Friday updates on Hurricane Ian's aftermath: Peace River bridges closed in both directions
This is a live news blog with information about the aftermath of Hurricane Ian in Sarasota, Florida. Our reporters and photographers are spread out across the area covering our communities and providing the latest information.
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6:30 p.m. | North Port spokesman says no mandatory evacuation orders issued
North Port spokesman Jason Bartolone issued statement stressing that there are no mandatory evacuation orders at this time.
"If you are in an area that is impacted with water and there are rising waters threatening your home, we are recommending you evacuate. Those waters in some areas will continue to rise for up to the next 36 hours," the statement said. "You could stay with friends/family outside of the area. A voluntary evacuation center will be opening at Venice High School (1 Indian Ave.) by 7 p.m., and you can drive there if you are able.
"The center is pet-friendly. If you need transportation, buses will be available at the following rally points: San Pedro Catholic Church (14380 Tamiami Trail); buses will run at this location until 10 p.m. this eveningPublix (1251 Toledo Blade Blvd.) starting at 6 p.m. and buses will run all night as needed. Foundation Church (13000 Tamiami Trail) starting at 6 p.m. and buses will run all night as needed.
"Additional shelters may open as needed. Follow the city and Sarasota County Government social media accounts and our local media partners for updates as they become available."
5:58 p.m. | U.S. 41 bridges across Peace River closed in both directions
The U.S. 41 bridges over the Peace River were closed in Charlotte County in both directions as of 3 p.m. Friday. All U.S. 41 lanes north- and southbound will be closed from Kings Highway to Marion Avenue until further notice, officials said.
The closure is a precautionary measure due to potentially dangerous conditions. Southbound traffic will be rerouted to Kings Highway or Parmely Street. Northbound traffic will be rerouted to Marion Avenue or Olympia Avenue.
Motorists should use Interstate 75 as an alternate route before reaching the closed intersections to relieve congestion. Law enforcement will be on scene to direct traffic.
5:30 p.m. | Water control structure fails on North Port waterway
North Port spokesman Josh Taylor shot down rumors circulating that a "dam" had failed in the city. Taylor confirmed that the banks around a water control structure on the Cocoplum Waterway near North Port Boulevard had washed out but did not consider it a safety risk. The structure was only three years old.
“So far, on the evaluation of that is that it doesn’t appear, so far, that it is causing major issues because that is open anyway right now,” Taylor said. “That water control structure was open to let the water out anyway.”
The $2.47 million structure is one of 23 gated water control structures and 41 weirs that help move water through the roughly 80 miles of canals and waterways in the city.
3:45 p.m. | All Faith’s Food Bank planning food distributions
All Faiths Food Bank will host a food and water distribution at three locations in Sarasotta today and Saturday.
The Church of the Palms (3224 Bee Ridge Rd, Sarasota) is operating until 5 p.m. today. More distributions will be available at All Faiths Food Bank (8171 Blaikie Ct, Sarasota) from 4-6 p.m. today. At St. Paul Lutheran Church (2256 Bahia Vista St, Sarasota), services will be available from 9 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday.
In Arcadia, (1021 E Oak St.) food and water will be distributed from 4-6 p.m. Friday. Any supplies left, will be availalbe when the center reopens Saturday.
All Faiths Food Bank operations team members are currently scouting locations in North Port where distributions might be possible.
1:45 p.m. | Charlotte County arranging food and water distribution
Charlotte County officials will be announcing distribution points for food and water later today, possibly at a 3 p.m. news conference.
However Charlotte County residents can seek additional storm resource information at COADFL.org or sign up for text messages by texting CHARCOCares to 888777 for information on critical supply distribution points or other storm related information.
Charlotte County Public Information Officer Brian Gleason cautioned people to continue to keep safety in mind and be aware of downed power lines and trees leaning on structures.
“Just because because a tree has fallen, doesn’t mean that it’s done falling,” he said.
He also said to be particularly careful on ladders cleaning up storm damage.
“More people get hurt on ladders than anything else,” he said.
He referred all questions about fatalities to the Charlotte County Medical Examiner’s Office. However, a phone number for the office provided by the county staff on Friday afternoon produced only a dial tone.
1:30 p.m. | Selby Gardens sustains some damage to two campuses
Selby Botanical Gardens reports that damage from Hurricane Ian to one of the greenhouses on its downtown Sarasota greenhouse will require its removal. Another greenhouse lost about 40 panes of glass. Executive Director Jennifer Romienicki reports that there are a few trees down, and debris to be removed.
