As winds from Hurricane Ian continue to diminish, Manatee County Public Safety and Administration are lifting the mandatory evacuation orders which have been in effect since Tuesday morning. Emergency evacuation shelters are being closed, and residents are being allowed to return to their homes. However, it is not a return to normal. “This is not an all-clear,” said Manatee County Administrator Scott Hopes. “There are still hazards out there. And you need to understand the danger.” Dr. Hopes already implored potential “disaster tourists” to stay home so that the First In Teams, Utilities restoration crews and damage assessment can continue their restoration and recovery efforts. Initial assessments show that the island communities have suffered minor to moderate damages with a greater impact being felt inland in east county communities like Myakka City. Reports of fallen trees, scattered limbs and snapped power wires have been widespread across the region, and while power crews are already deploying to the area, residents are being asked to be alert for debris and downed lines. With inundating rains on top of already-saturated ground, the risk of flooding remains high and will remain high through the end of the week. Motorists are reminded to not drive through water of unknown depth. If you can’t see the road striping under the water, turn around. Don’t drown. If power is out, drivers should treat each intersection as a four-way stop and remain alert for unexpected road hazards and washouts. Finally, if your power is still out and you are using a generator, remember that they must be used with proper ventilation at a proper distance from the home. Do not use a generator indoors or in partially enclosed spaces, including homes, garages and crawl spaces—even those areas with partial ventilation. Do not operate near open doors and windows. Using fans will not prevent carbon monoxide build-up in the home. For more information on Manatee County Government, visit mymanatee.org or call (941) 748-4501. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram at @manateegov.