A tropical storm may be heading to Florida. Sarasota, Manatee officials say to plan

Melissa Pérez-Carrillo, Sarasota Herald-Tribune
·6 min read
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Sarasota and Manatee County Emergency Management Officials began monitoring conditions on Friday as a tropical depression is anticipated to form late this weekend or early next week in the eastern Gulf of Mexico.

The National Weather Service said most forecast models show it moving into the Florida Panhandle or Western Florida by Tuesday or Wednesday. Most of the rain is forecasted to fall Tuesday and Wednesday with the drought in Western Florida soaking up a lot of the rain.

Will the storm hit Sarasota or Manatee County?

It’s too soon to forecast impacts since the storm hasn’t developed yet, but where the storm develops could impact what area of Florida it moves into, according to the National Weather Service.

  • If it forms near Cancun, it would move to Cedar Key.

  • If it develops further east, it could move to Southwest Florida.

  • If it's a stronger system, favors Florida Panhandle.

  • If it's a weaker system, favors Western Florida.

On a budget? Here's 5 cheap ways to prepare your home for Florida's hurricane season

While the National Weather Service said that their confidence in the forecast of impacted areas is low, their confidence is "moderate" that the storm will occur.

What information is known about this disturbance in the Caribbean Sea?

A broad area of low pressure over the northwestern Caribbean Sea is producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms.

Hurricane preparation: Sarasota and Manatee residents urged to prepare as hurricane season draws near

Environmental conditions appear conducive for the gradual development of this system during the next several days, and the possible tropical depression is likely to form late this weekend or early next week while moving generally northward over the northwestern Caribbean Sea and eastern Gulf of Mexico.

Residents in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, western Cuba, and Florida should monitor the progress of this system.

A formation chance through the next 48 hours is low at 40 percent, and the formation chance through the next 7 days is high at 80%.

When is the Atlantic hurricane season?

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30.

What is Sarasota County doing to prepare?

Rich Collins, Director of Emergency Services, said the county is monitoring the weather, and the Emergency Management Team is coordinating with the National Weather Service as the future path of the storm becomes more clear.

"At this time, as always, we encourage our community members to be prepared," Collins said in a written statement.

What is Manatee County doing to prepare?

Steve Litschauer, deputy chief for emergency management, said that his team is having internal meetings and daily calls with the National Weather Service and the Florida Division of Emergency Management. They’ve contacted their leads in emergency support functions, Red Cross, Turning Point, and law enforcement agencies to let them know about the storm and keep them in the loop on preparations.Litschauer recommends that residents use the weekend to gas up their cars, stock up on groceries, and think of places to go if they're planning to evacuate.

"There’s nothing to panic about," Litschauer said. "We don’t know if we’ll truly need it, but it’s always best to have a plan."

Longtime Emergency Management Chief Ed McCrane retired Aug. 25. Who’s in charge now?

Ed McCrane retired Aug. 25 after 18 years as Sarasota County’s Emergency Management Chief.

Scott Montgomery, who retired from Sarasota County in June 2021 as an Emergency Management section chief and chief lifeguard, is stepping in as interim emergency management chief, while Sarasota County searches for a permanent chief.

Where can I receive updates from Sarasota and Manatee County on the disturbance?

Use Sarasota County’s website at https://www.scgov.net/beprepared for a disaster planning guide, transportation plan, and resources for preparing homes for storms.

Sign up for emergency alerts at MyManatee.org/AlertManatee. Use MyManatee.org/weather to determine the evacuation level and location of open shelters and sandbags.

Where can I find a list of hurricane supplies to get?

The second of two 14-day sales tax holidays to help residents purchase hurricane supplies began on Saturday, Aug. 26, and will run until Sept. 8.

House Bill 7063 makes the following items exempt from sales tax during the two 14-day periods:

  • Self-powered lights of $40 or less.

  • Portable self-powered radio, two-way radio or weather-band radio of $50 or less.

  • A tarpaulin or other flexible waterproof sheeting with a sales price of $100 or less.

  • An item normally sold as, or generally advertised as, a ground anchor system or tie-down kit with a sales price of $100 or less.

  • A gas or diesel fuel tank with a sales price of $50 or less.

  • A package of AA-cell, AAA-cell, C-cell, D-cell, 6-volt, or 9-volt batteries, excluding automobile and boat batteries, with a sales price of $50 or less.

  • A nonelectric food storage cooler with a sales price of $60 or less.

  • A portable generator used to provide light or communications or preserve food in the event of a power outage with a sales price of $3,000 or less.

  • Reusable ice with a sales price of $20 or less.

  • A portable power bank with a sales price of $60 or less.

  • A smoke detector or smoke alarm with a sales price of $70 or less.

  • A fire extinguisher with a sales price of $70 or less.

  • A carbon monoxide detector with a sales price of $70 or less.

The tax holidays also include a number of items related to the safe evacuation of household pets. Exempted items include:

  • Bags of dry dog food or cat food weighing 50 or fewer pounds with a sales price of $100 or less per bag.

  • Cans or pouches of wet dog food or cat food with a sales price of $10 or less per can or pouch or the equivalent if sold in a box or case.

  • Over-the-counter pet medications with a sales price of $100 or less per item.

  • Portable kennels or pet carriers with a sales price of $100 or less per item.

  • Manual can openers with a sales price of $15 or less per item.

  • Leashes, collars, and muzzles with a sales price of $20 or less per item.

  • Collapsible or travel-sized food bowls or water bowls with a sales price of $15 or less per item.

  • Cat litter weighing 25 or fewer pounds with a sales price of $25 or less per item.

  • Cat litter pans with a sales price of $15 or less per item.

  • Pet waste disposal bags with a sales price of $15 or less per package.

  • Pet pads with a sales price of $20 or less per box or package.

  • Hamster or rabbit substrate with a sales price of $15 or less per package.

  • Pet beds with a sales price of $40 or less per item.

Contributing: Samantha Neely, Fort Myers News-Press, and Cheryl McCloud, USA Today.

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Sarasota, Manatee officials say to plan for potential storm