Hurricane Milton live updates: Manatee County Schools set to reopen Tuesday
Here’s what to know about Hurricane Milton recovery efforts in Manatee County on Monday. This live updates report will be updated throughout the day.
Manatee County Schools set to reopen
The Manatee County School District announced that schools will reopen Tuesday after closing for Hurricane Milton.
As of Monday afternoon, all of the district’s 51 schools have power.
“It is our hope that a return to school can provide a sense of normalcy for your students and families and that this can be a significant step on the road to recovery,” the district said in a statement Monday evening.
District officials said parents should expect school bus delays and unexpected power outages. They also asked parents to check for debris on the roads to school and to use caution around school buses.
— Victoria Villanueva-Marquez
DeSantis gives SeaPort Manatee $9.5 million; port critical to gas supply
Gov. Ron DeSantis presented a $9.5 million check Monday afternoon for SeaPort Manatee to bounce back from “catastrophic” damage sustained from Hurricane Milton.
During a press conference at the port on the east side of Tampa Bay near Manatee County’s northern border, DeSantis highlighted the importance of getting the port back on its feet as quickly as possible. Milton destroyed 10 warehouses, damaged three berth canals and will require shipping lanes to be re-dredged, he said.
The port, which is a major supplier of fuel to many Southwest Florida gas station chains, suffered “catastrophic” damage, Manatee County Commissioner Kevin Van Ostenbridge, who also serves as the chairman of the Manatee County Port Authority, said Monday.
MORE: DeSantis gives $9.5 million to port after Milton damage, big gas supplier for SW Florida
— Ryan Callihan
Disaster recovery
A FEMA Disaster Recovery Center opens Monday at the G.T. Bray Park gym, 5502 33rd Ave. Dr., Bradenton, between 1 p.m. and 7 p.m., according to a Manatee County government post on X. The location at Lakewood Ranch Library is no longer open.
The FEMA Disaster Recovery Center is where residents can ask questions and get referrals.
The county also posted that FEMA officials are in the area to survey Hurricane Milton’s impact. The county added to beware of scams as FEMA officials and crews carry official ID and do not ask for banking information or charge for assistance.
State opens new Bradenton sites with free gas
As of Monday, Florida officials have opened two new Bradenton area sites offering 10 gallons of free gasoline per vehicle:
- Tropicana Rail Yard, 1706 Ninth St. E., Bradenton. Open 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Bradenton Motorsports Park, 21000 E. S.R. 64. Open 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.
The previous sites at Tom Bennett Park and New College are no longer offering gas.
Gas stations are also starting to come back online in the Bradenton area as power and fuel supplies are restored. The free GasBuddy app and website allow users to find nearby stations that are fueled up and ready to serve.
Free meals
▪ The Salvation Army will bring a food truck to Longboat Key, the town said in a Facebook post. Volunteers will serve free meals from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Bayfront Park, 4052 Gulf of Mexico Dr.
▪ Volunteers from Louisiana are serving meals on Holmes Beach, a city impacted by Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton in the last few weeks, according to a City of Holmes Beach social media post. The meals begin at 5 p.m. for dinner service and are located at 5414 Marina Drive, near the Sun and Surf Beach Shop.
Governor at the port
Gov. Ron DeSantis announced he’ll speak at SeaPort Manatee on Monday afternoon.
The port, located on the east side of Tampa Bay, started sending tankers full of fuel from its terminals Sunday morning, according to a news release.
Power outage update
As of 10 a.m. Monday, about 13% of customers, or 33,126 customers, were still without power in Manatee County, according to Find Energy. That’s a decrease from Sunday, when 22 percent of the county’s electrical customers, or 56,500, were without power.
Of those without power, 32,870 are serviced by FPL while 256 are serviced by Peace River Electric, according to Find Energy.
MORE: About 30,000 in Manatee and Sarasota counties still without power post-Milton
Food bank in Manatee
Feeding Tampa Bay is returning to Manatee County on Monday to offer more assistance in the wake of Hurricane Milton’s devastation.
The food bank is supplying ready-to-eat meals and water from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Bayside Community Church, 15800 State Road 64, Bradenton. They are also distributing food in Hillsborough, Pinellas, Pasco and Polk counties.
- Jason Dill
This story was originally published October 14, 2024 at 10:35 AM.