Only four years after construction on the new Anna Maria City Pier finished, a stretch must be rebuilt due to Hurricane Milton.
The storm destroyed around 50% of the pier’s roughly 700-foot-long walkway, according to Manatee County Sheriff’s Office public information officer Randy Warren.
The MCSO polices the city of Anna Maria.
Hurricane Milton made landfall Oct. 9 as a category 3 storm near Siesta Key after escalating as high as a category 5 hurricane during its passage across the Gulf of Mexico.
The hurricane brought sustained winds of 120 mph and battered an area already reeling from Hurricane Helene’s historic storm surge less than two weeks before.
While much of Helene’s more catastrophic damage on Anna Maria Island was done to its south end in Bradenton Beach, some of Milton’s most dramatic work occurred on the north end of the barrier island.
The storm destroyed the Rod & Reel Pier, which lost much of its walkway to Helene but remained standing until Milton, and a portion of the city pier walkway.
However, the city pier was not an older structure like the Rod & Reel, which was built in 1947.
The city-owned pier is a new build in the footprint of the historic pier, which was built in 1911 and stood until it was removed due to damage sustained during Hurricane Irma in September 2017.
The new pier opened June 2020 and was built with more durable materials than before, such as reinforced concrete pilings and ipe hardwood decking.
Decking from the segments of destroyed walkway could be found on the shore near the base of the pier on the morning of Oct. 10, immediately following the storm.
In addition to the loss of walkway decking, many of the pilings along the destroyed stretch are no longer visible and may have been broken during the storm.
The T-end building, which houses the City Pier Grill and Bait Shop and the Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium Marine Science Education and Outreach Center, was “OK” following the storm, according to Warren.
There was no damage to Anna Maria City Hall, 10005 Gulf Drive.
Nevertheless, Hurricane Milton caused flooding and widespread wind damage across the city, resulting in many downed utility lines and poles, as well as blown-out windows.
Warren said much of the flooding had receded by Oct. 11.
Power had yet to be returned to the city as of Oct. 13 and cellular service remained limited but the county’s boil water notice for the island had been lifted.
Much of the county’s power was set to be restored by Oct. 17, according to Florida Power & Light.
The city was opened to residents, business owners and their employees Oct. 12.
The municipality advised residents via Facebook Oct. 13 to make separate piles of household debris and landscaping debris, since they will be collected separately.
Warren said the MCSO was on the lookout for looters but asked residents and businessowners who witness something suspicious to reach out about their concerns.
People can reach out by visiting the MCSO’s Anna Maria substation at the city hall annex, 307 Pine Ave.
Otherwise, they can call the MCSO’s main line at 941-747-3011, or 911 for emergencies.
Mayor Dan Murphy had not responded to multiple calls from The Islander.
Our favorite vacation spot! We are devastated and can only imagine how it the people who live on the island feel! We were to come down November 2 but had to cancel. Hope to be done next year for sure!