Bradenton Beach was still working through the aftermath of Hurricane Helene the week of Sept. 30 — and will be for some time.
Though the storm made landfall late Sept. 26 near Perry, Bradenton Beach was hit hard and deemed a “catastrophic area.”
A state emergency response team determined 90%-95% of the city was destroyed in extensive flooding — the result of storm surge.
City officials, including emergency manager and police Chief John Cosby, Mayor John Chappie and city attorney Ricinda Perry, were coordinating recovery efforts.
Cosby, a 30-year veteran of the city emergency management program, was leading the charge.
“We’ve been very fortunate. Cooperation has been immense,” said Cosby. “We have not been told ‘no’ on anything we have requested or asked for.”
Chappie emphasized the resiliency of the community in an Oct. 2 interview with The Islander.
“We got hit pretty bad,” Chappie said. “But we will get through it. We will be back and we will be better than before. It will take time. Everyone out here, they are my friends, my neighbors. I am in the same boat with them. We have to work together and try to help each other where we can. We are moving forward.”
Chappie also relayed good news. After Florida Department of Transportation crews moved sand from Gulf Drive South near Cortez Beach it was determined the roadway was still intact.
“Those asphalt pieces were from the county multiuse trail,” Chappie said. “It broke up and was mixed on top of the sand. The roadway itself does not look like there are any problems.”
Another piece of good news was the opening of the Cortez Bridge Oct. 3 to residents.
People did not waste any time returning for the recovery.
Property owner Scott Dean was shoveling sand in front of his house at 104 Second Ave.
“People are asking me ‘You going to rebuild?’” said Dean, who owns two properties in the city. “It’s part of living in paradise. Everyone’s got their thing and this is ours. Hopefully it’s only every 40 years.”
He said he remained hopeful based on the response he had seen from local government.
“It’s really amazing, even just here, to see how fast these guys are working,” Dean said.
Later, city officials announced re-entry guidelines for others.
Beginning at 8 a.m., people with valid work orders, as well as residents, were permitted entry through checkpoints on Cortez Road West or from Gulf Drive North at a Holmes Beach city checkpoint. Access to and from Longboat Key remained restricted.
Contractors must present proof of active work in Bradenton Beach to be allowed through the bridge checkpoint.
A citywide curfew remained in effect 7 p.m.-7 a.m. for everyone.
A community care center opened near the corner of Gulf Avenue and Bridge Street offering showers, air-conditioned restrooms and a laundry facility.
Additionally, the Manatee County Health Department Mobile Health Clinic was in Bradenton Beach 9 a.m.-4 p.m. daily to provide care, medication refills and vaccinations.
Also, on Bridge Street at the pier, the Anna Maria Oyster Bar and the Salvation Army were set up to provide hot meals and disaster supplies.
While the outlook for recovery appeared long, Cosby Oct. 3 said the city was making steady progress and two weeks ahead of his expectations.
FEMA lands in BB
As of Oct. 3, the Federal Emergency Management Agency had “boots on the ground” in Bradenton Beach and was canvassing property owners to determine assistance needs.
Perry said Oct. 4 that eight FEMA representatives would work in Bradenton Beach in sets of two.
“They will come to your house. We gave them a list of every single address in the city and they will be going to every single house,” Perry said.
Meanwhile, property owners can contact FEMA online at disasterassistance.gov or use the FEMA app on a smartphone.