Hurricane Irma: What Manatee County Wants You To Know

BRADENTON, FL — As powerful Category 5 Hurricane Irma continues on a path that may result in a collision with Florida, Manatee County emergency managers are urging residents to prepare. The county had not issued any evacuation orders or opened shelters as of Wednesday morning, but was bracing for the storm’s impacts.

As of the National Hurricane Center’s 8 a.m. Sept. 6 update, Irma was located 15 miles west of St. Martin and was moving west-northwest at 16 mph. The storm was packing maximum sustained winds of 185 mph with a projected path that could bring her to Florida by early next week. (For more hurricane news or local news from Florida, click here to sign up for real-time news alerts and newsletters from Bradenton Patch, and click here to find your local Florida Patch. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

“People should have their essential items prepared,” Nicholas Azzara, county spokesman, told Patch Wednesday morning. That means non-perishable food, water, important papers and any special items for pets, elderly people and children.

Watch: Florida Residents Prepare For Hurricane Irma

“A quick tip, fill containers two-thirds full of water and place them in your freezer now,” Azzara said. “They will help keep food cold and provide drinking water should you lose power.”

Even though Manatee County hasn’t issued evacuation orders, Azzara said residents should know their zones.

“If you live in an area that is not in an evacuation zone and you are in a well-built structure, prepare to ride the storm out at home,” he said. “Getting on the roads will only add to the traffic, and it will take you that much longer to get home after the fact.”

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With Manatee County already waterlogged courtesy of more than 10 inches of rain over the past week, Azzara said flooding is a concern as Irma approaches.

“Watch for flooded areas,” he said. “Even if the storm recurves and impacts the east coast of Florida,” Manatee County is already drenched. “It will not take much rain for impacted areas to flood again.”

Motorists are also advised to avoid areas of standing water. “Turn around, don’t drown,” Azzara said.

Other advice offered for Manatee County residents include:

• Get prescription medications filled in advance in case pharmacies close or lose power
• Take photos of belongings inside and outside homes in case insurance claims have to be filed after the storm
• Scan and back up important documents, such as birth certificates, insurance policies and tax records
• Make sure vehicles are road ready, which includes filling up, making sure jumper cables are stowed onboard and having an emergency kit with snacks and water inside
• Have a plan on where to go in case evacuations are ordered

Manatee County has opened its sandbag locations to help residents prepare for the storm. Residents may also sign up for CodeRED weather warnings and other emergency information from the county. Manatee County updated its evacuation zone maps earlier this year. The new maps are available for viewing on the county’s website. Residents and business owners are urged to check them out as they prepare for Irma’s potential impacts.

One last bit of advice from Azzara: “Carefully monitor the progress of Hurricane Irma,” he said. “Conditions may change rapidly.”

Graphic courtesy of the National Hurricane Center