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Hello Everyone,
As Sarasota faces a long road to recovery, the resiliency of our community has been on full display. Once Hurricane Milton passed, our city immediately sprang to life, with neighbors helping neighbors clear the debris from their homes and work trucks filling the streets to begin the recovery and restoration process.
Sarasota has been in the spotlight, nationally and internationally, as interests from around the world tune in for updates on our city. Both during and after the storm, I gave updates to more than 50 local, national, and international media outlets. I was also honored to speak with President Biden, Vice-President Harris, and Secretary of Transportation Buttigieg, who wanted to assure Sarasota that the federal government will do all that it can to help us recover from this historic weather event.
After the storm, I joined U.S. Senator Rick Scott, Congressman Greg Steube, and Sarasota Police Chief Rex Troche on a tour of the barrier islands to get an up-close look at the damage left by Hurricane Milton. Tours like this are important and allow our federal partners to gain a better understanding of the needs of Sarasota and how they can support our community.
Recovery is on everyone’s minds right now, and the City is here to help. Crews from the Public Works, Parks and Recreation, and Utilities Departments have been working around the clock to restore the hardest-hit areas of our city. We want to assure residents that recovery is our highest priority, and we will do everything we can to restore Sarasota.
I understand that storm debris cleanup is one of the most important aspects of post-storm recovery, especially after many residents were impacted by two major hurricanes back-to-back. Immediately following the storm, the City activated its three emergency storm debris pickup contractors to expedite the cleanup process and return a sense of normalcy to our residents most affected by Hurricane Milton.
Thank you to City staff who have dedicated long hours and weekends to storm recovery, many of whom prioritized the well-being of our community before assessing damages at their own homes after the storm.
We know the road to recovery will be long, but we will get through this challenging time as a community and come out stronger than ever.
Regards,
 Liz Alpert
Mayor
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 A FEMA Disaster Recovery Center can be found at the Municipal Auditorium, 801 N. Tamiami Trail.
As our city begins the recovery process from Hurricane Milton, it is critical that residents are aware of the resources available to them in the wake of the storm:
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Disaster Recovery Center: A Disaster Recovery Center is available to impacted residents and provides face-to-face assistance from FEMA and SBA representatives. The DRC is open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at the Municipal Auditorium, 801 N. Tamiami Trail.
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FEMA Assistance: Federal aid is available to Sarasota residents impacted by Hurricane Milton. To apply for disaster assistance through FEMA, residents can visit DisasterAssistance.gov or call 800-621-3362
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Business Recovery: Recovery assistance is available to businesses in Sarasota impacted by Hurricane Milton. For information and additional resources, click here.
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Vegetative Debris Drop-off: Sarasota County (including City of Sarasota) residents can drop off vegetative debris free of charge at two locations. The closest vegetative debris drop-off location to the City of Sarasota located at Rothenbach Park, 8650 Bee Ridge Road. Sites are open Monday - Saturday, 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
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Operation Blue Roof: Residents whose roofs were damaged by Hurricane Milton can sign up for free assistance through Operation Blue Roof, which provides and installs temporary roof coverings until more permanent repairs can be completed. To sign up, call 888-ROOF-BLU or visit blueroof.gov
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Comfort Stations: Individuals needing a place to get out of the heat and use showers or laundry services can visit a Comfort Station located inside city limits at 3333 N. Tamiami Trail.
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Resource Map: Sarasota County has provided a map of available resources to those impacted by Hurricane Milton.
For updates on additional recovery resources as they become available, follow City of Sarasota social media pages or visit Sarasotafl.gov/Alerts.
Storm debris pickup is in full swing! The city has activated its emergency storm debris collection contracts and residents citywide should have their storm debris ready for pickup.
We understand that the storm debris collection process can feel long and arduous for some, but rest assured that every available resource is being considered to expedite collection and return a sense of normalcy to daily life here in the city.
To ensure timely and stress-free pickup, please observe the following dos and don'ts of storm debris preparation:
𝐃𝐨:
- Keep storm debris piles at least 6 feet from objects that may interfere with collection equipment (mailboxes, trees, etc.)
