Hurricane Ian In Sarasota: Evacuation Centers, Closures, Sandbags

Updated: 10:05 p.m., Monday

SARASOTA COUNTY, FL — As Hurricane Ian makes its way toward Florida, Sarasota County government is calling for the evacuation of Level A zones, which includes barrier islands, mobile homes and those living on vessels, according to a news release from the county.

County water services to the barrier islands will be shut off Tuesday between 5 to 7 p.m.

General population evacuation centers will open Tuesday at noon.

Tropical storm conditions will impact West Central Florida starting late Tuesday, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s National Hurricane Center’s 11 a.m. update on Ian.

Hurricane-force winds will be possible in the hurricane watch area — which consists of most of the Tampa Bay area, including Sarasota and Manatee counties — starting Wednesday morning, the agency said.

Here’s everything you need to know about closures, prepping for the storm and how services are being impacted in the Sarasota area.

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Heavy rain is expected to fall across the Florida Keys and South Florida starting Tuesday and should spread to central and northern Florida Wednesday and Thursday, NHC said.

Here’s everything you should know to be prepared in Sarasota County.

Evacuation Shelters

The following public schools are serving as Hurricane Evacuation Centers in Sarasota County:

• Atwater Elementary School, 4701 Huntsville Ave., North Port
• Booker High School, 3201 N Orange Ave., Sarasota
• Brookside Middle School, 3636 S Shade Ave., Sarasota
• Fruitville Elementary School, 601 Honore Ave., Sarasota
• Gulf Gate Elementary School, 6500 S Lockwood Ridge Road, Sarasota
• Heron Creek Middle School, 6501 W Price Blvd., North Port
• North Port High School, 6400 W Price Blvd., North Port
• Phillippi Shores Elementary School, 4747 S Tamiami Trail, Sarasota
• Riverview High School, 1 Ram Way, Sarasota
• Southside Elementary School,1901 Webber Street, Sarasota
• Taylor Ranch Elementary School, 2500 Taylor Ranch Trail, Venice
• Woodland Middle School, 2700 Panacea Blvd., North Port

While there are no evacuations issued at this time, the county is expecting to announce an evacuation alert Tuesday morning for Level A, according to a news release.

“As we continue monitoring Hurricane Ian’s track and potential impacts, residents are encouraged to review their emergency plans and prepare their go-kits,” Jonathan Lewis, Sarasota county administrator, said.

Find your evacuation zone here.

Closures

Sarasota County Schools will close Tuesday to allow for time to prepare schools serving as emergency evacuation centers, according to a news release from the district.

“As the storm approaches, we are here to serve our community with our schools and personnel to provide sheltering. We will continue to communicate updates with employees and families throughout the storm as information becomes available,” said Dr. Brennan Asplen, superintendent.

The following libraries closed Monday at 1 p.m., the county said:

• Elsie Quirk Public Library
• William H. Jervey, Jr. Venice Public Library
• Fruitville Public Library
• Shannon Staub Public Library
• Osprey Public Library

The following libraries will close Monday at 5 p.m.:

• Selby Public Library
• Gulf Gate Public Library
• Betty J. Johnson North Sarasota Public Library
• North Port Public Library

Sarasota County Schools will be closed Tuesday and will potentially remain closed through Thursday.

Regular county operations are closed Tuesday and Wednesday.

County Residential Trash, Recycling Pick-Up

All scheduled Monday pick-ups will take place as planned, the county said.

All solid waste collection services have been canceled for Wednesday and Thursday. The central county landfill will also be closed those days.

Transit

County transit will offer of fare-free services on Tuesday.

Sandbags

Sandbags are available Tuesday through noon at the following locations:

• Ed Smith Stadium, 2700 12th Street, Sarasota
• Twin Lakes Park, 6700 Clark Road, Sarasota
• South County Fleet, 4571 FL-776, Venice (enter from 4000 South Tamiami Trail)

The limit is 10 bags per vehicle. Sandbags and shovels are provided.

Other sandbag locations can be found here:

• Town of Longboat Key sandbag operations
• City of Venice sandbag operations
• City of North Port sandbag operations
• Manatee County sandbag operations
• Charlotte County sandbag operations