on.”

They told us to fight back. They told us to hang in. They told us things would be different in the morning.

And they were. After the storm passed, Barbara Irving in Devon, UK, wrote, “Hope you are all okay there on AMI, been worrying about you all night.”

When we found power and a wireless signal, we reported that Irma had veered east of the Island. Dave Barker posted, “Best news I’ve heard all day.” Patricia Golden said, “Thank goodness, was very worried for you all and that little paradise.” Mary Pat Walsh gave us pause with her post, “So glad to hear you didn’t experience the devastation that some endured.”

People helped each other out on Facebook, like the friend suggesting that someone get resident tags to get back onto the Island before the next storm, Hurricane Jose, which everyone on Anna Maria Island is watching closely as it is heading towards the east coast of Florida.

FEMA has declared Manatee County a disaster area. If you have damage, register at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362) or www.disasterassistance.gov.

Category 2 Hurricane Irma veered away from Anna Maria Island to the east overnight, continuing to head north as a tropical storm.

A tropical storm warning is still in effect in Manatee County.

The curfew was lifted at 8:30 a.m. but the Cortez Bridge to the Island will remain closed until at least 3 p.m. today, with access to the Island restricted to emergency officials, according to the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office. The Manatee Avenue bridge will reopen as soon as downed power lines and roads are cleared.

Water service is out on the Island and crews are working to get it restored, according to Manatee County Sheriff Rick Wells. A boil water notice is in effect for the Island. Residents must bring water to a rolling boil for at least one minute before drinking.

Police report they are monitoring the beach, and so far, flooding is minor, not the storm surge expected when Irma was forecast to pass directly over Manatee County, before she took an easterly turn.

The Cortez Post Office sustained damage, as did a building on 119th Street West.

Police have received no emergency calls from people trapped in their homes, Wells said.

911 is now taking emergency calls, according to Manatee County Emergency Operations officials, who request that you do not call unless it is a life-threatening emergency.

Drivers are advised to treat intersections as four-way stops if traffic lights are down.

If you have damage to your home, document it and contact your insurance company, officials advise.

As you make repairs, use caution, particularly with chain saws, and be aware that there may be downed trees and power lines around you.

FEMA has declared Manatee County a disaster area. If you have flood damage, call 1-800-621-FEMA (3362).

To report damage to roads, power lines and infrastructure, call the Manatee County Citizen’s Information Center at 941-749-3547.

Hurricane season lasts until Nov. 30. Officials advise watching the path of Jose in the Atlantic.

Related coverage

Local couple survives Irma’s worst

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What I learned from Hurricane Irma

Cortez helps Florida fishing communities hit by Irma

Sea turtles, shorebirds dodge Irma

Officials study Irma’s effects on AMI’s beaches

What Irma did to AMI

Irma forces Island residents to flee

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Manatee saved from Irma

Irma places Manatee County in state of emergency

FEMA returns to library this week

Landmark City Pier shredded

Near miss

Mandatory evacuation order issued

Always look at the bright side of life

Voluntary evacuation order issued

Evacuations possible Friday

County Commissioners to declare state of emergency Wednesday

A mandatory evacuation order has been issued for Anna Maria Island, all of level ‘A’ and all mobile homes in Manatee County, effective as of noon today, Friday, Sept. 8.

“Hurricane Irma’s latest projected shift west puts our community at greater risk of very strong winds and quite a bit more rain than was projected yesterday,” Emergency Management Chief Sherilyn Burris said.

Irma is expected late Saturday evening to turn north onto Florida’s peninsula, but exactly where is unknown, according to the latest forecast. Hurricane force winds are expected locally Sunday afternoon through Monday. The evacuation decision was based in part on the likelihood of storm surge, she said.

“Mandatory evacuation locations are critical for us to secure,” Manatee County Sheriff Rick Wells said. “When tropical force winds reach 45 mph we cannot come in and help you. It’s too unsafe for my deputies to be out there trying to respond to emergency calls. It’s critical to get out. Get out now.”

Residents need two forms of identification including a photo ID to return home when the county declares it safe, he said, warning looters, “If you try to loot we are taking you to jail.”

Bradenton Beach Police Chief Sam Speciale advises Island residents that police cannot remove people from their homes.

Roads and bridges will be closed to incoming traffic at some point Saturday afternoon. Island businesses that serve alcohol must close at the point, he said.

“We will be ramping up all public safety efforts,” including more EMTs, Public Safety Director Bob Smith said. However, those workers will not be responding when winds reach 45 mph, he said, adding, “Stay tuned to media outlets, including social media.”

The Sun’s Facebook page is here.

