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The City of North Port remains under a local state of emergency as it awaits impacts from Hurricane Idalia.
City Hall and other offices are closed Tuesday and Wednesday, along with the George Mullen Activity Center, Morgan Family Community Center, North Port Aquatic Center and Warm Mineral Springs Park. Rentals and programs scheduled at these facilities will be canceled and rescheduled to a later date if possible.
For the latest information, visit NorthPortFL.gov/Alerts.
Evacuations
Out of an abundance of caution, Sarasota County is calling for Level A evacuations. This includes vessels, RVs, mobile and manufactured homes.
Evacuation centers are now open throughout the county. View a list of the centers and more information here.
Residents who choose not to evacuate should be aware that first responders may not be able to get to them in an emergency if sustained winds reach 45 mph and conditions are unsafe.
Sandbag station closed
The self-serve sandbag station at the George Mullen Activity Center is now closed. A total of seven truckloads of sand and about 7,000 sandbags were distributed to help residents prepare for the storm.
Solid Waste collection
Trash, recycling and yard waste collection were suspended Tuesday. Solid Waste crews plan to collect Tuesday’s route on Wednesday, weather permitting. The remainder of the week will be one day behind until collections are completed. For up-to-date collection plans, please visit NorthPortFl.gov/Alerts.
Bulk collection scheduled for Tuesday and Wednesday will not be picked up this week. These will be placed on next week’s schedule. Residents should not have any bulk material or trash containers curbside at this time as it may become a hazard.
Protective actions
Department of Public Works staff have been clearing roads of any loose debris and checking and cleaning storm drains and catch basins within the City right of way to remove potential blockages. Crews continue to lower levels throughout the 80 miles of canals and over 60 water control structures that make up the City's extensive system.
Levels in the Myakkahatchee Creek, the primary route for water through the City, were at about 17.5 feet Tuesday ahead of the storm's arrival, which is lower than average for this time of year and nearly 2 feet lower than this time last year. As staff continues to manage water, residents may see the levels in some canals decrease in preparation for the anticipated rain.
Click below to watch a video of Public Works Assistant Director Tricia Wisner explaining the City's water control systems and how they are monitored, especially in anticipation of Hurricane Idalia.
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