Hurricane Debby dumped record-breaking rainfall across Sarasota and Manatee counties over the weekend, with some areas getting as much as 15 inches in less than 24 hours.
The storm, which passed more than 100 miles west of the coast as a tropical storm on Sunday, sent a high wind gust of 64 mph that was recorded at the Sarasota Bradenton International Airport.
After more than 9 inches of rain had fallen in a nine-hour period Sunday, high rains and surging coastal waters continued over night and into Monday, forcing local governments to scrap plans for opening as usual and close offices, delay trash pick-up and other services.
Sporadic power outages were reported and many roads remained flooded by mid-day Monday, delaying damage assessments.
Sunday’s rainfall total of 11.06 inches recorded at Sarasota Bradenton International Airport set a new one-day record, eclipsing the previous high of 10.80 inches, set on Jun 23, 1945, said Paul Close, a forecaster with the National Weather Service in Ruskin.
The total may have been higher, but the power on the system went out at 5 p.m. Sunday, with a total of 11.54 inches recorded.
The highest wind gust in the area, 70 mph, was recorded at the Sunshine Skyway.
The Skyway was closed to motorists Sunday night and remained closed Monday morning, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
According to the National Weather Service, 2 to 4 feet of storm surge was anticipated Monday afternoon.
Hurricane Debby made landfall in Steinhatchee, Florida, Monday morning.
A Shelter in Place warning was issued for Sarasota County shortly after 10 a.m. Monday, while a Tropical Storm Warning, Storm Surge Watch, Flash Flood Warning, Tornado Watch and Flood Watch remained in effect for Sarasota County.
Christianne Pearce, a forecaster with the National Weather Service said overall the Sarasota-Manatee area received between 10 and 15 inches of rain, with rain bands expected to continue over Manatee and Sarasota counties during the afternoon, even as the storm moves north and winds died down.
Debby continued to trail rain bands across the Sarasota-Bradenton area while moving north as a hurricane.
She could not confirm the existence of tornadoes from two warnings that were issued Sunday night.
“We also haven’t been able to go out and do any storm surveys as of yet,” she said.
Pearce said the Sarasota and Bradenton took extensive rainfall because rain bands were “training one after the other in the same area,”
“We’ve had extensive road flooding and river flooding in that area,” she added.
The city of North Port received 7.23 inches of rain as of 9 a.m. Monday, according to a city spokesman.
Hurricane Debby impacts on Sarasota County
An evacuation center for those impacted by Hurricane Debby was set to open at 5 p.m. Monday at Sarasota Technical College, 4748 S Beneva Rd., Sarasota. Those requiring transportation assistance to the evacuation center may call 311 to arrange pickup. Do not walk or drive through flooded waters.
To see a list of supplies to bring to an evacuation center, visit scgov.net/beprepared.
At 9:45 a.m. Monday, the Sarasota Police Department announced that Fruitville Road had been closed, with traffic rerouted to McIntosh Road.
Sarasota County, as well as the cities of North Port, Sarasota and Venice all declared a local state of emergency, a key step to access state and federal funding for storm cleanup.
North Casey Key Road, Manasota Key Road, and Harbor Drive in Venice, north of Caspersen Beach, were all closed because of storm surge damage.
All county administrative offices and recreational facilities were closed Monday, as were the administrative offices of the cities of North Port and Sarasota, while the city of Venice remained open.
A Sarasota City Commission meeting scheduled for Monday was moved to 9 a.m. Thursday.
The Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office and Sarasota Police Department responded to vehicles stranded on flooded roadways throughout the county and residents were advised to stay off the roads.
The city of Sarasota was monitoring flooding of Benjamin Franklin Drive at Lido Key and at Ken Thompson Park.
A county alert urged residents not to open manhole covers, to avoid the beaches and waters, and not to drive in flooded conditions.
The Sarasota County Landfill was closed, as were the Citizens' Convenience Center, Bee Ridge Chemical Collection Center and The Re-Uz-It Shop.
Most waste and recycling pickups were postponed by at least a day, though garbage, recycling, yard waste and bulk pickups will continue as scheduled for North Port customers.
North Port spokesman Jason Bartolone said via email Monday that city public works staff reported that water started leveling off about 9 p.m. Sunday and no standing water was observed Monday morning in the areas and roads that typically flood.
Hurricane Debby impacts on Manatee County
In Manatee County, rain reports varied from as low as four inches in east Manatee to more than 14 inches in the southwest portion of the county
As of Monday morning, a total of 32 adults, 12 children and 13 pets had been rescued from 14 homes in the Center Lake area and Villa Del Sol MHP.
"Assets are in place to perform any necessary rescues, but they will need room to work," Manatee County Public Safety Director Jodie Fiske said. "We are urging everyone to stay off the roads unless travel is absolutely necessary. We do not need disaster tourists."
Manatee County has also closed the landfill and canceled trash collection for Monday. Trash collection days will shift one day later this week. Bradenton also suspended its trash service because of the landfill closure, and will move Monday's collection to Tuesday and bump Tuesday's collection to Wednesday.
The county has opened two shelters for residents affected by the storm. They are located at Miller Elementary School at 601 43rd St W, Bradenton, and Nolan Middle School at 6615 Greenbrook Blvd., Bradenton.
Manatee River at flood stage
A flood warning is in place for the Manatee River, Pearce said.
While the Myakka River is not yet at flood stage, she said it should reach “action stage,” later Monday or Tuesday.
Downstream flow of the Myakka River through the Myakkahatchee Creek following Hurricane Ian contributed to extensive post-storm flooding in the city of North Port in 2022.
Herald-Tribune Staff Writers Christian Casale and Jesse Mendoza contributed to this report.