“However, we’re happy to report that many of the iconic trees that so many of us love have held up nicely, including the Moreton Bay Fig, Banyans, Bo Tree and Wedding Oak,” she reported in an email to members. The research collections also are safe.
The buildings also are in good shape, other than a minor leak in the historic Selby House, and no damage was done to the Master Plan construction now underway.
Tree damage is more significant, she reported, at the Historic Spanish Point campus. Many trees fell and are blocking the access paths to the campus. The Pergola will need repairs and some “minor fixes” are needed at the White Cottage and Guptill House.
Both sites will remain closed temporarily to clear debris and further assess damage.
12:45 p.m. | Manatee and Sarasota schools to remain closed at least until Monday
Schools in Sarasota and Manatee counties will remain closed at least until Monday, and in Sarasota "until further notice."
Sarasota County officials said there are several schools still without power or water and it is unclear when those utilities will be restored, district spokesman Craig Maniglia said Friday. Also, some schools are still inaccessible because of debris or flooding.
Manatee County officials said they will reassess the situation after Monday to determine a reopening date.
12:30 p.m. | Some grocery stores open in city of Sarasota
The City of Sarasota reports that numerous grocery stores are open, though due to connectivity issues they are only acceting cash. Open stores include: Publix stores at Broadway Promenade and Bay Street; Morton's Gourmet Market; Whole Foods Market and Trader Joe's. The Whole Foods Market on University Parkway also is open. A Walmart Neighborhood Market at 3500 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota is open. Other Walmart stores in the area remained closed at about noon Friday.
More than 80 Amazon facilities in the path of the storm were closed as of Thursday, and the company said it will pay employees for scheduled shifts during the closures, and provide immediate relief assistance to employees whose homes were damaged, including providing temporary housing, cash to cover food and transportation.
Amazon was unable to indicate the status of delivery stations in Venice or Manatee County. Amazon spokesperson Richard Rocha said the company “is monitoring its online stores 24/7, automatically and manually, to combat price gouging." The company is also extending its delivery promises for customers in impacted areas and using its fulfillment capacity outside the region impacted by the storm to support customer orders.
Detwiler’s Farm Market stores in Palmetto and south Sarasota reopened Friday, company president Sam Detwiler confirmed. Both stores will be open until 8 p.m. Friday and from 8 a.m. through 8 p.m. Saturday.
The company’s store at 6000 Palmer Boulevard sustained some water damage during the storm, Detwiler said, so he’s unsure when that store will reopen. The grocer’s Venice location is currently without power and a reopening date is unknown.
Detwiler said he hopes that the company’s store at University Parkway and Lockwood Ridge Road will open on Saturday.
Hot foods are available at both Palmetto and Clark Road. On Friday, the Clark Road store was featuring a $5 burger, and Detwiler said the line was very long.
12:20 p.m. | Manatee County sending help to hard-hit areas
Manatee County officials are sending resources South of the county to help with recovery in some of the hardest hit areas in the region in Charlotte, Lee and Collier counties.
“We do want to try to manage expectations,” Manatee County Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge said.
He said that while Manatee County residents are important and utility and Florida Light and Power crews are working on restoring power, there are “critical needs to the South of us – hospital, 9-1-1 centers, police and fire, water systems that are without power. There is essentially not a power grid to our South.”
Crews are making progress in Manatee County. Almost all roads have been cleared nd power is being restored to intersections and lift stations. Of the more than 199,000 Florida Light and Power customers in the county, 85,500 are still without power and about 51,000 Peace Power customers are without power.
Thirty-three intersections are currently under generator power, but there are still 95 intersections that are damaged and another 76 without power, Manatee County Administrator Scott Hopes said. Hopes urged drivers who come across intersections where the lights are not working to treat them like a four-way stop.
As of 10 a.m., 205 of the county’s 738 lift stations were still not operating, although generators are being sent to more than 100 lift stations. Residents are asked to continue to be vigilant with water usage, limiting toilet flushing, doing dishes and showering.
Residents experiencing wastewater issues are asked to call 3-1-1 so the county can identify problem areas and address them faster.
Utilities have been restored on the barrier islands, which are now open, however, the beaches will remain closed until further notice as crews work on racking up debris, Hopes said.
County officials have documented $10.5 million in residential damages and $4.4 million in commercial damages, but those numbers are expected to climb. A total of 11 people have been saved, with seven individuals rescued in Myakka, Hopes said.
The water is still rising in the rivers in eastern parts of the county, so some roadways have been closed along Gamble Creek, including Jim Davis Road, upper Manatee River Road west of Rye and Golf Course Roads. The roads are expected to be closed for the next few days.
