Hurricane Debby causes major flooding in Lakewood Ranch area

As the Braden River swelled over its banks into the homes on Quonset Road on Monday afternoon, Jack Boenau was getting ready to try a water rescue himself.

One of his Quonset Road neighbors was in trouble, as the water begin to engulf his home. But as Boenau headed toward his pontoon boat, he said East Manatee Fire Rescue arrived just in time to use a rowboat for the rescue.

The outer bands of Hurricane Debby pounded East County relentlessly from Sunday night all through Monday and the deluge went from causing annoying road closures to developing into life-threatening situations.

Boenau, who is 75, was going from home to home to make sure they were safe. His neighbors, Denny Pyeatt and Mario and Adriana Diaz joined him.

"I am right on the river," Boenau said. "The water is higher than I've ever seen it."

By early Monday afternoon, Manatee County was urging residents downstream of the Lake Manatee Dam to evacuate. Hurricane Debby’s heavy rains caused the water level of Lake Manatee to rise to an unsafe level. Some of that water had to be released. 

The county put high water vehicles and transport units in position in case rescues became necessary. 

"The strategic release of water from Lake Manatee is a precautionary measure to mitigate the impact of the recent heavy rainfall and to ensure the Manatee Dam remains in good structural condition,” said Jodie Fiske, Public Safety Director for Manatee County, in a press release.

The press release also stated that additional releases from the dam might be necessary as storm surge and rising tides continue to pose challenges. 

The challenges from the storm were many. School District of Manatee County teachers and staff were scheduled to return to school today, but the storm had other plans. 

With R. Dan Nolan Middle School and Miller Elementary School serving as shelters and the "ongoing threatening conditions," Mike Barber, a spokesperson for the district, said non-essential employees were sheltering in place and working remotely at home. 

As of 10:45 a.m. on Monday, Nolan was hosting eight evacuees, with more potentially on the way, Barber said. Miller was hosting 22 evacuees.

Barber said maintenance teams consisting of essential employees were checking schools for possible storm damage, power outages and other concerns. If all is well, employees will return to the district's regular schedule on Tuesday. 

Manatee County residents were seeing unprecedented levels of flooding, especially on the roads. By Monday afternoon the county had closed 92 roads with many others closed by flooding that weren't listed. 

Rita Lewis, the owner of Linger Lodge Restaurant in East County, said she's lived in the area for 15 years and has never seen such severe flooding. 

By Monday afternoon, she said the Braden River had flooded enough to approach the patio of the Linger Lodge Restaurant. She decided to evacuate her home, which is adjacent to the restaurant, as the water was approaching her lanai. 

"I've been here for over 15 years, and I've never seen it this bad," Lewis said. "I think it's going to get even worse since we're supposed to get more rain. The whole bottom, lower part of (the Linger Lodge) campground is totally flooded. The electric boxes are just peaking up out of the water. I've never seen it like this before."

Lewis said the restaurant has not sustained any water damage so far. It's closed on Mondays, but she said she will have to evaluate the condition of the restaurant and the surrounding area before deciding whether to open for regular operating hours on Tuesday. 

"(Water) might get into the patios, but it won't get into the dining room," she said. 

Myakka City's Carol Ricks looked out at a pole where children used to swing off a rope to jump into the pond in her backyard. The pole was surrounded by water as the pond flooded, and the bottom of the rope was nowhere in sight. 

The kayaks that were in the pond made their way to the fence several yards of away from the bank of the pond. 

Also in Myakka, resident Walter Carlton measured 12 inches of rain on his home rain gauge by noon Monday. He lives adjacent to Myakka's Crane Park, which he said was under water. 

In Mill Creek, Jason Powell saw his driveway flooded to the point a fellow Mill Creek resident was able to use a fishing net to scoop a catfish out of the driveway. 

Road closures

James Nicholson, strategic affairs manager for Manatee County's Public Safety Department, said county staff was blocking Verna Bethany Road, south of State Road 64, where the road crosses over the Manatee River. The southbound lane of the bridge had collapsed. 

Among the road closures in East County were: 

• S.R. 64 between Dam Road and C.R. 675
• Rye Road from S.R. 64 east to Upper Manatee River Road
• Upper Manatee River Road from S.R. 64 North to Port Harbor Parkway
• Upper Manatee River Road from River Wind Circle North to North Rye Road
• Verna Bethany Road (bridge collapse) over the Manatee River, just south of S.R. 64
• Creekwood Boulevard from S.R. 70 to 73rd Street East
• Lockwood Ridge Road from 68th Avenue East south to Sara Palms Road
• Lakewood Ranch Boulevard from S.R. 70 to University Parkway
• Pope Road between S.R. 64 and White Eagle Boulevard
• Quonset Road between 65th Avenue East and 68th Avenue East
• Lena Road closed to the south of State Road 64
• Star Farms Loop
• S.R. 64 at Mill Run East
• 70th Terrace East
• Clubhouse Drive
• S.R. 70 at Lorraine Road
• Hidden River Trail
• Lena Road, south of S.R. 64
• Uihlein Road

Check with MyManatee.org for updates on road conditions.