In preparation for Hurricane Irma, the City of Sarasota has declared a Local State of Emergency. City Manager Tom Barwin, in consultation with Mayor Shelli Freeland Eddie, approved the declaration yesterday. City administrative offices will remain open today. Declaring a Local State of Emergency in advance of the storm, provides the City with more flexibility regarding expenditures and allocating resources. The National Hurricane Center has forecasted a 70 percent chance of wind gusts in the Sarasota area above 70mph beginning the evening of Saturday, Sept. 9. Residents are encouraged to know their evacuation zone and the location of the nearby shelters. If yard waste collection day has passed this week, do not place more yard waste curbside. Instead, take yard waste to a secure location on the property or contact the City at 941-365-7651 for a special pick up at a minimum charge. The waste could blow away and clog storm drains potentially causing street flooding. Public Works teams are actively clearing storm drains in preparation for this storm. City staff is visiting commercial construction sites to ensure these areas are secured. Garbage dumpsters have been ordered to be emptied at those sites and construction cranes will be placed in “weather vane” mode. The City of Sarasota will continue to update residents as information becomes available.

City of Sarasota