Sarasota County guide: Milton recovery updates, water, power, shelter and closings

SARASOTA COUNTY, Fla. — On Wednesday evening, Hurricane Milton made landfall as a Category 3 storm near Siesta Key on Florida's Gulf Coast.

10 Tampa Bay is compiling this guidance and other local information into county-specific guides. We will keep you updated with the latest information as recovery efforts continue.

Here's what you need to know for Sarasota County: 

FORECAST

See the continuing forecast for the area here. Find the latest weather alerts here.

FREE SUPPLIES, RESOURCES

As Tampa Bay communities start to recover from Hurricane Milton, Walmart stores around the region are doing their part to help mobilize relief efforts. Here's where you can get free supplies in Sarasota County:

• Osprey
  • Walmart Supercenter #5364 at 13140 S Tamiami Trl.
    • Water on Sunday, Oct. 13 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
• Sarasota
  • Walmart Supercenter #528 at 2911 53rd Ave. E, Braden River
    • Water and ice on Sunday, Oct. 13 from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

  • Walmart Supercenter #1172 at 8320 Lockwood Ridge Rd., Sarasota

    • Ice on Monday, Oct. 14
    • Food: Operation BBQ providing free hot meals at noon until supplies last
  • Water: Starting at 11:30 a.m.

Sarasota County staff and the Florida National Guard have set up four neighborhood Supply Points of Distribution (PODS) to provide water, food, and tarps for those impacted by Hurricane Milton. The sites are open daily from 7 a.m. until 7 p.m. or while supplies last.  Here's where you can find them:

• Sarasota
  • Glebe Park, 1000 Glebe Ln., Sarasota
• Venice
  • Venice Community Center, 326 Nokomis Ave., Venice
• North Port
  • San Pedro Catholic Church, 14380 Tamiami Trl., North Port
• Englewood
  • Englewood Sports Complex, 1300 S. River Rd., Englewood

Fuel Station opening in North Port

• Suncoast Technical College, 4445 Career Ln., North Port
  • Florida Division of Emergency Management-run fuel distribution site opening Sunday, Oct. 13.  
    • Open from 10 a.m. - 7 p.m.
    • Limit 10 gallons per car.

SHELTERS

You can find a list with the latest shelters and their status here. As of Saturday morning, no shelters were listed on the county's website.

There will be comfort points throughout the county, which will have air-conditioning, charging stations and some food and coffee. Here are the locations:

• Sarasota
  • Streets Of Paradise, 734 Central Ave., Sarasota
    • Open from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. daily
    • Meals and Food Drive-Thru
• Bayside Community Church Bee Ridge Campus, 8200 Bee Ridge Rd., Sarasota 
  • Open from noon - 7 p.m., Oct. 12 – 18
• Bradenton
  • Bayside Community Church Lakewood Ranch Campus, 15800 E. Route 64, Bradenton 
    • Open from 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. and 4:30 - 6:30 p.m. through Oct. 18

WATER SERVICE

Sarasota County Public Utilities shut off potable water services and wastewater lift stations at 10 a.m. Tuesday for Siesta Key and Casey Key. 

Early Thursday morning, the county said 75% of lift stations lost power and residents are being asked to limit water usage. An afternoon update said county wastewater treatment plants are "handling nearly double the usual flow, with lift stations being restored, starting with evacuation centers," and that most issues are power-related with no major failures.

Only Siesta Key and Casey Key are under boil water notices.

The City of Venice shut its water service off Tuesday night and said Thursday morning it was being restored to all city customers. That comes with a boil water advisory "until samples can be tested and cleared," the city said.

Wastewater service is "being restored quickly as possible" however it is dependent on power being restored. On Friday morning, about half of the lift stations had regained power thanks to the work of utility crews. Residents "can expect regular water pressure to return soon" though exact timing was not clear.

POWER

Florida Power and Light Company is aiming to have power restored by Thursday.

CLOSINGS

Schools

Instructional and classified personnel were able to return to Sarasota County schools on Tuesday, Oct. 15. Tuesday is not a regular school day for students.

Students return to the classroom for a regular school day on Wednesday, Oct. 16. 

Friday, Oct. 18 was designated as a Professional Day. Students will not attend school on Friday, the district's website says.

You can find the latest school closings here.

Trash collection

The county said it was still collecting debris from Hurricane Helene when Hurricane Milton hit. It said it is working with debris vendors to collect debris from both storms.

"We will let you know the plan in the next couple of days as access to the entire community becomes possible," the county said in a Friday night update.

Regular garbage and yard waste collection in unincorporated Sarasota County resumed regular pickup schedules on Friday.

Breeze Transit

Breeze Transit said that on Friday and Saturday, it is dedicating its resources to helping assist emergency transportation. It said there will be no service for trips that are not medically necessary.

Gatorland                         

Outside, but near the Tampa Bay area, Gatorland announced it is reopening on Saturday for "gators, ghosts and goblins," starting at 10 a.m.

Barrier Islands

Access to Siesta Key, Casey Key and Sarasota County's other barrier islands was limited to residents and business owners, as of Friday, Oct. 11.

Central County Landfill 

The Central County Landfill reopened with regular business hours on Friday.