Live: Sarasota County expands evacuation to Level C areas ahead ...

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Sarasota and Manatee counties are currently in danger from Hurricane Milton. Here's the latest:

See below for the latest updates as Sarasota and Manatee counties prepare for another potentially devastating storm.

Access to the barrier islands, including Casey, Manasota, Siesta and Longboat keys will be closed at 7 p.m. today, Oct. 8. After 7 p.m., residents will continue to be able to leave the barrier islands, but no entry will be allowed until after the post-storm search and rescue mission is completed. When you leave the barrier islands, be sure to take everything that you and your family need for evacuation. Take enough supplies to last you and your family several days.  

Uniformed personnel will be posted at the following intersections to ensure access is closed:

John Ringling Causeway, just west of Golden Gate Point in Sarasota

Siesta Drive Bridge, 1400 Siesta Drive in Sarasota

Stickney Point Road Bridge, 1512 Stickney Point Road in Sarasota

Blackburn Point Swing Bridge, 733 Blackburn Point Road in Osprey

Albee Road Bridge, 913 Albee Road in Nokomis

Manasota Beach Road Bridge, 2055 Manasota Beach Road in Englewood

Sarasota Bradenton International Airport will close at 4 p.m. on Tuesday, officials said, urging potential fliers to confirm their flight status with their airlines. SRQ Airport will also be closed on Wednesday and Thursday.

Sarasota County Emergency Management Chief Sandra Tapfumaneyi said the county broadened its evacuation order Tuesday following the early morning forecast from the National Hurricane Center.

"With the amount of storm surge that is predicted for our area, it's critical that you leave if you are in any of those areas,"Tapfumaneyi said. "The time to take action is now."

Levels A, B, and C cover most of southern Sarasota County, south of Laurel Road and southwest of I-75.

David Rathburn, chief of the Sarasota County Fire Department, said he could not overemphasize the need for those in evacuation zones to seek shelter elsewhere. Emergency services would not be able to assist people during the storm itself, and it would take them time to reach heavily flooded areas, he said.

"Please do not compare this to a previous storm. Sarasota County has not had a direct hit from a major hurricane in the history of this place," Rathburn said.

Rathburn also said that local resources are stretched thin after Hurricane Helene, and there may be a delay in getting urban search and rescue teams out onto the barrier islands after the storm passes.

Emergency Services Director Rich Collins said those who reside outside of evacuation zones need to immediately begin preparing for Milton. He urged those who want to leave to do so as soon as possible, and added there is finite space in local shelters.

All Faiths Food Bank closes distribution sites

All Faith Food Bank, Sarasota County's largest and only food bank, has closed distribution sites in Sarasota and DeSoto counties at least through Thursday.

Updated locations for food distribution post-storm can be found on All Faith Food Bank's “Food Finder” page https://allfaithsfoodbank.org/foodfinder/ and social media platforms, or call at 941-379-6333 for information on distributions.

All Faith Food Bank drivers delivered emergency food and water to all 14 evacuation shelters in Sarasota County since Monday evacucations began.

Amid an ongoing evacuation in preparation for Hurricane Milton, Florida officials said the state does not have a fuel shortage as the seek to ensure that supplies continue to reach gas stations, the News Service of Florida reported.

Gov. Ron DeSantis advised people to anticipate lines at gas stations and slow speeds on highways, the news report stated.

“Be prepared that you're not going to be able to go 75 miles an hour to get out of Dodge on the interstates right now,” DeSantis said during a news conference at the state Emergency Operations Center. “You probably could have done that in the wee hours of this morning … It is going to be a little slower. That's just the reality."

The U.S. Coast Guard took action at Port Tampa Bay, SeaPort Manatee, Port St. Pete, Port Key West, Port Everglades, PortMiami and Port Canaveral that allows fuel operations to continue on the land sides of the ports. But vessel movement was halted because gale force winds were expected within 24 hours.

Florida Department of Transportation Secretary Jared Perdue said fuel continues to flow, and is being delivered to stations, sometimes with Florida Highway Patrol escorts, News Service of Florida said.

But gas stations running out quicker than normal because of demand.

“There is no fuel shortage. Fuel continues to arrive in the state of Florida by port and what we're doing to bring it in on the ground,” DeSantis said.

Manatee County Utilities crews are shutting off the water service to the barrier island communities.

With a significant storm surge expected along coastal parts of the county, the Manatee County Utilities Department scheduled the shut-off of potable water service and sanitary sewer service to the island cities of Anna Maria Island, Holmes Beach, Bradenton Beach and the Town of Longboat Key, according to a news release. Th service interruption – in coordination with Island cities- is designed to ensure the system remains intact and to save the sewer lift stations.

During Hurricane Helene, the water was substantially shut off, with a 20% flow maintained. This time, the water will be completely shut off. There will not be residual pressure or flow that some may have experienced with Helene.

Manatee County Area Transit (MCAT) is continuing shuttle service from the CVS (611 Manatee Ave., Holmes Beach) and at 101 Bridge Street in Bradenton Beach to local shelters through 8 p.m. You should be to a shelter or ready to shelter in place by nightfall.

The following locations are open now for evacuees:

Virgil Mills Elementary School (7200 69th St. E., Palmetto)Jessie P. Miller Elementary School (601 43rd St. W., Bradenton)Myakka Elementary School (37205 Manatee Ave., Myakka City)W D Sugg Middle School (5602 38th Ave. W., Bradenton)Barbara A. Harvey Elementary School (8610 115th Ave. E., Parrish)B D Gullett Elementary School (12125 44th Ave. E., Bradenton)Gilbert W McNeal Elementary School (6325 Lorraine Rd., Lakewood Ranch)Dr. Mona Jain Middle School (12205 44th Ave. E., Bradenton)

A special needs shelter is also open for those who have pre-registered.

