Isaac: SCAT Buses Offers Evacuation Shuttles

is offering free emergency evacuation bus service hourly at all SCAT bus stops in the county in preparation for Tropical Storm Isaac.

Passengers will be transferred to school buses at the SCAT transfer stations and then transported to shelters. The free service will be provided until 6 p.m. Sunday.

There will be no regular SCAT service on Monday, according to Sarasota County Government.

An emergency shelter is now open at , 3636 S. Shade Ave. in Sarasota. The shelter is pet-friendly. Two other shelters are open in North Port at Heron Creek Middle School, 6501 W. Price Blvd., and Woodland Middle School, 2700 Panacea Blvd.

So far, only voluntary and recommended evacuations are in place. 

County emergency officials are recommending voluntary evacuations for residents living near rivers or low lying areas, at Manasota Key and mobile home residents.

Bridge closures are not anticipated for Sarasota or Siesta Key yet, but the following bridges in south county are expected to be locked today by the U.S. Coast Guard: 

• Blackburn Point swing bridge (Casey Key)
• Manasota Key drawbridge (Englewood)
• Venice Avenue drawbridge (Venice)
• Albee Road drawbridge (Nokomis)

Those bridges are closed to vessel traffic, but not to vehicular traffic, according to the county. Barges and ferries are still running to the bridgeless islands in the Englewood area.