Hurricane Ian: Manatee County Lifts Evacuations; 97K Without Power

BRADENTON, FL — Manatee County lifted evacuation orders for residents of Bradenton and surrounding communities Thursday as Hurricane Ian moved out of Florida and was downgraded to a tropical storm.

According to a Thursday update from Manatee County, emergency evacuation shelters are being closed and residents are returning to their homes. However, officials stressed that "it is not a return to normal."

"This is not an all-clear," Manatee County Administrator Scott Hopes said in a statement. "There are still hazards out there. And you need to understand the danger."

• Stay up-to-date by viewing all Hurricane Ian coverage on Patch here.

Ian slammed into southwest Florida on Wednesday as a Category 4 hurricane packing 150 mph winds, tying it as the fifth-strongest hurricane, when measured by wind speed, ever to strike the United States, according to The Associated Press.

Ian’s center came ashore more than 100 miles south of St. Petersburg and Tampa, sparing the densely populated area from its first direct hit by a major hurricane since 1921.

Ian was downgraded to a tropical storm Thursday. As of 8 a.m., the storm was 40 miles southeast of Orlando with top winds of 65 mph, down from its 155 mph on Wednesday. It was moving northeast at 8 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Authorities have confirmed at least one death, a 72-year-old man in Deltona who fell into a canal while using a hose to drain his pool in the heavy rain, the Volusia County Sheriff’s Office told The AP.

More than 97,200 people — or 49 percent of residents and businesses — remain without power in Manatee County, according to Florida Power & Light's outage tracker.

More than 5,000 people hunkered down in Manatee County shelters during the storm, according to county officials. About half arrived in the final three hours before the facilities were locked down, officials said.

Outside shelters, Manatee County officials fielded widespread reports of fallen trees, scattered limbs and snapped power wires across the region, according to a Thursday update. Power crews were deployed to the area; however, residents should be alert for debris and downed lines.

Utility crews on Wednesday mobilized to help restore wastewater service after Bradenton residents were warned that the city’s wastewater treatment plant was full and "in danger of overflowing," according to a Wednesday morning Facebook post by the city.

Residents were asked to conserve water. "Don’t do dishes or laundry, flush only when necessary, limit showering," the city said.

Meanwhile, county officials said the risk of flooding is high and will remain so throughout the end of the week.

"Motorists are reminded to not drive through water of unknown depth," county officials said in Thursday's update. "If you can’t see the road striping under the water, turn around. Don’t drown."

County Closures

The approach of the storm changed county operations beginning Tuesday.

At the close of business Monday, Manatee County Parks and Preserves closed until further notice.
Manatee County Public Libraries and Manatee County Animal Welfare facilities 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 also closed Tuesday as the district opened evacuation shelters for the public.