As Hurricane Milton approaches the Florida coast, Manatee County is taking proactive steps to ensure the safety of its residents, particularly the homeless population. Situated between Sarasota and Tampa, two areas expected to be heavily impacted by the storm, the county is making arrangements for transportation to move homeless individuals from designated pickup locations to shelters.
The Manatee County community paramedics program has been working tirelessly to reach out to and inform unhoused individuals about the impending hurricane and the locations of available shelters. According to Jodie Fiske, Manatee County Public Safety Director, public transportation has organized safe pickup points for individuals to be transported to shelters where they can seek refuge during the storm.
With approximately 147,000 residents and visitors urged to evacuate the area, Chief of Emergency Management Matt Myers noted a significant movement of people complying with the evacuation orders. The county, positioned on the south side of Tampa Bay, faces the looming threat of over 10 feet of potentially life-threatening storm surge.
Fiske emphasized the increasing danger posed by the storm surge and high winds, highlighting the point at which rescue operations may become too hazardous to continue. She stressed the importance of heeding evacuation orders to avoid risking lives by attempting to stay in unsafe conditions.
