Manatee County encourages coastal residents to evacuate as Tropical Storm Debby nears
Manatee County is encouraging those in Coastal Level A to evacuate as Tropical Storm Debby approaches the Bradenton area.
Tropical Storm Debby, which formed in the Gulf of Mexico around 5 p.m. Saturday, is expected to bring heavy rain and wind gusts to the Bradenton area over the weekend. Manatee County Emergency Management announced Saturday afternoon that those along the coast are encouraged to evacuate.
The National Hurricane Center’s 8 p.m. Saturday advisory shows Manatee County outside the cone of uncertainty, with Debby expected to make landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region Monday around 2 p.m.
“Tropical Depression Four could impact our coastal communities,” said Jodie Fiske, Manatee County’s director of Public Safety. “We are opening an additional shelter for those residents and visitors in Coastal Level A.”
The encouraged evacuations in Zone A are not mandatory.
Emergency management officials announced Miller Elementary School, 601 43rd St. W., Bradenton, would open at 5 p.m. Saturday for those who wish to evacuate from Coastal Level A.
At noon on Saturday, a shelter opened at Nolan Middle School, 6615 Greenbrook Blvd., Bradenton, for those looking to escape flood-prone areas.
Manatee County encourages coastal evacuation
You can determine your evacuation level by visiting MyManatee.org/storm.
Evacuation levels are classified using letters A through E, with Level A being the most vulnerable to storm surge and the first level ordered to evacuate, with Level E being the least vulnerable and the last that would be ordered to evacuate.
Level A areas are along the waters of the Gulf, local bays, Manatee River, Braden River to near Lake Manatee, which includes all of Anna Maria Island, Cortez, Perico, Port Manatee and more.
Evacuation orders are issued depending on expected storm surge:
- Level A - 11 feet
- Level B - 14 feet
- Level C - 18 feet
- Level D - 27 feet
- Level E - 33 feet
Manatee County remains under a Tropical Storm Warning, meaning that tropical storm conditions are likely within the next 36 hours. The county is also under a Storm Surge Warning, with a peak storm surge of up to 4 feet expected along the coast.
Tropical Storm Debby is expected to continue strengthening in the Gulf before making landfall in Florida’s Big Bend region as a hurricane around 2 p.m. Monday.
This story was originally published August 3, 2024 at 5:13 PM.
