Both Sarasota County and Manatee counties have ordered evacuations for residents Levels A, B and C, and manufactured home communities, mobile and boat homes in all levels. Leave now if you can.

Access to the barrier islands, including Casey Key, Manasota Key, Siesta Key, Bird Key, St. Armands Key, Lido Key, Longboat Key and the City of Anna Maria, will be closed at 7 p.m. today, Oct. 8. After 7 p.m., community members will continue to be able to get off the barrier islands, but no entry will be allowed back on until after 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, Sarasota
• Siesta Drive Bridge, 1400 Siesta Drive, Sarasota
• Stickney Point Road Bridge, 1512 Stickney Point Road, Sarasota
• Blackburn Point Swing Bridge, 733 Blackburn Point Road, Osprey
• Albee Road Bridge, 913 Albee Road, Nokomis
• Manasota Beach Road Bridge, 2055 Manasota Beach Road, Englewood