County Safety Status

As we continue to assess damage from Hurricane Ian throughout the county, not all areas are safe for reentry. 

A map has been made available showing what areas of the county are in the various stages of safety for reentry. It shows only major traffic arteries.

Sarasota County is using a red, yellow and green level system to inform about the risks associated with leaving where they have sheltered. Click here for an interactive map.

• Red It is unsafe and emergency services may not be available. There is extensive damage limiting travel, and access is limited to residents and business owners.
• Yellow Power is out and trees and power lines are down. Traffic lights may be out and there is potential damage to drinking and wastewater. Safety precautions are required, and travel should be limited to essential needs. 
• Green There are no limiting factors, and it is safe for the general public. 

The county’s Tactical First-In Teams spent Thursday assessing the emergency routes for our first responders. Many roads throughout the county remain impassable, so use extreme caution if you must travel. In addition to those teams, authorized county staff are conducting damage assessments. Our teams are evaluating our county infrastructure including water and wastewater systems.

Evacuation Centers 

Due to rising waters and road closures in the southern portion of the county, the school district is in the process of transporting evacuees in the south county evacuation centers to Philippi Shores Elementary for a more stable environment.

The Philippi Shores evacuation center is available to those who arrive back to homes that are uninhabitable, and who have no other safe options.

If your home has become uninhabitable or unsafe due to damage from Hurricane Ian, don't call 911 for transportation to a shelter. The staff at 311 has information on resources, including transportation to shelters, available to you. 

After assessing public schools and facilities for damage, Sarasota County Schools will remain closed until further notice. Schools will reopen once the district can ensure the safety and wellbeing of all students and school employees. School officials are working diligently to assess the conditions to provide a more exact timeframe. Similar to the devastation in areas of Sarasota County, there has been damage to many school structures as well as massive power outages, down power lines, flooding, cellular and cable outages, and basic water and plumbing issues. Visit www.sarasotacountyschools.net/hurricane for the latest. 

Sarasota County teams are assessing the county's water and wastewater systems. Crews are assessing and stabilizing the system on the mainland. Once that is completed, restoration can begin on the barrier islands. For those who have water, please limit use and know that water pressure will be lower than normal.

One-third of lift stations are without power.

• Waste Management will resume regularly scheduled collection services for residential garbage and yard waste on Monday, Oct. 3. Recycling collection has been suspended until further notice. 
• Regular garbage and yard waste should be placed away from large storm debris so that it is easily identifiable and accessible for collection. 
• Please double bag spoiled food before placing in the garbage. 
• Yard waste (small branches, leaves, moss, etc.) may be placed in containers, in bags or bundled and placed at the curb for pickup. 
• Items that are bundled or in containers should not exceed 4 feet in length and items that are in bags, containers or bundles should not exceed 40 pounds. This applies to both garbage and yard waste. 
• There will be an increase in the amount of trash and yard waste placed curbside over the upcoming weeks. All items placed curbside must be properly prepared. 

Central County Landfill

• The Central County Landfill will open to all customers on Saturday, Oct. 1 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. (hand unloads must arrive at least 30 minutes prior to closing).
• Only garbage and yard waste will be accepted. Standard disposal fees apply.
• Please note that construction and demolition (C&D) debris will not be accepted due to current roadway conditions.
• The Central County Landfill will reopen with regular business hours beginning on Monday, Oct. 3.
• All waste streams will be accepted. Standard disposal fees apply.
• Hours of operation are Monday-Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturdays 8 a.m. tp 2 p.m. (hand loads must arrive at least 30 minutes prior to closing). 

Chemical Collection Centers

• The Citizens' Convenience Center will reopen on Saturday, Oct. 1.
• The Bee Ridge Chemical Collection Center and The Re-Uz-It Shop will be closed through Sunday, Oct. 2.
• The Jackson Road Chemical Collection Center will be closed indefinitely due to storm damage.

Debris Collection

• Debris collection plans are being finalized and will be communicated to the public soon. Materials will need to be separated by category:
• Garbage (place spoiled food in containers, or double bag it for pick-up).
• Household goods (furniture, clothes, books, toys and carpet, vinyl fencing).
• Vegetative (tree limbs and trunks).
• Construction materials (drywall, roof shingles, aluminum and wood fencing).
• Appliances (refrigerators, water heaters, etc.).
• Avoid stacking debris:
• By utility poles.
• Under power lines.
• On top of water meters or other water connections.
• By fire hydrants.
• By vehicles.
• Next to mailboxes or fences.
• On storm drains.
• In the street.

Florida Power and Light customers can visit fplmaps.com to check reported power outages. To report a power outage, visit FPL.com or call 800-4-OUTAGE (468-8243).

Around the Area

Sarasota County Government

• Sarasota County libraries remain closed. Facility assessments are ongoing. 
• Parks and facilities reservations including the Turtle Beach Campground are canceled until further assessments can be made next week. 
• A public budget hearing will be held Monday, Oct. 3, at 5:30 p.m. at 1660 Ringling Blvd.

