Live Updates: DeSantis says more temporary fuel sites to open as drivers face gas lines
Speaking at a press conference Saturday at a temporary fuel site at Bennett Park in Bradenton, Gov. Ron DeSantis said more full-service temporary fuel depots would open Sunday as early as 7 a.m. in Port Charlotte and Pinellas, Hillsborough and Sarasota counties.
“We’ve taken on a fuel mission,” DeSantis said Saturday afternoon. “We have the fuel, it’s en route.”
DeSantis said with the influx of tankers being escorted south by Florida Highway Patrol, he believes Manatee County residents will start to see things stabilize soon. Long lines at gas stations were the norm Saturday in Manatee County, with many gas stations lacking power for pumping gas.
“We do have a lot of fuel flowing in the normal private sector. We’re helping with fuel escorts to be able to get those to the gas station as quickly as possible,” DeSantis said. “So, I think you’re going to continue to see improvements with that.”
As electricity restoration efforts continue, DeSantis said that will play a key factor in making gas readily available in Manatee County and other areas impacted by the hurricane.
While DeSantis said there are still 1.4 million people in Florida without power, the governor said that’s a substantial improvement from the 2.6 million initially without power following Milton’s landfall on Wednesday night. DeSantis said at a news conference Friday that many gas stations have fuel but are without power to serve customers.
As of 2:30 p.m. Saturday, about 39%, or about 100,000 customers in Manatee County, remained without power, according to Find Energy. Around 80% of Manatee County was without power Thursday after Milton, the Bradenton Herald previously reported.
Working with officials to reopen SeaPort Manatee following the storm is also a priority for DeSantis, he said, and would help facilitate the distribution of more gasoline throughout the area.
DeSantis also announced the approval of 100% federal reimbursements for debris cleanup for 90 days following the storm. The governor said he hoped this would incentivize local governments to work with debris contractors for rapid debris removal.
“Let’s get this debris moving,” DeSantis said. “If you wait and you take six months, you’re not going to get the reimbursement. So we’re very much urging you to take advantage of that. That is not the norm in these storms to be able to get 100% debris reimbursement for 90 days.”
- Michael Moore
Holmes Beach back open to residents
Holmes Beach reopened to residents and business owners Saturday at 8 a.m.
Holmes Beach Police Department said in a post on social media that you must have a re-entry tag issued by the city or proof of residence showing you live in Holmes Beach to enter. Police said they are not allowing workers at this time and re-entry is meant to allow residents to assess their damages.
Police said as of Saturday, Holmes Beach now has water and sewage up and running. But Holmes Beach, like much of Manatee County, is still without power. Police said they are working with FPL to get all lines clear and are working on getting debris moved and roadways clear.
Holmes Beach is on a boil water advisory until further notice.
Police noted that they had not seen any new storm surge damage on Holmes Beach from Hurricane Milton. “The surge was very minimal here,” Holmes Beach Police Department wrote on social media.
Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth said in a statement that the area “fared much better with Milton than with Helene.”
The city’s storm surge was about 20 inches less than it was for Hurricane Helene, Titsworth said.
The majority of the damage, the mayor said, was to bayside docks, piers, boats and seawalls, as well as wind damage to roofs, facia, soffits, sidings and trees. The remaining debris piles from Helene “are mostly intact,” although there are a lot of trees and debris, making many roads inaccessible. She said there are also downed power and cable lines along many of the streets.
“Although the city suffered significant damage from the hurricane strength winds of Milton, I am thankful we were not subject to the catastrophic storm surge,” Titsworth said. “We will get through this. We are warriors. We are island strong. Stay safe.”
- Michael Moore
Milton damage estimates
Estimates for damages by Hurricane Milton in Manatee County are starting to roll in, and the total is already over $150 million, according to local officials.
With around 45% of initial damage assessments complete, the county says its estimate for residential damages is at $136,569,705, with another $16,347,035 in commercial damages.
County inspections revealed 19 homes that were deemed destroyed, 536 that sustained major damage, 1,112 with minor damage and 2,259 homes affected, according to a news release.
The county also says public works crews have been working to repair traffic lights throughout the county, with 120 operational as of Saturday morning. Of those operational, the county says 25 are in flash mode and 23 are on generator power.
However, another 130 traffic lights are still without power.
- Michael Moore
Temporary fuel sites
As residents scramble to find gas to power their cars and generators, Manatee County announced Saturday that the Florida Division of Emergency Management opened a temporary fuel site at Bennett Park, 400 Cypress Creek Blvd., Bradenton. Fuel supply is limited and there is a limit allowed per vehicle.
Gov. Ron DeSantis also announced the state has set up three fuel distribution sites in Plant City, Bradenton and St. Petersburg that will give 10 gallons per customer for free, according to a post on social media.
Manatee County also set up several distribution sites that will be giving out items such as water, tarps and ready-to-eat meals. Items will vary depending location.
The sites include Blackstone Park, GT Bray Park, Kingfish Boat Ramp, Pride Park and Rocky Bluff Branch Library. For up-to-date information on the sites, visit mymanatee.org/storm and click on the “Distribution Sites” tab.
- Michael Moore
DeSantis speaks in Bradenton
The governor’s office announced around noon Saturday that DeSantis would hold a media availability at 2:15 p.m. at Bennett Park in Bradenton.
DeSantis was joined by Florida Division of Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie and Adjutant General of Florida Maj. Gen. John D. Haas.
On Friday, DeSantis held a news conference in Bradenton Beach amid a backdrop of beach houses devastated by the storm.
- Aaron Leibowitz
FPL power restoration timeline
Power is slowly returning to Manatee and Sarasota counties in southwest Florida, but the electrical grid won’t get to 95 percent restoration until the end of next week, FPL said.
As of 8:30 a.m. Saturday, about 42%, or about 110,000 customers in Manatee County, remained without power, according to Find Energy. That’s a significant decrease from 80% on Thursday, the first day after Hurricane Milton slammed the Gulf Coast Wednesday evening as a Category 3 storm packing 120 mph winds.
More than 105,000 of those affected are customers of Florida Power & Light, the Juno Beach-based utility in Palm Beach County. The remaining are served by Peace River Electric.
In neighboring Sarasota County — where Hurricane Milton made landfall, slamming into Siesta Key, a barrier island off Sarasota — about 30%, or about 90,000 FPL customers, are without power, a slight decrease from Friday’s 46%.
FPL says it aims to restore 95% of power to Manatee and Sarasota counties by Thursday, Oct. 17. The utility did not indicate when the remaining 5 percent in the two counties would have their power restored.
- Milena Malaver
Mobile food bank continues
With over 100,000 people in Manatee County still in the dark after Hurricane Milton, Feeding Tampa Bay will be back in the area on Saturday to help bring food to residents.
The food bank will serve ready-to-eat meals and water from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m. at the Palmetto Boys and Girls Club at 1600 10th St. W.
The Hope Bus will also be at New College, 5845 General Dougher Place in Sarasota, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. to provide essential supplies to those impacted by Hurricane Milton.
The Hope Bus is a service of Hope Florida, an organization that combines non-profit, government and faith-based groups. Hope Navigators and volunteers are on-site after storms to distribute needed supplies such as food, water, baby supplies, cleaning supplies and offer other services.
- Michael Moore
This story was originally published October 12, 2024 at 10:36 AM.