Sarasota and Manatee counties and the Town of Longboat Key have announced that potable water services and lift stations will be shut off to the barrier islands ahead of Hurricane Milton. This precautionary measure protects infrastructure from storm surge and high winds.

The shut-off for Anna Maria Island, Holmes Beach, Bradenton Beach, the Town of Longboat Key,  Bird Key, Siesta Key, Casey Key and Manasota Key will take place at 10 a.m. tomorrow, Tuesday, Oct. 8. Note that there will not be residual water pressure or flow that some residents may have experienced during Hurricane Helene.

Both counties' public utilities teams are ready to restore water services to those impacted when conditions are safe to do so. (However, note that these areas will be under a boil water notice until water is deemed safe to drink.)

Manatee County utilities staff is also continuing to watch the lake level at the Manatee Dam, which was 37 feet on Monday, Oct. 7. (The normal operating height is 42 feet.) 

Hurricane Milton is currently a category 5 hurricane with winds of 180 miles per hour. Although it is expected to weaken slightly (but grow in size) before making landfall, forecasters are predicting potential storm surge of 8 feet to 12 feet in parts of the region.

Evacuation orders for Zones A and B and mobile home communities are in place for Sarasota County; in Manatee County, evacuations have been ordered for those in Zones A, B and C.