Idalia intensified Aug. 28 and an evacuation order was issued for Anna Maria Island.
Manatee County declared a state of emergency Aug. 28 and public safety officials announced plans for evacuations, beginning with a mandatory level A evacuation — including all of Anna Maria Island — and a voluntary level B evacuation at 2 p.m., which was after The Islander went to press.
“We’re expecting significant storm surge along the barrier islands and coastal communities for Idalia, with the earliest arrival predicted for Tuesday,” said Manatee County Public Safety Director Jodie Fiske. “This is a very dangerous track that we all need to be aware of.”
Early Aug. 28, the National Hurricane Center was forecasting Idalia would become a major hurricane before it reached Florida.
“The risk continues to increase for life-threatening storm surge and dangerous hurricane-force winds along portions of the west coast of Florida and the Florida Panhandle beginning as early as late Tuesday,” the NHC said.
Tracking Aug. 28 showed landfall likely early Aug. 30 in the Panhandle.
Idalia, as of mid-morning Aug. 28, was a tropical storm with maximum sustained winds of 65 mph as it approached western Cuba.
At that time, all of Manatee County came under hurricane and storm surge warnings.
Storm surge for Tampa Bay could be 4-7 feet, according to the NHC, with the deepest water occurring along the immediate coast in areas of onshore winds.
Area rainfall associated with the storm could be 4-8 inches Tuesday-Thursday.
The worst weather locally was forecast later Aug. 29 into Aug. 30 but high tides were expected to cause some coastal road flooding even earlier.
The county commission met in Bradenton at 10 a.m. Aug. 28 and board members urged people to be vigilant.
In addition to announcing the evacuations, staff said transit operations would be suspended Aug. 29 once high winds hit and that bridges could be closed and water shut off to the island if deemed necessary.
The county was opening three public shelters Aug. 28 — Mills Elementary in Palmetto and Miller and Freedom elementary schools in Bradenton.
Holmes Beach Mayor Judy Titsworth told The Islander she would sign a declaration of emergency Aug. 28.
Anna Maria commissioners met that morning and declared an emergency. Bradenton Beach and the West Manatee Fire Rescue District commissioners were due to meet at 1 p.m. Aug. 28.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis issued a declaration Aug. 26 for 33 counties, including Manatee.
Meanwhile, sandbag stations opened Aug. 28, including at Manatee Public Beach in Holmes Beach, Bayfront Park in Anna Maria and Coquina Beach in Bradenton Beach.
For more local information, go online to mymanatee.org/manateeready or call 311.
For more storm information, go online to hurricanes.gov.