Shelters Now Open For Limited Voluntary Evacuation

Manatee County officials advised voluntary evacuation this morning as they launched a full activation of the Emergency Operations Center in preparation of Tropical Storm Isaac.

Manatee Logistics Chief Greg Bacon said the storm moved west again and remains unpredictable as it churns in the Caribbean. It could bring a storm surge of up to 3- to 5-feet by Tuesday or Wednesday and 4- to 7-inches of rain.

It could become a Category 2 hurricane before making landfall near Mobile, Alabama on Tuesday.

"Isaac will probably be a Category 1 hurricane about 120 miles west of Manatee County, but it can get closer or farther away,"  Bacon said. "We will see significant rains. It's a very wide storm and we're expected to see the onset of tropical force winds as early as Sunday Afternoon through Monday Evening."

Manatee County is advising a voluntarily evacuation, Level A,  for people with special needs and living in mobile home parks and other low-lying areas. At this point, two shelters are open:

• , 902 33rd Street Court West, a pet-friendly shelter
• , 6545 53rd Avenue East.

 If you have a special need such as a medical condition requiring electricity or oxygen, call 941-749-3500 for shelter registration information.

Manatee County Government offices and county schools will be closed Monday. Trash collection has been suspended on Monday for residents in incorporated Manatee County, City of Bradenton and the Town of Longboat Key.

Both Manatee County MCAT and Island Trolley services will be suspended at 7 p.m. today until further notice.

Manatee County Public Works will allow residents to fill up to 10 sand bags per household on Sunday and Monday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the following distribution points:

Buffalo Creek Golf Course, 8100 69th St. E., Palmetto
G.T. Bray Recreation Center, 5502 33rd Ave. Dr. W. Bradenton
Lakewood Ranch Park, near Lakewood Ranch High School
39th St. Stormwater Facility, 5511 39th St. E., Bradenton
Rubonia Community Center, 1309 72nd st. E., Palmetto 

A list of preparedness tips is available at www.mymanatee.org/hurricane

Regular updates will be posted to Manatee’s Facebook page and Twitter account, @ManateeGov. For more information, people may call (941) 748-4501 or (941) 749-3500.