MANATEE COUNTY, FL (August 22, 2024) – Manatee County has extended the State of Emergency due to Tropical Storm/Hurricane Debby as heavy rains continue to fall.
The Manatee Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) voted unanimously to extend the local State of Emergency an additional week this morning. This came as staff offered an update to ongoing flooding concerns around the county.
“I do want to state unequivocally that the dam and Lake Manatee continue to function as designed,” said Deputy County Administrator Evan Pilachowski. “They are structurally sound. There’s no risk of any sort of breach of the dam.”
Parts of the Upper Manatee River Watershed have received up to 6-8 inches of rainfall in the last 48 hours, with widespread areas of the county recording at least 3-5 inches. Manatee County Utilities is actively monitoring and managing Lake Manatee water levels and river flows. Communications will be sent directly to those who may be impacted using Alert Manatee messaging. This messaging will automatically go out once the following flow rates are predicted.
3,500 Cubic Feet per Second Notice
The Lake Manatee Dam discharge is expected to increase to over 3,500 cubic feet per second. Your property has been identified as one that may see downstream impacts on the Manatee River at this flow rate. Please take appropriate precautions. At this time, the flow rate is expected to stay below 7,000 cubic feet per second. In the event that releases will be increased above 7,000, an additional notification will be sent out.
7,000 Cubic Feet per Second Notice
The Lake Manatee Dam discharge is expected to increase to over 7,000 cubic feet per second. At this flow, parts of Rye Rd may be inundated. Please proceed with caution and do not drive through water of unknown depth. Your property has also been identified as one that may see downstream impacts on the Manatee River at this flow rate. Please take appropriate precautions.
The messaging will be in reaction to inflow increases at Lake Manatee which necessitate ongoing releases of water to maintain the proper lake levels in the primary water supply for Manatee County.
“The flow into Lake Manatee flows through and out of the reservoir,” said Pilachowski. “It’s not an active release, it’s simply flowing through.”
Sandbags are being delivered to the Rubonia, and Myakka Community Centers. Self-service sandbag locations at Tom Bennett Park, Buffalo Creek Park, and Lakewood Ranch Park have also been opened. Manatee 3-1-1 is extending hours during this period of expected precipitation. To report flooding, please contact 3-1-1 for assistance until 11 pm. After 11 pm, please call 941-290-5266.
To sign up for alerts, please visit mymanatee.org/alertmanatee. For more information, please visit weather.gov/tbw/ for the current forecast from the National Weather Service. For current road closures, check mymanatee.org/storm.
Stay safe, and remember: Turn Around, Don’t Drown—never drive through flooded areas.