Damage total from Hurricane Idalia approaches $5 million for Sarasota-Manatee

Damage from Hurricane Idalia in Sarasota and Manatee counties reached roughly $5 million, with assessments in Sarasota County ongoing.

Sarasota County interim emergency manager Scott Montgomery said Friday the county’s damage assessment number was at about $2.65 million, with $480,000 attributed to damage in the town of Longboat Key and Venice and reports still forthcoming from the cities of Sarasota and North Port.

Manatee County spokesman Bill Logan said damage there hit the $2.3 million mark as of Thursday but the figure is expected to rise.

Water has continued to recede in Rubonia, which was hit especially hard by flooding, Logan said, with representatives of the American Red Cross present again Friday.

“Anybody who needed help got the help,” he added.

Sarasota County extended its seven-day declaration of emergency that went into effect Aug. 28.

Manatee County also extended its emergency declaration because of recovery efforts, Logan confirmed.

Here are other things you need to know about the aftermath of Hurricane Idalia.

Manasota Key Road still impassible

Manasota Key Road just north of Blind Pass Beach Road is still impassible, forcing people to detour to the mainland.

“The public works crew is doing what they can to get that road shored up,” Montgomery said.

There is no date as to when the road will reopen or the cost to fix the two-lane road.

A 200-foot section of the road was damaged in 2017 by Hurricane Irma. 

The section damaged by Idalia is roughly 1,600 feet long and located between 6780 Manasota Key Road and Blind Pass Park.

Repairs on Casey Key Road are underway, though it is passable.

“We’re still asking people to take caution if they’re driving through that area,” Montgomery said.

O'Leary's reopening Friday evening

Sarasota Mayor Kyle Battie noted in an email newsletter that beyond the extensive coastal and street flooding on the barrier islands, the city fared well overall.

Battie noted that conditions at Bayfront Park are improving and O’Leary’s Tiki Bar & Grill was set to reopen for business Friday evening.

He added that Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall sustained minimal damage, including water intrusion in the Grand Foyer and other areas; however, there is no observable damage to the building, roof or signage.

Battie also noted that one of the three stormwater pumping stations stopped working because it was hit by a car prior to the arrival of Idalia.

Two other pumps failed after the control panel wound up under water during the storm surge.

City and county workers are using temporary pumps to control stormwater on St. Armands Key.

Beach erosion assessment in progress

Sarasota County public works employees had finished damage assessment of county beaches but the results were not available by publication time.

Sarasota County spokeswoman Jan Thornburg said via email that the city of Sarasota is currently in the process of evaluating Lido Beach along with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

In Manatee County, Logan said representatives of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers were inspecting Coquina Beach Friday afternoon to confirm that there had been no major damage there.

“There were no reported major issues but that final inspection report comes through the Corps,” Logan said.

On Thursday, city of Venice engineering staff reported no major impact to city beaches.

Caspersen Beach boardwalk; South Jetty closed

The entire Caspersen Beach boardwalk was destroyed by Hurricane Idalia, Montgomery said, leaving the beach park – popular with people searching for fossilized shark’s teeth – closed.

Caspersen is one of many boardwalks and docks that must be replaced after Idalia, including Lemon Bay.

In total, 16 Sarasota County parks remain closed after the storm.

Humphris Park at the South Jetty also remains closed because of storm surge damage.

Representatives of the Army Corps were scheduled to survey the location Saturday.

Venice spokeswoman Lorrane Anderson said via email that the damage is extensive and it will still be a couple of weeks until the parking lot and access to the Jetty Jack’s snack bar will reopen.

Venice public works crews are working on repairing Tarpon Center Drive, with a goal of reopening one lane Friday afternoon.

Sidewalk restoration should be completed in the next couple of weeks – depending on the availability of concrete.

Bulk pick-up an option for construction debris

As Sarasota County solid waste pickup continues, Montgomery said plant debris collected has not been near the same volume as Hurricane Ian.

Meanwhile there is an anticipation of an increase in construction and demolition debris with drywall, carpets and furniture damaged by storm surge flooding requiring disposal.

Montgomery said Sarasota County was preparing instructions on how those items should be prepared.

For now people should just call to schedule a bulk item pickup.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Idalia damage likely to eclipse $5 million for Sarasota-Manatee