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Quick Sarasota-Manatee Hurricane Ian links:
12:10 p.m. | City of Sarasota declares local state of emergency for Hurricane Ian
In preparation and response to Hurricane Ian, the City of Sarasota has declared a local state of emergency, according to a release.
“City leadership is monitoring the storm closely and coordinating with the Sarasota County emergency management team and community partners to make determinations, including possible evacuations. Storm preparations are underway with crews clearing storm water drains, positioning mobile generators in key areas to ensure continuity of utilities services, notifying construction contractors to secure sites and construction cranes and removing potential projectiles from parks, ” said the release.
Noon | Looking bleak for Sarasota-Manatee high school football this week
The prospects of having high school football games this week are bleak, thanks to Hurricane Ian.
“All athletic activities, including practices and games, are canceled beginning tomorrow (Tuesday) until further notice,” Sarasota County director of athletics James Slaton said. “We’ll know more once it gets over Cuba, but as of right now we are just preparing. We are opening shelters beginning tomorrow (Tuesday).”
For most area teams and throughout the state, this is the first week for district play in football, so these games are mandatory as far as scheduling goes.
“Football is the only one where we are mandated to play these games,” Slaton said. “The plan will be to make up those games. But our first priority is obviously safety and security. And then we’ll try to work them out.”
Do not expect anything to be made up this weekend or Monday, Oct. 3.
11:30 a.m. | Manatee County orders evacuations, closes schools for Hurricane Ian
Manatee County has issued evacuations to begin tomorrow, in anticipation of Hurricane Ian.
“Following the updated forecast of Hurricane Ian, public safety officials are announcing plans for evacuations, beginning with a MANDATORY Zone A evacuation and VOLUNTARY Zone B evacuation, effective at 8 a.m., Tuesday, September 27,” according to a press release.
(Find your evacuation zone in Manatee County here.)
Though no official announcement has been made, since shelters are located in public schools, we can assume that Manatee County schools will be closed on Tuesday.
In addition, Manatee County parks, libraries, animal welfare facilities, and building and construction inspection services will be closed or suspended beginning tomorrow, until further notice.
Hurricane Ian: See spaghetti models, path and storm activity for Florida
11:15 a.m. | Sarasota County Schools will close on Tuesday
In a press release, Sarasota County announced that Sarasota County schools will be closed tomorrow, Sept. 27.
Sarasota County schools will close Tuesday, Sept. 27, out of an abundance of caution and to allow for time to prepare schools that serve as emergency evacuation centers.
While there are no evacuations issued at this time, the county is expecting to announce an evacuation alert for Level A on Tuesday morning.
“As the storm approaches, we are here to serve our community with our schools and personnel to provide sheltering. We will continue to communicate updates with employees and families throughout the storm as information becomes available. The latest information can be found on our website sarasotacountyschools.net/hurricane and all our social media channels,” said Dr. Brennan Asplen, Superintendent of Schools.
11:00 a.m. | Hurricane Ian strengthens, Sarasota-Manatee in danger
According to the 11 a.m. National Hurricane Center update, Hurricane Ian’s storm track has shifted slightly closer to Sarasota and Manatee counties and the storm is moving slower. Sustained wind speeds have increased to 80…
Read More: Manatee County orders evacuations, likely no high school football this week