Staff Report| Sarasota Herald-Tribune
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This is Tuesday's live blog. Read Wednesday's Hurricane Milton live blog.
- Hurricane Milton: Milton is now a Category 5 storm and is expected to make landfall late Wednesday night. Rainfall is expected to be 5-12 inches, with up to 18 inches in localized areas. A deadly storm surge of 10-15 feet is also forecast for Sarasota-Manatee. See the latest forecast.
- Evacuations: Sarasota County has ordered the evacuation of everyone in Levels A, B and C. Manatee County has ordered evacuation for everyone in Levels A, B and C.
- School Closures: Sarasota County has closed schools through Friday.
- Sandbags: Find locations here.
- Water service: Will be shut off to Island of Venice, Longboat Key, Anna Maria Island, Casey Key, Manasota Key and Siesta Key on Tuesday.
See below for the latest updates as Sarasota and Manatee counties prepare for another potentially devastating storm.
11 p.m.: Hurricane Milton moving northeast, with 160 mph winds; late Wednesday landfall as major hurricane expected
The National Hurricane Center's Tuesday night update said Hurricane Milton is forecast to make landfall on Florida's Gulf coast as a "dangerous major hurricane."
Milton was about 405 miles southwest of Tampa with sustained winds of 160 mph, still making it a Category 5 storm, moving northeast at 12 mph. A faster motion toward the northeast is expected overnight, before Milton turns to the east-northeast, and then east on Thursday and Friday.
"On the forecast track, the center of Milton will move across the eastern Gulf of Mexico tonight andWednesday, make landfall along the west-central coast of Florida Wednesday night, and move off the east coast of Florida over the Atlantic Ocean on Thursday," the hurricane center's forecast update said.
While fluctuations in the storm's intensity are expected as Milton moves across the eastern Gulf of Mexico, it "is expected to be a dangerous major hurricane when it reaches the west-central coast of Florida Wednesday night," forecasters said.
Manatee County opens additional shelter
.Manatee County opened a 10th shelter, and could add more to handle evacuees ahead of the anticipated landfall of Hurricane Milton overnight Wednesday or early Thursday. The added site that opened at 6 p.m. is at Robert H. Prine Elementary, 3801 Southern Pkwy. W., Bradenton.
More shelters will be opened as the demand increases, the county said in a news release. By mid-day Tuesday more than 2,500 people had registered to spend the night.
Here are the other locations:
Virgil Mills Elementary School (7200 69th St. E., Palmetto)Buffalo Creek Middle School (7320 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)
The county said that in "a massive effort to clear remaining debris" in Manatee, haulers have removed more than 10 million pounds of debris along roads ahead of the storm. The work to remove any remaining debris will continue as long as it is safe to do so early Wednesday.
Manatee 311 has taken more than 5,000 calls over the past two days regarding the storm. The information number remains staffed around the clock.
5 p.m.: Hurricane Milton back to Category 5 storm with 165 mph winds; forecasters call it 'very serious situation'
The National Hurricane Center said Tuesday afternoon that Hurricane Milton had re-strengthened to Category 5 status after dropping earlier to a Category 4, with sustained winds of 165 mph. The storm was about 480 miles southwest of Tampa and moving east/northeast at 9 mph.
The storm's central pressure has fallen again, and the eye is 10 miles wide. Forecasters said the storm "wobbled a bit" to the southeast today, but is expected to turn northeast and accelerate. The center of the storm's projected track would take it just south of Tampa Bay, putting it near the Sarasota-Manatee area near 1 a.m. Thursday.
"It is still critical to remember that even at 36 hours (around the time of potential landfall), NHC's track forecasts can be off by an average of 60 (miles), which means we still can't pinpoint an exact landfall location, especially if additional wobbles occur in the short term," the forecasters' discussion noted. "After landfall, Milton is forecast to cross Florida and emerge over the Atlantic waters onThursday.
"Milton is expected to maintain major hurricane strength while it moves across the Gulf of Mexico and approaches the west coast of Florida."
While strong high level winds are expected to increase in about 24 hours, which could cause some weakening, but the forecast said even if it does, "it will likely not be enough to keep Milton from being an extremely dangerous hurricane when it reaches shore."
