Emergency Management officials urge caution on roads following week of strong rain

Emergency Management officials urge caution on roads following week of strong rain
Posted on 08/16/2019

MANATEE COUNTY, FL (Aug. 16, 2019) – Following a week of storms that has drenched some areas of Manatee County with 12 inches of rain, Manatee County Emergency Management is urging drivers to use caution and avoid driving through standing water.

"The ground is saturated and most stormwater ponds are full after a week of storms," said Emergency Management Chief Steve Litschauer. "There's more rain in the forecast and that will cause issues for low areas. We can expect short term road flooding during and immediately following any intense rainfall today and tomorrow."

Public Works Director Chad Butzow said no county roads have closed but drivers should avoid areas where waters haven't receded after a strong rain. The Public Works department will make sandbags available at a Public Works facility at 5511 39th Street East, Bradenton.

This morning there was standing water in several low-lying areas along 14th Street West, Orlando Avenue, 30th & 9th streets west in Bradenton. Also along Prospect Rd between Whitfield Ave. and 63rd Ave. E.

Parking lots at Coquina Beach remained closed for a second day on Friday.

For more information on Manatee County Government, visit www.mymanatee.org or call (941) 748-4501. You can also follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/manatee.county.fl and on Twitter, @ManateeGov.