- Separate storm debris into 4 piles:
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Construction debris – fencing, carpeting, dry wall and other flood-impacted construction materials
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White goods - appliances including refrigerators, ranges, washing machines, dryers, air conditioning units and water heaters
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Bulk items – furniture and accessories, mattresses and other items affected by flood water within a home or structure
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Vegetative debris – downed tree branches, limbs and vegetative material
𝐃𝐨𝐧'𝐭:
- Use plastic bags for storm debris
- Place storm debris piles in the sidewalk or on roadways
- Park vehicles in front of piles
For questions about storm debris pickup, please contact the storm debris collection hotline at 833-947-7739.
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 Our Parks and Recreation Department is diligently addressing the significant damage caused by Hurricane Milton. The Landscape Division is clearing debris from streets/medians and assessing damages across parks and facilities to ensure safety and accessibility.
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Bayfront Park, Bird Key Park, Eloise Werlin Park / Tony Saprito Pier, Gillespie Park, Indian Beach Park, Ken Thompson Park, North Water Tower Park, and the School Avenue MURT will remain closed indefinitely due to significant safety hazards. Other parks may be closed or have areas that are inaccessible. Please use caution and respect all safety signage in parks still undergoing cleanup and repairs.
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Payne Park and the Circus Playground are now open, with ongoing debris removal and tree maintenance throughout the park.
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Pioneer Park's north section, including the basketball court and playground, is cleared and open, while the southern section is being cleared of large trees.
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Mary Dean Park is now reopened.
- So far, the team has processed almost 900 work orders related to Hurricane Milton, far exceeding the 500 recorded after Hurricane Irma.
Facility Updates:
While Bobby Jones Golf Club and Payne Park Tennis Center are now back open for regular business/programming, the Robert L. Taylor Community Complex, and the Sarasota Municipal Auditorium are closed until further notice as they act as host sites for storm recovery teams. Lido Beach Pool sustained significant storm damage and will remain closed until it is safe and operational. The pool at Arlington Park and Aquatic Complex is open, and the rest of the facility will reopen to the public next week.
A week after Hurricane Milton, all standing water has been successfully removed from the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, and clean-up crews have started the remediation process in all impacted areas.
The flooding from Hurricane Milton effected the orchestra pit, kitchen, dressing rooms, and production offices, but repairs are moving forward, including roof patching and addressing damage to the docks and sidewalks.
Though performances are canceled through December 31, 2024, we are optimistic about reopening on January 1, 2025, stronger than ever! Refunds are being processed for ticket holders impacted by these changes, and we appreciate your patience as we work through this. Tickets for 2025 performances are available at VanWezel.org.
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On Friday, October 11, 2024, Sarasota Police Chief Rex Troche led U.S. Senator Rick Scott, Congressman Greg Steube, and City of Sarasota Mayor Liz Alpert on a tour of the barrier islands, giving them a firsthand look at the devastating aftermath of Hurricane Milton. The tour took place once the floodwaters receded, allowing local and federal leaders to witness the extent of the destruction. Many homes and businesses, which had already been struggling to recover from the impact of Hurricane Helene, now face the overwhelming task of rebuilding once again.
The drone footage, captured by Dylan Jon Wade Cox Photography, provides a powerful bird’s-eye view of the damage, showcasing the scale of the destruction across the islands. You can watch the footage of the tour on the Sarasota Police Department YouTube channel here. The images highlight damaged rooftops, flooded streets, and debris scattered across the islands—a stark reminder of the challenges ahead.
During the tour, Senator Scott and Congressman Steube expressed their commitment to advocating for federal assistance and working with local agencies to accelerate the recovery process. Mayor Alpert emphasized the importance of unity and rebuilding efforts in the days and weeks ahead.
While the road to recovery may be long, the City of Sarasota stands firm in its dedication to rebuilding and supporting those impacted by Hurricane Milton. Our hearts go out to every resident and business affected by this storm. We know that together, as a strong and resilient community, we will overcome this and emerge stronger than ever.
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Monday, Oct. 21 | 9 a.m.
City Hall | Commission Chambers
Agenda
Wednesday, Oct. 23 | 9:00 a.m.
City Hall | Commission Chambers
Agenda
Wednesday, Oct. 23 | 1:30 p.m.
City Hall | Commission Chambers
Agenda
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"Sarasota Scene"
Norm Schimmel
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