Town of Longboat Key 

• Water service has been restored. Residents may be experiencing lower than normal pressure as the town and Manatee County continue to work on restoring the system. There is a precautionary boil water advisory for Longboat Key. This boil water advisory will remain in effect until laboratory tests reflect satisfactory samples. 
• Public Works may not be available to respond to individual calls for service as they are working to restore critical infrastructure that serves the entire island. 
• Power restoration may take time. FPL is aware of the widespread outages on the island and are working to prioritize critical infrastructure and then residential service. 
• The town is working to maintain the restored wastewater collection system on the island as it is dependent on power. Public Works is currently using generators to manage system areas. Individual property owners may experience sewer back-ups until all power is restored so please try to minimize showers and toilet flushing to the extent possible. 
• Collection of regular garbage and recycling will resume its normal schedule on Monday, Oct. 3. Spoiled food should be double-bagged before being placed in the garbage. 
• The town's debris collection by the debris removal contractor should begin next week. Additional details will be published as soon as available. 
• During this time, residents and business owners should be placing all debris in separate piles at the curb/edge of the roadway. Vegetative debris piles must be separate from all other debris piles to be collected. Bundling or tying of vegetation is not required. This debris collection effort will occur separately from regular Waste Management collection. 

City of North Port

• All city offices are closed Friday, Sept. 30. Visit NorthPortFL.gov for info and alerts. 
• All city residents should be boiling water before drinking due to an ongoing precautionary boil water advisory. 
• A curfew is in effect from 8 p.m. until 6 a.m. The only exception is working commutes.
• Many roads are flooded and impassible. Turn around, don’t drown. Avoid standing water.

City of Sarasota

• Normal city operations will resume Monday, Oct. 3. The city commission meeting will be at 9 a.m. Monday.
• Regular garbage/recycling/yard waste pickup resumes Monday. Until the city's storm debris contractors start collecting, the city will pick up yard waste placed in bags or containers as part of regular waste collection. Unbagged storm debris should be placed curbside for collection in the near future by the contractor. Please be patient. 
• Six signalized traffic intersections are not functioning. Please approach these intersections with caution and treat them as a four-way stop. 
• The boil water notice issued for the barrier islands Thursday will most likely be extended to Sunday. 

City of Venice

• The city is working with a contractor to have residential debris picked up as early as Wednesday, Oct. 5. Residents should separate vegetation from all other material groups and vegetation should not be bagged. Piles should be placed 5 feet from your mailbox. 
• Pickup of city trash and recycling carts is set to resume Monday, Oct. 3, with residents' normal collection schedule. Public Works crews are currently assessing the city's pickup zones to make sure our trucks and staff can get in and out of neighborhoods safely. Carts can be placed at the curb separated from debris piles.
• The city’s utilities department has restored potable water service to the island of Venice. Island residents are required to boil water, or use bottled water, for consumption purposes (drinking, cooking, brushing teeth) until the boil water advisory has been rescinded. Residents will be notified via the Alert Sarasota County phone notification system. Utilities customers are encouraged to continue to conserve water if possible. 

Hospitals

• Sarasota Memorial Hospital Urgent Care Centers at Heritage Harbour, University Parkway, Bee Ridge and Venice are open. 
• North Port ER and Health Care Center is unable to see patients due to roof damage.
• If you are experiencing chest pain, shortness of breath, or other life-threatening injury or illness, call 911 or head straight to the emergency room. For minor to moderate medical events, including lacerations and broken bones, urgent care centers provide shorter wait times, lower costs and faster care than an ER. Sarasota Memorial's urgent care centers also have on-site imaging (X-ray) and lab testing. For more information, click here.  

Sarasota County Clerk and Comptroller

At this time, offices will be open on Monday, Oct. 3. 

Sarasota County Property Appraiser

Closed Friday, Sept. 30.

Sarasota/Bradenton International Airport

The airport team is working thoroughly to assess damages and make the appropriate repairs. Check directly with your airline regarding flight information.

Tax Collector

Closed through Friday, Sept. 30. Services remain available via https://www.scgov.net/government/elected-officials/sarasota-county-tax-collector. 

In efforts to assist the community during this time of recovery, Sarasota County Planning and Development Services will be implementing emergency building permitting procedures. These procedures are expected expedite the permitting process to help residents make needed repairs their homes caused by the storm. More information on these procedures will be provided as it becomes available.

Comcast has expanded its access of Xfinity hot spots to customers and non-customers. For a map of the hotspots, which are located both indoors and outdoors, visit Xfinity.com/wifi. 

SCAT resources are being prioritized for the emergency transport of evacuees and those travelling for critical medical purposes. 

County transit buses, SCATPlus, OnDemand and the Siesta Key Breeze Trolley will not be in service Friday, Sept. 30. 

Homeowners and renters affected by impacts of Hurricane Ian can apply for FEMA disaster assistance by visiting disasterassistance.gov or by calling 800-621-3362 7 a.m. to 11 p.m. When applying prepare images of damages, banking information for direct deposit and any relevant insurance policy information.

Volunteer: We are working diligently to organize resources and connect those in need with those who can help coordinate volunteer efforts, bridge communications across the region and leverage relationships to ensure our neighbors across the Suncoast have the support they need to recover.

Visit our Disaster Recovery page and follow us on social media for the most up-to-date information and links to a variety of resources,

If you're over 18 years of age and want to volunteer with Sarasota County after an emergency, complete this form to help us match you with those opportunities. Learn more at scgov.net.

Funding: If you would like to make a donation that helps those across our region, we encourage you to donate to the United Way Suncoast Disaster Recovery Fund or text DISASTER to 844-701-5181.

In-Kind: To ensure in-kind donations such as food, water and household donations are deployed to the community as quickly as possible, we encourage you to contact Feeding Tampa Bay, All Faiths Food Bank, Meals on Wheels PLUS of Manatee County or other local food banks. We're still gathering information from our nonprofit partners, but we know Habitat for Hillsborough seeks tarps and fasteners, and Habitat for DeSoto welcomes all donations.