23 of Manatee County’s 24 temporary shelters will be open by 4 p.m. today, but should be a last resort, he said, requesting that people “Seek refuge with family, friends and other locations.”

Emergency Communications Chief Jake Saur asked Manatee County residents to only call 911 in an emergency. Other calls with concerns or questions related to Hurricane Irma should be directed to the Citizens Information Center line at (941) 749-3547.

“Civility, kindness, patience is important. Angst will pick up as the storm gets closer and we need people to remain calm. The storm will bring heavy rains and rising water. If you can leave, leave. If you’re going to stay, be prepared,” Manatee County Administrator Ed Hunzeker said.

MANATEE COUNTY – As Category 5 Hurricane Irma continues to threaten Florida, a voluntary evacuation order is in effect beginning tomorrow, Friday Sept. 8, at 7 a.m. for anyone in a mobile home or anyone in evacuation Level A in Manatee County, in red on this map.

Four emergency shelters will open at 4 p.m. tomorrow for the evacuation including:

• Myakka Elementary School, 37205 Manatee Ave., Myakka City

  

• Braden River High (pet friendly), 6545 SR 70 East, Bradenton
• Manatee High School (pet friendly), 1000 32nd Street West, Bradenton
• Mills Elementary (pet friendly), 7200 69th Street East, Palmetto

Manatee County schools will be closed on Friday to prepare for the conversion to shelters.

“Our emergency shelters should be a last option for anyone who’s decided to leave their home,” Emergency Management Chief Sherilyn Burris said. “We strongly encourage people to stay with family and friends outside of the evacuation area.”

Sandbags are available today from 10 a.m. until 7 p.m. and Friday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at:

• Buffalo Creek Park – 7550 69th St. E., Palmetto
• G.T. Bray Park – 5502 33rd Ave. Dr. W., Bradenton
• Lakewood Ranch Park – 5350 Lakewood Ranch Blvd., Bradenton
• Stormwater Ops – 5511 39th St. E., Bradenton
• Rubonia Community Center – 1309 72nd St. E., Palmetto

Manatee County Area Transit (MCAT) services, including fixed-route buses, the Anna Maria Island Trolley and the Longboat Key Shuttle, will be suspended beginning Friday, Sept. 8, in anticipation of Hurricane Irma.

Handy Bus services will also be suspended, except for scheduled dialysis trips on Friday and Saturday. No new reservations will be taken for Monday or Tuesday. Some buses will be used for evacuation transportation for those on the Special Needs Registry.
The length of the suspension is yet to be determined, but officials advised it could last through Wednesday, Sept. 13, depending on the impact of the storm.
Updated Sept. 7, 3:40 p.m.

We are experiencing heavy volume on our website due to Hurricane Irma. If you have trouble accessing the site directly, please type ‘Anna Maria Island Sun’ into the Google search bar. Thanks, and stay safe. 

Manatee County Commissioners have declared a state of emergency countywide due to the path of Hurricane Irma.

The declaration triggers the ability of county officials to order evacuation notices and to open shelters, which could be announced as soon as this afternoon depending on the forecast track, according to Manatee County Public Safety Director Bob Smith.

A state of emergency also is in effect statewide, with the National Guard already on alert.

Hurricane Irma is a Category 5 storm with sustained wind speeds of 185 mph, headed towards Florida sometime Sunday or Monday, Smith said. Up to 9 feet of storm surge is possible along the Gulf coast, with 10-15 inches of rain from Central to South Florida. Tropical storm force winds could arrive locally as early as Saturday.

The storm is more than 400 miles wide, with a tropical storm force area 300 miles wide and a hurricane force area 100 miles wide, Smith said.

“We have the potential to receive hurricane force winds and even greater potential to receive tropical storm force winds,” he said.

Evacuations would include 53,574 people in Level A, the red section of the Manatee County Hurricane Evacuation Map. Evacuations also would include 46,698 people in mobile home parks, no matter where they are located. The evacuation is expected to take between 10 and 12 hours.

“It is important to evacuate,” Manatee County Emergency Management Chief Sherilyn Burris said. “We could still see storm surge because of the size of this storm. We haven’t had a storm in Florida in a long time of this magnitude.”

Even if landfall doesn’t happen at Manatee County, and even if Irma heads east, “We could be impacted with local flooding and high winds,” said Burris, calling Irma “a very dangerous storm.”

Evacuations already are underway in South Florida, beginning to cause congestion on Interstate highways, Smith said.

Schools will be in session Thursday and will be closed on Friday to give schools time to convert to shelters, said Dr. Diana Greene, Manatee County Superintendent of Schools.

