MANATEE COUNTY, FL (September 30, 2022) – Manatee County Administrator Dr. Scott Hopes reiterated in this morning’s press conference that Manatee County staff and field crews are continuing to answer the call to get the community back to normal.
We are assessing damage: The County’s newly deployed Crisis Track Software has provided real-time tracking, revealing that there is approximately $10.5 Million in Residential damages and $4.4 Million in Commercial damages reported so far.
We are working to help displaced residents: We are compiling community resources to aid our residents in temporary housing. Service expected available through the contacted resources are temporary housing in shelters and vacant community properties.
Until then and even after, we are asking residents to play as much of a role in their housing plan as possible. This can include connecting with family in unaffected areas, hotels churches and coworkers.
Those needing or aware of those in need should contact the county’s 3-1-1 line to communicate their need, along with a good contact method and backup (if able).
Utility crews have restored utility service to the barrier islands: Lift stations were powered up, and then potable was returned to customers early this morning.
Energy partners working to reestablish electric service: 20,000 FPL customers have been brought back online—83,200 customers are still without power at this hour.
We are “bringing the power” to where it is needed: Generator Power has been restored to traffic lights at 33 vital intersections; 95 intersections are still damaged; 76 intersections are still without power, and drivers should treat them as a 4-way stop.
Generators also being deployed to more than 100 lift stations across the county: As of 10 a.m., 205 of the county’s 738 lift stations were off line or without power. We are still asking customers to refrain from unnecessary flushing, long showers or doing laundry until we can get more of these sites up and running. We are also asking customers who have ANY wastewater issues to call 3-1-1 so our crews can identify problem areas and make fast fixes.
We are helping locate open gas stations: Links on the county Website showing real-time updates on open gas stations are helping point residents to this important resource.
We are seeing rising water and road closures:
- Due to rising water along Gamble Creek, Golf Course Road is closed. Please seek alternate route—use Rye, Ft. Hamer, 301, County Road 675 (Rutland) and 64 (only North/South).
- Jim Davis Road is closed at Gamble Creek. It will only be accessible from the south via Golf Course Road.
- Upper Manatee River Road is closed just West of Rye Road and it is expected to remain closed for another 2 to 3 days.
- County Road 675 eastbound (near Jim Davis Road) is down to one lane due to water on eastbound lane.
- Water is also overflowing at Canal Road (16th Avenue E) at 16th Street in Palmetto. That road is being closed as we speak.
We are getting back to regular business: Normal County Operations are expected to resume Monday:
Trash collection, Landfill Operations, Inspection services: Operations will be back to normal at the beginning of the work week. Repairs to County Administration Building have begun after flooding issues. The roof on the northwest corner of building was compromised and water intrusion has affected all floors.
The County landfill at Lena Road is open now and will be open this weekend for residents to dispose of debris. All tipping fees for residents will be waived.
We are answering the call: More than 9,000 calls have come into our enhanced round-the-clock 3-1-1 phone system since Tuesday. Our EMS crews rolling on 189 calls for service yesterday alone! During the month of September, average call volume for a five-day period is roughly 3,000 emergency calls and 3,500 non-emergency calls. Starting Monday at midnight—and continuing through today at noon—we received 4,035 emergency calls and 4,875 non-emergency calls.
School District of Manatee County schools will be closed on Monday, October 3.
We are continuing to update: Keep checking back on our social media channels and at mymanatee.org for more updates.