North Port: City facilities to close due to Tropical Storm Helene

Francesco Abbruzzino, The Uncensored Report, LLC

NORTH PORT, FL – City facilities will be closed Wednesday and Thursday due to the approaching storm. This also includes Parks & Recreation facilities and records & fingerprinting services at the North Port Police station.

Solid Waste services will be suspended Thursday, Sept. 26, for City of North Port customers. All of Thursday’s trash, recycling and yard waste pickups are expected to take place Friday. All Friday pickups will be collected Saturday. This is based on the current status of the Sarasota County landfill and is subject to change.

Sarasota County will send out an evacuation alert for Level A and manufactured home communities starting Wednesday, Sept. 25, at 7 a.m. Evacuation Centers in Sarasota County will open at noon Wednesday. The City will be following suit and would like to remind residents in Zone A, that this is a “mandatory” evacuation.

“If you do not leave Zone A, there is a strong likelihood you would be inaccessible by emergency services for the duration of the storm and multiple days following,” North Port Fire Chief Scott Titus said. “You will likely be without power and could have high levels of water and hazards in your home that have a likelihood of danger to life and health.”

Community members can identify their evacuation level and the nearest evacuation center on the County’s website at SCGov.net.

The City Commission is expected to declare a local state of emergency in anticipation of possible impacts from the storm during its regular meeting at 6 p.m. today. This proactive measure is a procedural step to allow emergency funding for any necessary repairs.

Sandbags

A self-serve sandbag station is now available for City of North Port residents at the Larry Thoennissen Athletic Fields behind the George Mullen Activity Center, 1602 Kramer Way.

Bags and sand will be available while supplies last, with a limit of 10 bags per vehicle. Residents are asked to bring their own shovels.

Stormwater management

The Department of Public Works has lowered water levels throughout the city in preparation of elevated storm-related rainfall to increase capacity. To learn more about how North Port’s stormwater system works and how the City manages it, visit NorthPortFL.gov/Stormwater.