At 8 p.m., Manatee County Public Works staff will barricade and close the following bridges.Jim Davis Rd at Gamble CreekGolf Course Road at Gamble CreekVerna Bethany at the Manatee RiverThese preemptive closures are a safety measure to protect infrastructure that recently experienced minor flooding damage during Hurricane Debby. Motorists should expect these closures to be in place until Hurricane Milton passes, and the inspection staff has had a chance to evaluate potential damage.

Sarasota County announced that it is extending its evacuation order to Level C. That means all Sarasota County residents and visitors living in Levels A, B and C, as well as people living in mobile homes and RVs, should evacuate.

Find your Sarasota County evacuation level here.

Here is the list of Sarasota County evacuation shelters. Evacuation centers are expected to open at 10 a.m. Tuesday. Riverview High School is no longer an evacuation center. The decision was made after reviewing storm surge projections for the area that indicated there could be some flooding impacts to the school. As a precaution, the location was removed from the evacuation center list.

Sarasota County is aware that several evacuation centers are located within Level C. After a close evaluation and based on current projected weather conditions, officials have determined that centers in this level are safe and viable options.

Sarasota County Schools announced that all traditional public schools would be closed through Friday.

"We will let you know – as soon as possible – about school reopening after Hurricane Milton has passed. Our facilities team will need time to safely conduct assessments, countywide, on all of our sites to ensure our traditional public schools and offices are safe to welcome back students, teachers, and staff members. We have also received many questions about hurricane make-up days and whether the school year will need to be extended to account for storm-related closures. Our district leadership team is working through a range of possible solutions and will provide an update on this as soon as possible," reads the announcement.

Manatee County has not yet announced that schools will be closed on Thursday and Friday, but it is likely.

According to the 8 a.m. National Hurricane Center update, Hurricane Milton's maximum sustained winds have dropped to 145. That still makes it a powerful Category 4 storm.

Little else has changed since the last update (see below). The projected path of Hurricane Milton still remains fixed on the opening of Tampa Bay, with landfall expected late Wednesday night or early Tuesday morning.

Sarasota and Manatee can also expect 5-12 inches of rain, with as much as 18 inches in localized areas, as well as hurricane-force winds.

Tropical storm winds are forecast for the area beginning Wednesday morning, with hurricane-force winds beginning later in the day.

Hurricane Milton weakened slightly overnight and now has sustained winds of 155 mph, making it a powerful Category 4 storm, according to the 5 a.m. update from the National Hurricane Center.

It may weaken further before its projected landfall in the Tampa Bay area on Wednesday night.

"An increase in vertical wind shear will likely cause some weakening before the hurricane reaches Florida, but there is high confidence that Milton will remain an extremely dangerous hurricane when it reaches the state," reads the forecast.

The weakening does not change the most devastating part of the forecast for Sarasota and Manatee counties, however. Hurricane Milton is still expected to bring 10-15 feet of storm surge to the area, more than double that of Hurricane Helene.

Sarasota and Manatee can also expect 5-12 inches of rain, with as much as 18 inches in localized areas, as well as hurricane-force winds.

Tropical storm winds are forecast for the area beginning Wednesday morning, with hurricane-force winds beginning later in the day.

Though Hurricane Milton is still a relatively compact storm, it is expected to double in size before it impacts our area.

"Therefore, damaging winds, life-threatening storm surge, and heavy rainfall will extend well outside the forecast cone," according to the NHC.

Sarasota and Manatee counties are currently under a hurricane warning and a storm surge warning.

Sarasota County has announced it will begin evacuations today for people living in Levels A, B and C areas, as well as everyone living in mobile homes or RVs. The county may extend that to people in Level C, as well.

Manatee County has announced evacuations for those living in Levels A, B and C, as well as everyone living in a mobile home or RV.

• Find your Manatee County evacuation level here.
• Here is the ongoing list of Manatee County shelters.
• Mills Elementary, 7200 69th St. E., Palmetto
• Miller Elementary, 601 43rd St. W., Bradenton
• Myakka Elementary, 37205 Manatee Ave., Myakka City
• Sugg Middle, 5602 38th Ave. W., Bradenton
• Harvey Elementary, 8610 115th Ave. E., Parrish
• Gullett Elementary, 12125 44th Ave. E., Bradenton
• McNeal Elementary, 6325 Lorraine Rd., Lakewood Ranch
• Dr. Mona Jain Middle School, 12205 44th Ave. E., Bradenton

Manatee County authorities warned Anna Maria Island and Town of Longboat Key residents that water services to the barrier islands will be shut off at 10 a.m. on Tuesday.

Sarasota County will also shut water services off to Casey Key and Siesta Key at 10 a.m. on Tuesday.

The city of Venice Utilities Department plans to shut off water service to the island of Venice Tuesday evening.

The Englewood Water District will suspend its water service for Manasota Key at noon Tuesday.

Sarasota County: 8 a.m.-noon at 17th Street Soccer Fields, 4730 17th Street; Sarasota Twin Lakes Park, 6700 Clark Road; Sarasota South County Fleet Services, 4571 SR 776/Englewood Road, Venice.

Manatee County: Find locations here.

City of Sarasota: 8 a.m.-noon, Ed Smith Stadium, 2700 12th St.