NWS Hurricane Idalia report: Most damage in Sarasota and Manatee came from storm surge

Earle Kimel, Sarasota Herald-Tribune
·3 min read

The greatest impact to Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties from Hurricane Idalia was from storm surge, according to a preliminary impact report on the storm released by the National Weather Service in Ruskin.

In Sarasota County, a peak water level of 3.08 feet above the Mean Higher High Water – defined as the average daily highest tide – was measured at 1:30 a.m. Aug. 30 in Venice.

In Manatee County, at Port Manatee, a peak water level of 3.69 feet above MHHW was measured at 7:54 a.m. Aug. 30, while in Charlotte County, the surge reached 3.57 feet in North Port Charlotte at 5:45 a.m. Aug 30.

The day after Hurricane Idalia passed by Sarasota's coastline in the Gulf of Mexico left two boats high and dry at Bayfront Park. Here an aerial view of Bayfront Park along with Marina Jack on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023.
The day after Hurricane Idalia passed by Sarasota's coastline in the Gulf of Mexico left two boats high and dry at Bayfront Park. Here an aerial view of Bayfront Park along with Marina Jack on Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023.

The report noted that in all three counties, the surge level generally ranged from 2 to 4 feet.

Hurricane Idalia made landfall as a Category 3 hurricane at 7:45 a.m., Aug. 30 near Keaton Beach, in Florida's Big Bend region.

Forecasters had predicted that western Manatee County and northern Sarasota County could see hurricane-force winds, with 6 to 8 inches of rain in the region, with surge levels up to 4 to 7 feet in the Tampa Bay region and 3 to 5 feet in Sarasota.

Storm surge caused significant flooding

In Sarasota County storm surge flooding destroyed 18 structures and caused major damage in 1,100 others.

About one foot of water impacted businesses along St. Armands Circle and homes elsewhere on St. Armands Key. Surge flooding also closed the intersection of Fruitville Road and U.S. 41 and washed out portions of Casey Key Road and Manasota Key Road.

The weather service report estimated damage at $2.7 million.

Previous reports pegged the storm surge damage in Manatee County at $2.3 million.

In Manatee County, the peak water levels included at the Bradenton riverfront and the community of Rubonia near Terra Ceia, where the Federal Emergency Management Administration opened a mobile disaster recovery center. 

Twenty-five structures were listed with major damage and two with minor damage.

In Charlotte County, high water levels caused flooding in downtown Punta Gorda, prompting the closure of U.S. 41 at the Peace River Bridge.

Twelve roadways were impassable because of storm surge while 66 structures had major damage and 14 had minor damage.

Tropical storm force winds from Idalia and rainfall totals

The highest wind gust recorded – 70 mph – was at 2:22 .a.m. at the Sarasota Bradenton International Airport in Manatee County.

The highest wind gust recorded in Sarasota County was 62 mph at 12:18 a.m., near Sarasota. In Charlotte County, the highest wind gust was 61 mph at 1:49 a.m., Aug. 30 near Charlotte Harbor.

Rainfall ranged from 4 to 7 inches, with a maximum of 6.5 inches recorded near Sarasota, 6.74 inches near Bradenton and 6.11 inches in Charlotte County near Harbour Heights.

A total of 386 people took refuge from the storm in Sarasota County evacuation centers and 382 people in Manatee County centers.

Power outages affected more than 14,000 homes in Charlotte County and roughly 8,000 in Sarasota County.

FEMA is still taking damage claims and the Small Business Administration is also accepting loan applications through Oct. 30. A mobile disaster recovery center opened Monday afternoon in the Siesta Beach parking lot.

A final report will be released in the next few months.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Report finds most Sarasota-Manatee Idalia damage came from storm surge