Longboat open to residents, business owners via Cortez Bridge

7:45 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 30

"The city of Sarasota has advised they will allow use of the side streets of St. Armands Key for residents, business owners and employees of Longboat Key with identification that identifies them as such," according to a 6:56 p.m. town of Longboat Key update.

St. Armands Circle remains flooded.

6 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 30

Water levels are receding on Longboat Key, according to a storm update email at 5:30 p.m. from Town Manager Howard Tipton.

The island is open with no restrictions, but the only way onto the island is still the Cortez Bridge. St. Armands Circle remains flooded.

The town’s wastewater system was inundated with bay water and lift stations are maxed out, according to the update.

“We’ve got them pumping down now, but it will take a little while to get back to acceptable levels,” the update states. “Our damage assessment teams found just water intrusion damage on the initial drive through. They estimated more than 70 structures may have had water intrusion based on observable water lines. Over the next day or two we’ll learn whether that number was actually higher or lower.”

The town of Longboat Key will be open Thursday morning.

4:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 30

Access to Longboat Key will only be allowed to residents and business owners via Manatee Avenue and Cortez bridges and Longboat Pass Bridge, according to a town of Longboat Key alert.

Gulf of Mexico Drive is mostly clear of flooding, though side streets are still flooded in low-lying areas, according to the alert.

The town is urging residents to be cautious with their use of wastewater as the system is already stressed handling excessive stormwater.

12:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 30

Longboat Key Fire Chief Paul Dezzi reported to homeowners association representatives and community organizations Wednesday afternoon that the island would remain closed for the time being, dependent on the water receding.

Widespread flooding has made many roads impassable for a standard vehicle, and Dezzi said the island would not be opened until the emergency response team is certain it’s safe for people to drive back onto the island.

Flooding is seen in north Longboat Key at Hibiscus Way and Poinsettia Avenue.

See more aftermath from Hurricane Idalia around Sarasota: https://t.co/YbSQZ20atb pic.twitter.com/xgdOPA5Hps

— Your Observer (@ObserverGroup) August 30, 2023

The worst flooding on the island is around the 6500 block of Gulf of Mexico Drive and north, Dezzi said, though side roads and some other areas of GMD are also experiencing flooding. 

No power issues had been reported on the island as of Wednesday afternoon.

Although Dezzi was unable to give a best guess for when residents would be allowed back, he said the hope is that water would recede with the low tide expected later this evening.

Residents should wait for more information available through Alert Longboat Key to stay up to date on reentry protocol.