Sandbags available through 7 p.m. today for residents concerned about heavy rainfall predicted by National Weather Service, with residents still contending with Tropical Storm Debby aftermath

More resources offered to aid people suffering storm damage

Editor’s note: This story was updated just before 10 a.m. on Friday, Aug. 23, to include the fact that Sarasota County staff has added a third sandbag location — Ed Smith Stadium.

As federal officials and state leaders provide assistance to Sarasota County residents who suffered damage this month from Tropical Storm Debby, concerns about a National Weather Service (NWS) forecast for heavy rain on Aug. 22 and 23 led Sarasota County staff to provide sandbags to residents.

The sand and bags are being offered at three locations, Emergency Services Media Relations Officer Sara Nealeigh wrote in an Aug. 22 afternoon advisory to news media members:

• Twin Lakes Park, standing at 6700 Clark Road in Sarasota, near Interstate 75.
• Sarasota County Fleet-South, which is located at 4531 Annex Road in Venice.
• Ed Smith Stadium in Sarasota, which stands at 2700 12th St. in Sarasota.

The hours for Friday, Aug. 23, are 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.. On Aug. 22, the hours were 3 to 7 p.m.

“Bags and sand will be provided while supplies last,” Nealeigh pointed out. “Individuals are asked to bring their own shovels. There is a limit of 10 sandbags per vehicle,” she added.

Further, she noted that county staff members were out in the community on Thursday, “checking areas that are prone to flooding.”

County leaders continue to coordinate with municipalities and the National Weather Service “to receive updates on expected weather in our area,” Nealeigh added.

No sandbags were provided to county residents before Tropical Storm Debby approached the Southwest Florida coast. In response to a News Leader question about that in the aftermath of the flooding, county staff wrote the following in an Aug. 7 email: “Sarasota County made the decision to not implement sandbags based on weather data from the National Weather Service (NWS).”

Although Sarasota County staff has not offered a damage update since last week, the News Leader did inquire of Jan Thornburg, general manager of the City of Sarasota Communications Department, about the situation in that municipality.

Thornburg replied, with emphasis, in an Aug. 21 email: “The estimated damage for the City of Sarasota is approximately $10 million.”

The estimate for damage in unincorporated Sarasota County, last noted in an Aug. 19 update, was $47.3 million.

As of Aug. 18, that county update also pointed out, “approximately 8,300 cubic yards of debris [had] been collected.” That figure equates to more than 720 tons, staff noted.

Caspersen Beach access

In regard to yet another part of Sarasota County that suffered damage from Tropical Storm Debby, staff announced on Aug. 21 that “Caspersen Beach Park is closed to public access until further notice.”

That advisory explained, “A portion of Harbor Drive South leading to Caspersen Beach Park was significantly damaged by Hurricane Debby. Public accesses to the park from the Venetian Waterway Park Trail and Harbor Dr. South are closed. No public access is permitted within the park until further notice. All amenities within the park are closed, and a timeline for road repairs has not been established.”

The Activate Hope announcement

Additionally, on Aug. 21, Gov. Ron DeSantis and First Lady Casey DeSantis announced Activate Hope during a press conference at Sarasota County Fire Department Fire Station No. 8.

“Activate Hope is an expansion of Hope Florida to serve Floridians recovering from the impacts of disasters,” a county news release explained.

“Floridians needing support can connect with Hope Florida by visiting HopeFlorida.com or calling the Hope Line (833-GET-HOPE).

Organizations interested in joining Hope Florida’s CarePortal can visit HopeFlorida.com,” the release added.

In the meantime, county staff reported on Aug. 16 that the Multi-Agency Resource Center that had been established at 2923 Ashton Road in Sarasota would be open until further notice. Its hours of operation are as follows:

• Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.
• Sunday, 1 to 5 p.m.

“Local and state resources are available to individuals whose properties were impacted by Hurricane Debby,” the advisory said.

“Individuals are encouraged to call 311 if transportation to the resource center location is needed. These free rides from anywhere in Sarasota County to the resource center will be one way. When a resident is finished at the resource center, they should call 311 to request a ride home,” the advisory pointed out.

“No new rides going to the resource center will be accepted within one hour of closing and only return trips will occur during that time. Wheelchair-accessible vehicles are also available,” the release said.

How the public can help

In the regular Recovery updates that county staff has been issuing, staff has provided a list of locations where members of the public can donate items for people who have been affected by Tropical Storm Debby.

The list follows:

• All Faiths Food Bank, all locations; accepting food, water and cleaning buckets.
• Dakin Dairy Farms, located at 30771 Betts Road in Myakka City; accepting plastic totes, cleaning supplies, trash bags, Clorox wipes, old towels, water, hygiene items, snacks and fans.
• EPIC, standing at 655 N. Indiana Ave. in Englewood; accepting water, paper products, batteries and cleaning supplies.
• Goodwill, at any Manasota location; accepting most types of clothing and furniture.
• Stottlemyer’s Smokehouse, standing at 19 East Road in Sarasota; accepting school supplies until Aug. 31.
• Streets of Paradise. Call 620-481-0446 to arrange a donation time; accepting furniture, appliances and household items.
• One More Child Ministries, located at 3478 Bouwer Court in Palmetto;  accepting clothes, furniture, water/drinks, dry food, pet supplies, nonperishable food items, hygiene supplies, cleaning supplies, toilet paper and paper towels.