Washed Out Roads, Boil Water Notices, Boats Wash Ashore: Idalia Latest

SARASOTA COUNTY, FL — The day after Hurricane Idalia passed by the Sarasota area before hitting the Big Bend area of the state as a Category 3 storm, officials are assessing and cleaning up the damage left behind.

The hardest-hit areas are on Casey Key Road and Manasota Key Road, according to a Sarasota County news release.

“Community members should stay away from this area. Do NOT walk or drive through flood waters or around a barricade. Water may be deeper than it appears and can hide hazards such as sharp objects, washed out road surfaces, electrical wires, chemicals, etc.,” the county said.

Manasota Key Road, north of Blind Pass/Middle Beach, is washed out and traffic can’t pass in either direction. People are asked to stay away from this area.

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While water service to Casey Key, which was turned off during the storm, has been restored to most residents, a boil water advisory remains in effect, the county said.

Further south, a precautionary boil water advisory is also in effect for those living in the West Villages Improvement District/Wellen Park in North Port, the city said in a news release.

Intermittent power outages at the Southwest Water Reclamation Facility during Idalia caused the water pressure to fall below 20 psi within the water system that supplied Wellen Park, causing the need for a boil water notice.

All water used for consumption should be brought to a rolling boil for one minute before being used for drinking, cooking, making ice, brushing teeth or washing dishes.

In Sarasota, many parks and playgrounds are temporarily closed after city crews found boats that crashed ashore, buckled sidewalks, fallen light poles, damaged piers and vegetative debris, the city said.

• Bayfront Park
• Eloise Werlin Park
• Tony Saprito Fishing Pier
• Ken Thompson Park playground

St. Armands Circle, which saw significant flooding and was closed, reopened to all traffic Thursday at 6:30 a.m.

All bridges throughout the county have also reopened to marine traffic.

As of 10 a.m. on Thursday, Longboat Key opened to full vehicular access from both the north and south ends, the town said. Residents may drive through St. Armands Circle or Bradenton Beach to enter or exit the island.

In Venice, while the Venice Fishing Pier has reopened, Humphris Park and the South Jetty are still closed, the city said.