x
Breaking News
More () »

Sarasota keeps close eye on Myakka River levels

County leaders have issued a warning to everyone living along the Myakka River to keep an eye on the rising river and be ready to leave if necessary.
Credit: City of Venice
Venice Myakka River Park remains flooded.

SARASOTA, Fla. -- Living along the Myakka River is described as “a little piece of heaven” according to 24-year-old Austin Thinnes. He grew up on the river.

“A lot of fishing … I know the river like the back of my hand.”

What’s the price for living in paradise?

“Flooding. We’re veterans of this," Thinnes said. "We’ve been through 4 plus floods know the drill.”

What’s the drill?

“Grab a U-Haul and start moving into a big U-Haul and get to high ground.”

County leaders have issued a Code Red to everyone living along the Myakka River as Subtropical Storm Alberto heads north in the Gulf. The emergency alert system advises residents to keep an eye on the rising river and be ready to leave if necessary.

At Sleeping Turtle Preserves, Sarasota County keeps track of previous floods. One stick marks 11 floods starting in 1988. Missing are two from last September.

The worst flood is at the top in 2003 at 12 1/2 feet.

“They need to be aware and most are,” said Ed McCrane, chief of Sarasota County’s Emergency Operations Center.

He said right now the flood gauge at Myakka State Park is at 6 feet. At 7 feet, park trails flood. By 10 feet, there’s major flooding in neighborhoods along the river. That’s what happened last September.

As a precaution with this storm, the county has issued an early warning to residents living along the river to keep an eye on flood levels.

“That’s pretty much all we can do. We can’t divert the river, we can’t stop the water flow. People there know the hazards of what happens when the river floods,” said McCrane.

During the last flood, Thinnes said his parents told him that would be the last one. He says his parents told him, “If it floods again like it did with Irma, the house is up for sale.”

McCrane would like to see the National Weather Service place flood gauges in the neighborhoods along the river prone to flooding

If it appears the Myakka River will flood, McCrane said the county will take portable bathrooms to dry ground just outside the neighborhoods and set up bright lights for nighttime travel in and out.

Make it easy to keep up-to-date with more stories like this. Download the 10 News app now.

Have a news tip? Email tips@wtsp.com, visit our Facebook page or Twitter feed.

Before You Leave, Check This Out