Manatee County officials did not order evacuations from flood-prone areas in their briefing on Hurricane Irma this afternoon, but with tropical force winds expected to arrive Saturday, the order may come sometime Friday, Sept. 7.
“Monitor weather reports, local media, and county social media for updates,” said Manatee County Emergency Management Chief Sherilyn Burris, who announced a state of emergency countywide earlier today. “Residents in low-lying areas or mobile homes should be ready to evacuate if the notice comes.”
The decision to evacuate is based on the probability of storm surge, she said, adding that it is not as easy as forecasting winds.
The final criterion in the decision to require evacuations is “When it is more safe to leave than it is to stay,” she said.
Hurricane Irma is a Category 5 storm with sustained wind speeds of 185 mph, headed towards Florida sometime Sunday or Monday, according to Manatee County Public Safety Director Bob Smith.
Up to 9 feet of storm surge is possible along the Gulf coast, with 10-15 inches of rain from Central to South Florida, he said. Tropical storm force winds could arrive locally as early as Saturday.
“There’s a lot of tension out in the community. There’s fear now, and it will only get worse,” Manatee County Administrator Ed Hunzeker said, calling for calm and civility. “We think we should survive this. It will be a challenge, but if we all work together it will be alright.”

Closures

Manatee County Schools will be closed on Friday in order to prepare to open as shelters if necessary, according to Superintendent Dr. Diana Greene.
The Manatee County Clerk of Circuit Court also will be closed on Friday, as government employees transition to their emergency response duties.
Manatee County offices including the Property Appraiser and the Supervisor of Elections will close at noon on Friday.
The county bus system will be operational through Friday, with drivers transporting special needs residents to medical appointments, but when winds reach 35-40 mph, county vehicles will be grounded, Hunzeker said.
Fort Hamer Bridge, scheduled to open to traffic on Sept. 23, will open temporarily to accommodate traffic related to the storm at 6 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 8. Public Works Director Ron Schulhofer said the bridge is safe for vehicle traffic but it will close Tuesday, Sept. 12 at 8 p.m. to complete the project.
Trash pickup on Saturday is uncertain, depending on winds.
The Snooty Memorial Open House scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 10, at the South Florida Museum has been postponed until Sunday, Sept. 24, from noon to 5 p.m.

Sandbags

Sandbags are available from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. today and Thursday, and from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Friday at the following locations:
• Buffalo Creek Park – 7550 69th St. E., Palmetto
• G.T. Bray Park – 5502 33rd Ave. Dr. W., Bradenton
• Lakewood Ranch Park – 5350 Lakewood Ranch Blvd., Bradenton
• Stormwater Ops – 5511 39th St. E., Bradenton
• Rubonia Community Center – 1309 72nd St. E., Palmetto

Senators call for aid

U.S. Sens. Bill Nelson (D-FL) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) are calling on Senate leaders to include additional funding in a $7.85 billion Hurricane Harvey disaster aid package the House passed today to “account for the additional costs FEMA will likely incur responding to Hurricane Irma.”
The senators wrote Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Minority Leader Charles Schumer in part: “…We are deeply concerned that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will not have the resources it needs to respond if Congress doesn’t act soon. As of right now, FEMA is scheduled to run out of money by Friday, Sept. 8, just two days before Hurricane Irma is expected to hit Florida.
Unfortunately, the current disaster relief package Congress is considering for Hurricane Harvey doesn’t account for the additional costs FEMA will likely incur as a result of Hurricane Irma. In fact, according to FEMA, even with the Harvey supplemental aid package, FEMA is likely to run out of funds before the end of September…. we strongly urge you to include additional funding in the Hurricane Harvey aid package to account for the additional costs FEMA will likely incur responding to Hurricane Irma.”

MANATEE COUNTY – County Commissioners are expected to declare a local state of emergency tomorrow during an 8 a.m. meeting to discuss the latest on Hurricane Irma.

During the meeting, Public Safety Director Bob Smith will ask commissioners to join other south Florida counties in declaring a local state of emergency.

The local declaration is the first step local officials must take before opening hurricane shelters or ordering evacuation notices, according to Manatee County Emergency Management Chief Sherilyn Burris. There are no plans yet for an evacuation or shelter openings, but Burris said residents should monitor the news and the county’s social media pages for updates. Follow Manatee County on Facebook and on Twitter, @ManateeGov. Follow Manatee County Emergency Management and on Twitter @MCGPublicSafety.

Manatee County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) at 2101 47th Terrace E., Bradenton is at partial activation today but will be fully activated tomorrow.

Public Safety officials also reminded Manatee County residents to call the Citizens Information Center at (941) 749-3547 with questions or to report issues related to Hurricane Irma. 911 should only be used in emergencies.