Jakony Tribune. Continue Reading at - WFLA
BRADENTON BEACH, Fla. (WFLA) — A curfew is still in effect for residents on Bradenton Beach from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m.
At this time, the beach is only accessible by foot. No cars are allowed and will be turned around at the checkpoint. Only residents, business owners, property managers, and insurance workers are allowed to enter.
“The Wicked Cantina, I came here all the time, and it looks like the sandbar; it’s unbelievable,” resident Scott Munroe said.
Munroe crossed over the Cortez Bridge and walked the three-plus miles to his Anna Maria Island home.
“I think I had five or six feet of water in the garage, and in the nonliving areas, I lost two cars,” he said.
Florida Department of Transportation crews worked quickly to clear Gulf Drive South but still need to pave a path on the side streets.
This is the first time Munroe has seen his home.
“It’s heartbreaking,” he said.
Every direction you look, there’s destruction and mounds of sand piled up.
“It looks like snow drifts,” Munroe said.
Cars are buried in the sand. Munroe said it wasn’t just water that inundated his home.
“It’s sewage, so everything is contaminated,” Munroe said.
Bradenton Beach Mayor John Chappie said the home at the end of his street broke loose from its foundation.
“The lady who owns it is in her 80s, and this has been a generational home,” Chappie said.
Now, it’s gone.
“This is the first opportunity that we’ve had, and we had to walk about two miles,” said Michael Fiandaca, Bradenton beach condo owner.
Fiandaca walked over the Cortez Bridge making his way to his Bradenton Beach condo. The last two miles, they hopped in and rode with our 8 On Your Side crew.
“I’ve got two shovels and a broom,” Fiandaca said.
Fiandaca had to navigate around the debris, and when he finally made it, he found total destruction.
“Wow, holy cow,” he said.
His front door was blocked by sand. The wind and water broke the window’s glass. The vacation home has been Fiandaca’s paradise for the past 18 years. Now it’s filled with sand.
“It’s a race against time, in the sense that there’s water damage and mold concerns,” he said.
Many residents still have not been able to return to check on their homes as curfews and checkpoints are in place.
Residents have no other option than to walk, but with the heat and humidity, it’s no easy task.
“Very frustrated that the roads are completely blocked can’t access them,” Fiandaca said.
Chappie asked for residents to be patient.
“I know it’s frustrating that we haven’t opened things up, but you can’t just jump to stage five without doing stage three and four or you’re going to fail just like the traffic jam here,” Chappie said. “FDOT needs free access to go back-and-forth they do not need to be slowing down, and that’s the reason. We are keeping people off until it’s taken care of.”
Manatee County has opened five distribution centers for water, meals, and tarps. The following locations will be open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.:
- GT Bray Park – 5502 33rd Ave. Dr. W., Bradenton
- Kingfish Boat Ramp – 752 Manatee Ave. Holmes Beach
- Blackstone Park – 2112 14th Ave. W., Palmetto
- Wakeland Support Center – E 1812 27th St. E., Bradenton
- City of Bradenton Parking Garage – 3rd Ave W & 10th St W
Meals on Wheels is distributing food and cleaning supplies in Rubonia.
A Red Cross Shelter is open at First Baptist Church at 1306 Manatee Avenue W. in Bradenton for those displaced by the storm.
A Disaster Recovery Center has opened at the Lakewood Ranch Library (6410 Rangeland Pkwy., Lakewood Ranch). It will be open from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week.
Manatee County is organizing a community-wide volunteer effort. County leaders are asking for 300 volunteers to meet on Oct. 1 through Oct. 3 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. at the Bradenton Area Convention Center (1 Haben Blvd., Palmetto). Transportation will be provided to survey neighborhoods.
