Manatee County portion of Longboat Key ‘encouraged’ to evacuate

Manatee County Emergency Management encourages evacuation for those in the county’s Coastal Level A, which includes the northern half of Longboat Key, according to a news release issued at roughly 3 p.m. Saturday.

Residents can find their evacuation level at MyManatee.org/storm. 

“Tropical Depression Four could impact our coastal communities,” said Jodie Fiske, director of Public Safety in the release. “We are opening an additional shelter for those residents and visitors in Coastal Level A.” 

According to the town of Longboat Key’s 2 p.m. update on Saturday expected impacts include:

• Rain: Potential for rainfall of 6-8 inches over five-day period.
• Flooding: Flooding in low-lying and flood-prone areas can be expected due to the rainfall associated with this storm. Exercise extreme caution when approaching a flooded roadway, and turn around to avoid driving through standing water.
• Wind: Strong tropical storm winds are forecast to arrive Sunday morning and should leave the area early Monday morning. Power outages could occur. To report FPL outages or monitor an outage visit FPL.com/storm.html
• Surge: Surge as high as 3 feet could occur over portions of the western Florida coastline

Miller Elementary School (601 43rd St W in Bradenton) will open at 5 p.m. for those who wish to evacuate from Coastal Level A. Nolan Middle School (6615 Greenbrook Blvd. in Bradenton) opened at noon today.  

Manatee County Emergency Management also said that residents and visitors of Coastal Evacuation Level A “should unplug and move electric golf carts and vehicles out of garages and Level A areas to avoid the risk of fire due to saltwater intrusion.” 

The town of Longboat Key has sand available over the weekend at the Broadway Beach Access. Bring proof of residency: driver’s license, utility bill, etc. to obtain bags at Public Works. There is a limit of 10 bags per household.  

Other sandbag locations are available at the following sites: 

• Coquina Beach (north boat ramp parking lot) at 1507 S. Gulf Dr., Bradenton Beach
• Lincoln Park at 501 17th Street East, Palmetto 
• Rubonia Community Center at 1309 72nd Street E., Palmetto 
• Palmetto Youth Center at 501 17th St. W., Palmetto 
• South Branch Library at 6081 26th St. W., Bradenton 
• A self-serve location just south of the former Manatee County Utilities Headquarters at 4700 66th Street W., Bradenton 
• Myakka City Community Center at 10060 Wauchula Road, Myakka City 

For up-to-date information about evacuation levels, shelters, and sandbag locations, please visit MyManatee.org/storm. 

For up-to-date information about Manatee County Government, visit MyManatee.org or call 941-748-4501.