North Port officials are optimistic that city residents will not experience a repeat of flooding like Tropical Storm Elsa i in 2021 or Hurricane Ian in 2022 because the sewer system is better prepared
Flooding caused by Tropical Storm Debby forces residents to evacuate
Multiple rescue and law enforcement agencies evacuate residents of the Pinecraft neighborhood on Phillippi Creek in Sarasota
The National Weather Service issued a flood warning on Wednesday for areas south of Myakka State Park along the Myakka River, which has already reached moderate flood stage following record rainfall from Hurricane Debby.
Excessive rainfall from Debby, which was a tropical storm when it first passed Sarasota and Manatee Counties, primarily impacted East Manatee County and the Phillippi Creek drainage basin in Sarasota County.
From Thursday through Saturday, various areas in the Myakka River basin could be at risk.
Sarasota County has already opened an evacuation center in Woodmere Park (3951 Woodmere Park Blvd., Venice) for people who need to seek shelter.
Those affected and needing to be taken to the evacuation center are asked to bring everything they need.
For a disaster supplies checklist and emergency preparedness guide, visit scgov.net/beprepared.
About 25 people who were previously housed in a temporary evacuation center at Suncoast Technical College in Sarasota were moved there on Wednesday.
Although North Port city officials currently have no concerns about potential flooding along Myakkahatchee Creek, a sandbag filling station opened Wednesday afternoon at the George Mullen Activity Center, 1602 Kramer Way, North Port.
At 9 a.m. Thursday, Sarasota County opened a sandbag filling station at Sarasota County Fleet South, 4531 Annex Road, Venice, off State Road 776.
The center is open until 6:00 p.m. Both sand and bags are available, but residents are asked to bring their own shovels.
The Myakka River is expected to crest at 10.4 feet at Myakka State Park on Thursday evening – about 3.4 feet above the mean high water mark.
“The good news is that not much additional rain has fallen in this basin,” said Nicole Carlisle, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service in Ruskin. “So the slow rise continues.”
For which areas does the flood warning apply?
The NWS issued the warning starting Thursday for areas along the Myakka River north of Clark Road.
By Friday afternoon, this warning should extend beyond the Laurel Road area to near Interstate 75 east of Jacaranda Boulevard.
Early Saturday morning, the warning extends to US 41 in the south.
Until the Myakka River recedes, flooding of up to 60 centimeters may occur in the immediate river areas.
According to a map published by Sarasota County, the main problem area includes the communities on the east side of River Road.
North Port spokesman Jason Bartolone said via email: “Please note that residential properties west of River Road, including Wellen Park, are not included.
“The Big Slough and Myakkahatchee Creek are not currently problem areas in North Port,” he said, adding that city public works staff will monitor water levels and flows in the city’s sewer system and make adjustments as needed.
The recent storms were not beneficial for North Port
In July 2021, the Myakka River level rose to as high as 2.73 meters due to rainfall from Tropical Storm Elsa.
This river runoff – along with 10 to 11 inches of rain in the city – caused several neighborhoods to flood, and city officials drove flood vehicles door-to-door to rescue stranded residents.
In September 2022, Hurricane Ian caused even more damage. The Myakka River reached a new record crest of 12.84 feet in early October. This downstream runoff – along with the diversion of excessive rainfall elsewhere upstream in the Myakka River basin – caused even greater flooding, with the downstream flow of water damaging several bridges on Price Boulevard and eroding the banks of the Cocoplum Waterway.
Bartolone wrote that North Port does not expect a repeat of the two flooding events.
The first rains associated with Debby caused flooding in a small section of Tropicaire Boulevard, but did not result in a road closure.
Earlier this week, North Port Police, public service workers, high-water vehicles and air rescue boats were able to assist in the evacuation of stranded residents in Pinecraft.
“Conditions are different with each storm,” Bartolone wrote. “However, the Public Works Department is continually working to improve the stormwater drainage system, including removing debris and blockages, proactively rehabilitating swales and retention ditches as part of the annual drainage system improvement project, and replacing water control structures.”
