SARASOTA COUNTY, Fla. — As the Tampa Bay area puts together last-minute preparations ahead of Hurricane Milton, some counties are shutting off water and wastewater services to barrier islands.
Sarasota County Public Utilities will start shutting off potable water services and wastewater lift stations at 10 a.m. Tuesday for Siesta Key and Casey Key.
"This precautionary measure protects the community’s infrastructure, which may be inundated by storm surge and high winds," Sarasota County Emergency Services said on Facebook.
Once conditions are safe, emergency services says utilities teams will deploy to the barrier islands once it's safe and restore water to Siesta Key and Casey Key.
Officials say it's important to note that even once potable water service is restored, those areas will be under a boil water notice until further notice.
What to do under boil water notice
Residents in the affected areas are advised to use bottled water or boil tap water before using it for cooking, drinking or personal hygiene.
Residents should follow these steps to disinfect their tap water:
- Bring a pot of water to a rolling boil for at least one minute to ensure
bacteria, viruses or parasites are gone. - If the water is cloudy, filter it through a clean cloth, paper towel, or
coffee filter before boiling. - Water must be adequately cooled before it can be used for washing or brushing
teeth. Store the boiled water in clean, covered containers.
Officials added if there's no way to boil water, residents can add 1/8 teaspoon of unscented bleach per gallon of water, stir it well and let it stand for at least half an hour before using. They add it's not an ideal solution.
