Manatee County reports major damage on Anna Maria Island to Helene

Annie’s Bait & Tackle owner Bruce Shear found his ice machine across the street from his store in Cortez Village on Friday as he and many Manatee County residents worked to recover from Hurricane Helene.

Shear is one of many Manatee County business owners and residents cleaning up the ruins of their livelihoods and homes in the Village of Cortez following Hurricane Helene. He estimates his decades-old business and his nearby home were under five feet of water. The bait shop has been in business in Manatee since 1955 and has been owned by Shear for about 29 years.

“It was a huge storm, that’s all,” Shear said. “It flooded everything. (expletive) happened. We’ll start with that tomorrow. My house was under about three feet of water – that’s more important.”

Manatee County reported Friday morning that emergency dispatchers responded to more than 1,000 emergency calls to 911 and 400 911 calls. First responders rescued and evacuated more than 300 residents and tourists in places like Anna Maria Island, Palmetto and unincorporated Manatee. The district has also received 4,200 calls to the 311 information hotline since Helene began.

Massive hurricane damage on Anna Maria Island, sea turtle nests destroyed

Authorities believe Anna Maria Island bore the brunt of damage in the county and may remain closed to non-residents throughout the weekend.

“Beaches were dramatically affected by unprecedented storm surges of 5 to 7 feet along the coast,” said Mike Rahn, chairman of the Manatee County Commission.

“Gulf Drive is closed, it’s impassable,” he said. “The islands remain closed. So if you don’t live there and try to get to the island you won’t be allowed in. There is also a sunset-to-sunrise curfew on the islands.”

District 3 Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge said nearly every ground-level home and business on AMI was flooded and Gulf Drive was underfoot with sand. Florida Department of Transportation crews are working to clear debris from the roads.

“There were waves rolling over Gulf Drive, so there is several feet of sand on Gulf Drive,” Van Ostenbridge said. “The DOT is out there with heavy equipment right now cleaning up Gulf Drive.”

“There are thousands of homes that have water in them, there are thousands of cars that have been destroyed by rainwater, and nationwide you’re seeing thousands of homes with flood damage,” he said. “Almost 100% of residential buildings on Anna Maria Island had water on the ground floor. Some were elevated and others only had a stairwell, but essentially every house has or had water on the ground floor.”

Anna Maria Island Turtle Watch director Kristen Mazzarella told the Herald-Tribune that wildlife on the island also suffered losses. She said a record number of sea turtle nests constructed on AMI this year were destroyed, first destroyed by Hurricane Debby and then by Helene.

After Hurricane Debby lost about 200 turtle nests, there were eight nests left on the beach before Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc on Thursday, according to Mazzarella. Mazzarella believes these nests have most likely disappeared.

“It’s not a great way to end the season,” Mazzarrella said.

Storm surge contaminates Bradenton’s drinking water system, residents urged to conserve

The city of Bradenton has reported that the storm surge has contaminated the city’s water supply with salt water, but it remains safe for consumption.

Manatee County assisted Bradenton with temporary repairs to the system that connects the city to the county’s drinking water infrastructure. Bradenton Mayor Gene Brown said water remains drinkable, although it may taste a little strange until the problems are resolved. The city is asking residents to conserve water in the meantime.

“The water is drinkable; it may taste or smell a little bit, but we will have access to water,” Brown said.

“One of the things we’re going to ask you to do in the city of Bradenton is to conserve water, take shorter showers, brush your teeth a little quicker and make sure you turn off the water,” he said. “We will know in the next 24 or 48 hours how long this will take, but the water is safe to drink.”

Brown said the city will not have to dispose of wastewater during Helene. As a result of Hurricane Debby, the city discharged approximately 79.8 million gallons of wastewater or partially treated wastewater.

Residents are urged to exercise caution during the clean-up work in Helene

Some Manatee County residents braved street flooding Friday morning to reach their flooded homes, including neighborhoods on Cortez Road like one that was flooded at the 115th Street W. intersection.

Officials are warning residents to exercise caution during cleanup efforts as the risk of injury or death remains high following the storm.

“Most of the injuries and casualties occur after the storm,” said Emergency Management Director Matt Meyers. “That’s why we want everyone to be as careful as possible. Do not go into flooded waters. When cleaning up, be careful with dirt, sharp objects, and items near your home.”

Anna Maria City Mayor Dan Murphy said he is ready to see residents return as soon as Holmes Beach and Bradenton Beach authorities open the bridges to the island. He warned residents to prepare for what awaits them upon their return to the island. He said most of the city’s beach streets became heavily sandy and beaches were severely eroded, but crews cleared Pine Avenue, Gulf Drive and South Bay Boulevard.

“It won’t be the same as what you left behind,” Murphy said. “Be prepared for a shock when you come back, this is the worst (storm) we’ve ever had.”

Manatee County reports major damage on Anna Maria Island to Helene

ByJasper

Massive hurricane damage on Anna Maria Island, sea turtle nests destroyed

Storm surge contaminates Bradenton’s drinking water system, residents urged to conserve

Residents are urged to exercise caution during the clean-up work in Helene

By Jasper

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