In addition, the reach of Milton's winds is expected to expand as it approaches Florida. Hurricane force winds now extend to 30 miles from the center, and tropical storm winds to 140 miles.
"In fact, the official forecast shows the hurricane and tropical-storm-force winds roughly doubling in size by the time it makes landfall," forecasters said, emphasizing that "damaging winds, life-threatening storm surge, and heavy rainfall will extend well outside the forecast cone," and calling it a "very serious situation."
"Evacuations and other preparations should be completed today. Milton has the potential to be one of the most destructive hurricanes on record for west-central Florida."
4 p.m.: Sarasota, Manatee hospitals prepare for Milton
HCA Sarasota Doctor's Hospital's emergency room on Bee Ridge Road remained open for patient care and fully operational Tuesday afternoon, although the large hospital system was closing other hospitals in the area located in evacuation zones.
That included HCA Florida Englewood Hospital and HCA Florida Fawcett Hospital in Port Charlotte, among several in the greater Tampa Bay region.
"To help ensure safety and uninterrupted quality care for our patients, we are actively working to transfer patients to our sister facilities throughout the state from our hospitals located in mandatory evacuation zones," said Monica Yadav, director of communications and community engagement for Doctor's Hospital.
An updated list of the status of each site of care in the HCA Florida Healthcare network is available at hcafloridahealthcare.com.
HCA Healthcare, the parent company of more than 650 sites of care including 48 hospitals, said the ones closing Tuesday would remain closed until it was safe after the storm.
The freestanding Doctor's Hospital emergency room on State Road 70 will be closing at 7 p.m., according to an HCA statement.
On the banks of the Manatee River, Manatee Memorial Hospital, owned by Universal Health Services Inc., also will close to visitors at 7 p.m., with the hospital put under emergency service diversion, Rob Casio, the hospital's director of business development, said.
That means that emergency services will prioritize taking paitents to other hospitals.
Casio said two teams of doctors will rotate shifts taking care of paitents currently at the hosptial's facilities thoughout the storm as is standard procedure.
Gov. Ron DeSantis visited the hospital earlier this week, according to a post on the hosptial's facebook page, where he toured a storm surge mitigation device called TIger Dam, which inflates barriers in lowlying areas to help prevent storm surge from imparing operations. The system was made possible through a partnership with the city of Bradenton and Manatee County.
3:30 p.m.: Thousands head to Manatee, Sarasota County shelters
Thousands of residents have evacuated as Hurricane Milton is expected to head toward Florida's west coast Wednesday. Authorities have advised residents who live in evacuation Level A, B and C, or mobile or RV homes, to heed warnings and evacuate.
As of Tuesday afternoon there were 1,955 people in Sarasota County's 11 general population Evacuation Centers. The county advised it has room for more people at each location. Evacuation centers are pet friendly but people are advised to bring pet supplies with them, such as a crate, leash, litter box, waste bags, food and water.
A total of 2,546 residents had checked into Manatee County emergency shelters by Tuesday afternoon. That includes 640 residents at Mills Elementary School, 31 at Myakka Elementary School, 733 at Mille Elementary School, 239 at Buffalo Creek Middle School, 113 at Gullett Elementary School, 104 at McNeal Elementary School, 125 at Mona Jain Middle School, 146 at Harvey Elementary School, 297 at Sugg Middle School, and 118 at the special needs shelter.
Milton is predicted to produce a 10 to 15-foot storm surge, which is significantly higher than the surge that buried much of Anna Maria Island in sand and flooded most buildings there during Hurricane Helene just weeks ago.
2:45 p.m.: Sarasota County preparing for 15-foot storm surge
Sarasota County is forecasting up to 15 feet of storm surge upon Hurricane Milton's landfall, according to a Tuesday afternoon statement by Emergency Management Chief Sandra Tapfumaneyi.
Tapfumaneyi said it was part of the reason officials broadened their evacuation order to Level C residents.
"Fifteen feet of storm surge will overcome most homes, and that amount of storm surge - we're going to see out on the coastline and then it's going to dissipate and go a little lower as it travels throughout the county," Tapfumaneyi said.
