Evacuation Orders For Manatee County Ahead Of Hurricane Ian

Updated: 9:55 p.m., Monday

MANATEE COUNTY, FL — A mandatory evacuation order for Zone A and a voluntary Zone B evacuation has been issued for Manatee County ahead of Hurricane Ian, and goes into effect Tuesday at 8 a.m., the county said.

The following Manatee County public schools will serve as evacuation shelters:

• Nolan Middle School (Special Needs)
• Braden River High School (Pet Friendly)
• Manatee High School (Pet Friendly)
• Mills Elementary School (Pet Friendly)
• Bayshore Elementary School
• Freedom Elementary School
• Gullett Elementary School
• Harvey Elementary School
• Lee Middle School
• Myakka Elementary School
• Miller Elementary School
• McNeal Elementary School
• Rogers Gardens Elementary School
• Williams Elementary School
• Willis Elementary School

"We’re expecting sustained tropical or hurricane winds to our barrier islands and coastal communities for as long as 48 hours, with the earliest arrival predicted for 8 p.m. Tuesday,” Scott Hopes, county administrator, said. “This is a worst-case scenario with a very strong slow-moving storm just to the west of us.”

Manatee County’s Emergency Operations Center will also move to a Level One activation at that time.

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• How To Prepare Your Home, Family For Tropical Storm Ian

County Closures

The approach of the storm will change county operations beginning Tuesday.

At the close of business Monday, Manatee County Parks and Preserves will be closed until further notice.

Manatee County Public Libraries and Manatee County Animal Welfare facilities will be closed Tuesday, until further notice.

Building and construction inspection services will be suspended Tuesday, until further notice, as well.

Normal operations and duties will be suspended for county employees to be reassigned during the emergency.

Manatee County Public Schools will also close Tuesday as the district opens evacuation shelters for the public.

Sandbags

Manatee County Public Works and Property Management Departments will provide sandbags (limit 10 per household) at numerous locations around Manatee County.

Each site will be open at 8 a.m. and will continue to operate as long as the weather permits.

Residents should plan to show an ID or Manatee County Utilities Department water bill indicating they are a resident of Manatee County.

Visit mymanatee.org/sandbags for more information.

Transit

All Manatee County Area Transit (MCAT) fixed-route bus and trolley service will be suspended Tuesday afternoon, once winds reach tropical-storm force, the county said.

MCAT Handy Bus service on Monday and Tuesday will be restricted to riders traveling to and from dialysis and chemotherapy appointments only.

Recycling, Trash

The Lena Road Landfill will be open extended hours until 6 p.m. on both Monday and Tuesday to accommodate the haulers and any residents who want to dispose of refuse there.

If any materials are not collected by sunset on Tuesday, residents should remove them from the curb so they don’t become projectiles during the storm.

Due to the probability of tropical-force winds on Wednesday, there will be no yard waste or recycling collection that day.

Citizen’s Information Center (311)

Manatee County’s 311 call center will be open and fully staffed 24/7 beginning Tuesday at 8 a.m. to field calls from the public about sandbag locations, storm preparedness and more.