Manatee County readies as tropical system approaches

Manatee County is preparing for what looks like another heavy rain event this week.

The storm now being called Potential Tropical Cyclone 9 has maximum sustained winds near 30 mph with higher gusts, the National Hurricane Center said in its 11 a.m. update. 

The system is forecast to become Hurricane Helene on Wednesday and continue strengthening as it moves across the eastern Gulf of Mexico. “Heavy rainfall will spread into the Southeast U.S. starting on Wednesday and continuing through Friday, bringing a risk of flash and river flooding,” the update said.

In a news release Monday morning, Manatee County announced maintenance work on the Lake Manatee Dam has been completed. All three mechanical gates are operational, and the earthen gates have been restored to pre-Debby levels. 

Crews are keeping the lake elevation at 37.7 feet, slightly below the wet season target of 38 feet. Decisions about any further reduction in the lake elevation leading up to the potential storm will be made later this week based on NOAA forecasts. 

“Residents are encouraged to take any necessary precautions now to protect their property against possible flooding,” the statement said. 

Sandbag locations which have been open are being augmented with additional sites in at-risk areas. Open locations can be found at MyManatee.org/sandbags.

Residents can follow official storm information from Manatee County at mymanatee.org/storm. Residents and visitors should monitor local news and the County's social media accounts for updates. 

Registering for Alert Manatee is another way to ensure you receive any severe weather updates

For more information on Manatee County Government, visit MyManatee.org or call 941-748-4501.