As the region turns its eye to recovery in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene, Sarasota County officials reported that, as of this morning, authorities had evacuated 33 from the barrier islands and that at least six feet of water from the Gulf of Mexico had flooded Siesta Key.

The storm also opened Midnight Pass, which was closed in 1984 by the Army Corps of Engineers.

Midnight Pass is open again.
Man proposes, God disposes.

— Stephen King (@StephenKing) September 27, 2024

The monstrous Helene intensified from a category 1 hurricane to a category 4 hurricane in just 12 hours before slamming into the Big Bend area of the state, thanks in no small part to the warm water of the Gulf of Mexico, which was approximately 85 degrees Fahrenheit as Helene made its way through.

Helene's powerful winds extended hundreds of miles from the center of its eye. The storm, which was approximately 420 miles wide, was the third largest hurricane in recorded history, after 2017's Ida and 1996's Opal. Both of those storms were 460 miles wide.

Today, as local governments continued to restore water and power, limited re-entry was permitted to the barrier islands, although a curfew remains in place for the entirety of Anna Maria Island. Both counties also set up multiple points of distribution for supplies, which included water, tarps and meals-ready-to-eat (MREs). 

Here's the latest at the end of Saturday, Sept. 28.

Be Safe When Returning Home

If your home is flooded when you return, do not enter and instead call 311. If there is no flooding and it appears safe to go inside, follow FEMA protocol to safely assess damage:

• Be careful when cleaning up and wear protective clothing
• Avoid electrical equipment and turn off circuit breaker if possible
• Document all damage (be sure to take photos)

If you need additional help, or you feel your house is uninhabitable, call 311.

Generator Safety

If you are using a generator, never use it indoors. Carbon monoxide has no smell or color and can kill you if you've been expoesed.

Keep generators 20 feet away from your home during use, and install a carbon monoxide detector for added precaution. If you feel dizzy, nauseated or short of  breath while using a generator, seek medical help immediately.

Sarasota County

Public utilities staff are still working to restore potable water service to Siesta Key and Casey Key. The county has also opened four Point of Distribution sites to provide food, water, meals-ready-to-eat (MREs), tarps and ice to residents. Click here for more.

St. Armands/Lido Key

The John Ringling Causeway is now open to St. Armands and Lido key residents and business owners.

Water service has been restored, but a boil water advisory is in place. 

Crews were on hand today removing sand that was pushed onto Ben Franklin Drive and the Lido Beach parking lot during the storm. The City of Sarasota estimates there was as much as 4 feet of sand in some areas.

Longboat Key

There is a delay in allowing residents re-entry to the island due to several gas leaks throughout the island. 

The Town of Longboat Key’s public works department continues repairing a broken main waterline. The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) remains on scene to assist in clearing and deeming roadways safe, and Florida Power & Light is working to restore power to the entire island

Tier 2 re-entry to Longboat Key began at 5 p.m. today, Saturday, Sept. 28, but only to properties between the south end of the island (New Pass Bridge) and 4052 Gulf of Mexico Drive (Bayfront Park). This is due to unsafe conditions north of that location that the town continues to resolve. Tier 2 entrants include healthcare agencies, insurance agents, bank staff, food purveyors, hardware stores, gas stations, condominium managers and critical staff, and other business operators considered critical to the town’s recovery efforts.

Tier 2 essential personnel will need an identification card with the name of the business they represent or are going to and their name, issued 2024, to be presented at the check point to enter the island. All persons granted access under Tier 2 must be self-sustaining with food, water, medical supplies and secure quarters, and must comply with movement and curfew restrictions if issued by the town.

Manatee County

Three points of distribution sites have been set up at Bennett, Blackstone and GT Bray parks. Each has meals-ready-to eat (MRE), water and tarps available for residents in need. For more information, click here.

Bradenton

The City of Bradenton is asking all residents to conserve water. Storm surge from Hurricane Helene severely strained water treatment systems, and officials emphasize that it is critical that water use be minimized to ensure resources are managed effectively during recovery efforts.

Residents are asked to immediately reduce water consumption by:

• Postponing washing laundry and dishwashing.
• Taking shorter showers.
• Turning off water while brushing teeth or shaving.  
• Refraining from watering lawns.

Bottled water distribution will continue through Sept. 29, from noon PM to 7 p.m. (or while supplies last), at the following locations:

Supplies are limited, and a valid ID proving city residency is required. 

The City of Bradenton also requests that residents follow these guidelines when beginning cleanup and gathering debris: 

• Place debris curbside as soon as possible
• Priority will be given to areas with the most concentrated and unsafe debris.
• Separate debris into specific categories for proper disposal: vegetative debris;  construction and demolition materials; appliances and white goods; and electronics.

Anna Maria Island

Only property owners (that is, residents and business owners) from the cities of Anna Maria and Holmes Beach and essential workers are permitted on the island. To enter, a re-entry tag or ID and proof of address must be presented at the checkpoint on the Manatee Avenue bridge. At this time, there is still no access to Bradenton Beach.

The island-wide curfew is still in place from dusk till dawn. Holmes Beach police will re-open the checkpoint at 7 a.m. on Sunday, Sept. 29.

In the city of Anna Maria, all roads are passable at this time except Alamanda, Jacaranda and Rose. Crews are working on restoring them.

Some power will be restored on the north end today; the remainder will take place over the course of the day tomorrow, but possibly as late as Monday. 

Manatee County Utilities has also issued a boil water advisory for residents of Anna Maria Island for drinking water only. Bottled water will be available at a distribution site at GT Bray Park, 5502 33rd Ave. Drive West in Bradenton from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily.

Venice

City of Venice Public Works staff have completed a temporary fence system at Humphris Park at the South Jetty, which sustained severe damage in Hurricane Helene and is extremely unsafe. Staff also removed a majority of the heavy debris from the Tarpon Center Drive roadway today and cleaned a few catch basins using a vac truck.

Higel Marine Park and Boat Ramp is closed due to damage to the docks and to limit traffic on the roadway. The park will also be used as a staging area for waterway debris that is currently being collected and brought in for disposal.