SARASOTA, Fla. – Hurricane Milton was only hours away from landfall Wednesday in Florida’s Gulf Coast, and there were already reports of tornadoes. There was flooding when Sarasota officials asked residents to shelter in place.
In a public announcement, Sarasota County Fire Department Deputy Fire Chief Darin Wallentine said first responders also have to shelter in place, so this will delay their response to 911 calls.
“As soon as the conditions warrant and it’s safe for our crews to get back out on the road we will be responding to all of those 911 calls,” Wallentine said.
Sarasota could experience storm surge from 10 to 15 feet. According to the National Weather Service, a flash flood warning was in effect Wednesday afternoon in northwestern Sarasota County, including the Myakka River at Myakka River State Park.
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Water service to the barrier islands in Sarasota, a city south of Tampa, was disconnected. The county closed access to barrier islands, including Casey Key, Manasota Key, Siesta Key, and Longboat Key.
The Sarasota Herald-Tribune reported very few gas stations remained open and there were long lines at the ones with working gas pumps. County officials encouraged evacuations.
“We do not want you staying in your home if you are anywhere near a body of water,” said Sandra Tapfumaneyi, the county’s emergency management chief, during a news conference.
Sarasota Memorial Hospital suspended visitations at the Sarasota and Venice campuses and canceled elective surgeries. The SMH North Port Emergency Room plans to remain open.
ABC7 reported county officials asked anyone in the area of The Myakkahatchee Creek, near the city of North Port, to evacuate and head to the shelter at Heron Creek Middle School.
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The other county shelters in the North Port area were Atwater Elementary at 4701 Huntsville Ave., and North Port High at 6400 West Price Boulevard. In Venice, a coastal city, the shelter was at Taylor Ranch Elementary, 2500 Taylor Ranch Trail.
Five schools in the city of Sarasota turned into shelters: Booker High, at 3201 N. Orange Ave.; Brookside Middle, at 3636 South Shade Ave.; Gulf Gate Elementary, at 6500 S. Lockwood Ridge Road; Philippi Shores Elementary, 4747 S. Tamiami Trail; and Southside Elementary, at 1901 Webber St.
For information about free transportation to the shelter, call 941-861-5000.
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Torres contributed to this report from Miami. ABC News Correspondent Victor Oquendo, formerly with Local 10 News, contributed to this report from Sarasota.