County officials saw an expanded area of storm surge effects on Tuesday morning - areas more inland that could see up to six feet, or between one to three feet of flooding. Tapfumaneyi emphasized that Tuesday is the last full day for residents to organize their evacuation and preparation plans.
1:30 p.m.: Sarasota Memorial Hospital preps for Hurricane Milton
Sarasota Memorial Hospital is not a medical shelter but will care for and support more than 4,000 people during Hurricane Milton, according to a hospital spokeswoman.
Starting Tuesday, more than 2,500 staff members on “Response Team A” will spend multiple nights in the hospital for the duration of the storm. SMH is providing childcare on-site and pet shelters at both hospitals for its staff.
Several hundred physicians will remain on site for the duration of the storm to care for patients at SMH-Sarasota, SMH-Venice and the SMH freestanding emergency room in North Port.
SMH is also working with Sarasota County to care for medically dependent people whose needs exceed the care that can be provided at Sarasota County’s two special needs shelters, as well as patients evacuated from other hospitals in the region.
“Recovery Team B” will relieve the response team after the storm, once roads are safe for travel.
SMH facilities are hurricane-hardened and updated to meet current codes.
SMH-Sarasota is located at the highest point in Sarasota, 19 feet above sea level. Both facilities are stocked with enough supplies, including food, water, linens and medications to be self-sufficient for at least seven days – with an additional supply of non-perishable food if needed.
The hospital has a well for emergency water supply and 2,500 cases of water bottles – 48 bottles at 16 ounces each at the Sarasota campus and additional supplies at the other campuses.
Emergency generators are ready, with 200,000 gallons of diesel fuel and access to natural gas.
1:20 p.m.: Hurricane Milton - What to expect in Sarasota and Manatee counties
Category 4 Hurricane Milton will bring historic impacts to the west coast of Florida, according to the National Weather Service in its 1 p.m. weather briefing.
The current track continues to be a worst-case scenario for the Tampa Bay region south to Sarasota.
The National Hurricane Center storm track at this time can be off by 60 to 70 miles for landfall.
Sarasota and Manatee counties will experience impacts from Hurricane Milton Wednesday morning into Thursday afternoon.
Storm surge projections remain at a catastrophic 10 to 15 feet for Manatee, Sarasota, Pinellas and Hillsborough counties.
Rainfall is still projected at 5 to 12 inches, with localized spots of 18 inches.
Hurricane Milton is now a Category 4 storm with maximum winds of 150 mph and is forecast to be a Category 3 when it makes landfall.
It is located 520 miles southwest of Tampa, moving east/northeast at 9 mph with a central pressure of 929 mb.
Hurricane-force winds extend out 30 miles and tropical storm-force winds extend 105 miles.
The anticipated arrival time of tropical storm winds in Sarasota-Manatee is 11 a.m to 4 p.m. Wednesday.
Those winds would leave the area between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. Thursday.
- Earle Kimel
12:15 p.m.: Access to Siesta Key, Longboat Key, Manasota Key and Casey Key closing at 7 p.m.; residents can leave, but no entry until after 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, butno 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
12 p.m.: Sarasota Bradenton International Airport closing at 4 p.m.
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.
10:30 a.m.: Latest Hurricane Center forecast prompts Sarasota County's expanded evacuation order
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 Ccover 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 immediatelybegin 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.
10:15 a.m.: State officials say fuel supplies adequate as people evacuate
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.
10 a.m.: Manatee County shuts off water to barrier islands
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.
9:15 a.m.: Sarasota County extends evacuation to Level C
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.
9 a.m.: Sarasota County closes schools through Friday
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.
8:30 a.m.: Hurricane Milton continues to weaken, but still a Category 4
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.
5:30 a.m.: Hurricane Milton weakens slightly, but still a powerful Category 4 as it heads to Sarasota and Manatee counties
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.
Hurricane Milton evacuations for Sarasota and Manatee counties
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.
- 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.
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
Water service will be shut off Tuesday for Venice, Anna Maria Island, Longboat Key, Casey Key Siesta Key and Manasota Key
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.
Where you can find sandbags in Sarasota and Manatee counties
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.