Hopes said that county operations, including trash collection, landfill operations and inspection services, will be back to normal Monday.
Residents are being asked to take all precautions during recovery, Hopes said, including watching for live wires when using a chainsaw, placing generators outside and shutting them off when refilling.
11:30 a.m. | Flooding on River Road
Watch a video of flooding conditions on River Road on Friday morning.
Noon | City of Sarasota to resume trash pickup Saturday
The City of Sarasota will resume pickup of garbage and yard waste on Saturday. Regular Friday pickup locations will happen on Saturday. Normal schedules are expected to resume next week. The city reports that storm debris should be placed in containers or bags at the curb. Unbagged materials should be placed curbside for the debris contractor to pick up in the near future.
Regular city business also is scheduled to resume on Monday, including the regular City Commission meeting at 9 a.m.
11:45|City of Venice arranging debris pick-ups
The City of Venice Public Works Department is making arrangements to have a contractor pick up residential debris from Hurricane Ian as early as Wednesday, Oct. 5. Please refer to the chart below and attached when hauling materials like vegetation and pool cages and screens to the curb.
Remember to separate vegetation from all other material groups. Vegetation should not be bagged. Piles should be placed 5 feet from your mailbox.
Pickup of City trash and recycling carts is set to resume Monday, Oct. 3, with residents’ normal collection schedule. Public Works crews are currently assessing our pickup zones to make sure our trucks and staff can get in and out of neighborhoods safely. Carts can be placed at the curb separated from debris piles.
Work spaces available with power and internet
BOLD Cowork Sarasota, a workspace for start-up businesses, entrepreneuers and remote workers at 1680 Fruitville Road, is opening its doors to the public for those who need a power and Internet to work after Hurricane Ian.
BOLD will provide free access to all available shared spaces and unoccupied private units, hi-speed WiFi Internet access, and other shared amenities, now through October 30. Seating is first-come-first-serve, but management at BOLD will attempt to accommodate everyone.
For more information: boldcowork.com.
10 a.m. | Sarasota County schools remain closed
Sarasota students will still not have school Monday and "until further notice" amid the damage caused by Hurricane Ian, a district official confirmed Friday.
The decision to indefinitely close schools comes as Hurricane Ian devastated much of southwest Florida Wednesday, including towns in Sarasota County. Manatee Schools are still assessing damage to its schools, but are hoping to re-open Monday, district spokesperson Mike Barber said Friday.
Several Sarasota County schools are still without power or water and it's unclear when those utilities will be restored, district spokesperson Craig Maniglia said Friday. Also, some schools are still inaccessible because of debris or flooding.
"Sadly, there has been much devastation in our county and schools including massive power outages, down power lines, flooding, cellular & cable outages, basic water and plumbing issues, and damage to many of our school structures," Maniglia wrote in a Friday press release.
More: No storm surge in coastal areas as Sarasota-Manatee region escapes Ian's worst
Damage: Hurricane Ian cleanup begins between Venice and Punta Gorda
Some schools also still have people sheltered in place and people displaced from other counties, Maniglia said. Schools with people still sheltered include North Port High School, Heron Creek Middle School, Woodland Elementary School, and Taylor Ranch Elementary, he said.
The district is in the process of moving the few hundred evacuees from the shelters to Phillippi Shores, according to the release.
10:30 a.m. | Limited number of gas stations reported open
As more people return to driving, the Sarasota Herald-Tribune is putting together a list of working gas stations for those needing to fill up their tank.
At some gas stations, the regular unleaded gasoline, or the non-ethanol "87 octane" gasoline, has run out. However, drivers may have luck with trying mid-grade or premium gas.
Sarasota County
RaceTrac at 5600 Fruitville Road, Sarasota
Costco at Sarasota Square — 8201 S Tamiami Trail Unit 501, Sarasota
Mobil at 4350 Bee Ridge Rd, Sarasota
1000 Knights Trail Rd, Nokomis
Manatee County
Nick & Moe's at 14315 State Road 70 East, Lakewood Ranch
Hurricane coverage
Recovery fund: Sarasota foundations set up a recovery fund for area residents impacted by Hurricane Ian
Schools closed: Sarasota Schools closed indefinitely, Manatee Schools still assessing damage from Ian
Power outage: Hurricane Ian's "catastrophic mark": Over 291,000 without power in Sarasota, Manatee County
This story will update as more information is made available. Know of a gas station that currently has gas? Let us know!
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Hurricane Ian in Sarasota Florida: Where to find gas, schools closed
