Update: Sarasota County Declares State Of Emergency

Sarasota County commissioners approved a state of emergency today in response to Tropical Storm Debby's threat to reach landfall.

The Sarasota County Emergency Operations Center is activated at a Level 3 status, according to the center's website. Level 2 is considered a monitoring phase where state agencies and emergency support functions will be notified to take action, and the state emergency operation center will be staffed with state warning point communicators and Division of Emergency Management staff.

The county says the declaration allows Sarasota County to be prepared for any unforeseen expenses due to Debby and to utilize the county's emergency operations plans.

Debby is expected to dump about two inches of rain on Sarasota when she reaches land again tonight, said Ed McCrane, emergency operations chief of Sarasota County. 

"Once the storm is on land we should see minimal effects down here," he said.

Debby has already caused damage, flooding and road closures throughout the county, and is affecting county-owned properties as well, McCrane said.

Canals and drainage overflows are causes issues, staff is monitoring the river levels and Celery Fields, McCrane said. Six lift stations are without power, eleven are in high water and crews are manually removing excessive storwater and trucking it to other systems, McCrane said.

Here is a run-down of county-owned property damages:

• Water leak at 2071 Ringling Blvd, 4th Floor

• Terrace Building, roof leak

• Colonial Oaks, roof leak

• Knights Trail Gun Range, roof leak

• County Administration Building, 1660 Ringling Blvd, roof leaking on 5th and 6th floos and on 1st floor

• Newtown Estates gym, roof leak

• Fire Stations 5 and 15, roof leak

• Jail, roof leak

• Health Department, roof leak

• Twin Lakes Green Building, roof leak

• Criminal Justice Center, roof leak and 4th floor leak

• Courthouse, 3rd floor leak

• Longwood gym, roof leak

The Woodmere Gym, Venice Community Center, Shamrock Nature Center and North Port Library also suffered roof leaks.

Some privately-owned properties that suffered flood damage include:

• 330 Island Circle

• 427 S. Shore Drive

• 1639 S. Orange Ave.

• 763 Siesta Drive

Damage assessments were conducted on Casey and Siesta Keysm, McCane said, while Manasota Key assessment is in progress. Casey Key has suffered moderate  to severe (5 to 15 feet) in dune beach erosion, he said, and dune vegetation has been washed out. Also, the road to North Jetty will also need regrading, he said.

This action also provides the county the authority to coordinate the allocation of resources in protecting the community, critical infrastructure and general welfare.

Evacuation is not expected, but to be prepared for future storms visit the county's Know Your Zone tool.