Bradenton resident Wilmer Guevara spent two hours waiting in line for gas at a new free fuel depot temporarily established in Manatee County by the state on Saturday in response to the demand for fuel during Hurricane Milton recovery.
Guevara, 30, was one of many SRQ area residents who have encountered long lines at local gas stations since Milton made landfall this week. Guevara said he helped tow two other cars that ran out of fuel while waiting in line at the fuel depot because of a sense of community felt among those impacted by the storm.
“They ran out of gas and were pushing their car, so I decided to show some heart and help,” Guevara said in Spanish. “It’s hard to find gas, everywhere is crowded. It helps that the gas is free because everything is so expensive in this economy.”
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Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis said the state is working to address high fuel demand during a news conference held at the fuel distribution site in Bradenton on Saturday afternoon. Three free fuel depots have already been established in Manatee, Pinellas and Hillsborough counties, with more planned for Sarasota and Charlotte counties and additional locations in Pinellas and Hillsborough.
“We’ve taken on a fuel mission, we’ve opened three fuel depots so that people can come and fill up,” DeSantis said. “We have one in Bradenton, we opened one in St. Petersburg in Hillsborough County in Plant City where we had a lot of flooding.”
Demand for gas remains rampant in Sarasota and Manatee
Fuel is on its way to alleviate high demand as part of a new state effort to establish free fuel depots in communities impacted by Hurricane Milton.
The state has available gas supply, but that high demand continues to dwindle supplies at convenience stores that are in operation while others remain without power or are simply still closed, DeSantis said.
Watch: Sarasota and Manatee residents brave long lines as need for fuel rises
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To help meet demand, the state launched a new operation on Friday to establish sites that allow residents can fuel up with 10 free gallons of gas served directly from tankers without even leaving their cars. On Saturday, many Manatee County residents lined up at the resource distribution site at Tom Bennett Park for their turn at the gas pump when DeSantis showed up.
“Normally, Florida like most states is self-service,” DeSantis said. “This is full-service, you don’t have to get out of your car. It’s like being in New Jersey you pull up and these guys pump your gas for you… More depots are coming tomorrow, and we do have a lot of fuel flowing in the normal private sector. We are helping with fuel escorts to be able to get those to the gas stations as quickly as possible.”
Milton creates challenges at Manatee County’s airport and seaport
Strong winds from Hurricane Milton created challenges at Manatee County’s airport and seaport that are still being remedied.
Milton damaged two sections of the Sarasota-Bradenton International Airport roof located over the main concourse, which includes gates and the security checkpoint. Airport CEO Rick Piccolo told the Herald-Tribune that repairs are underway and the airport expects to open at 9 a.m. Wednesday for passenger flights. Private aviation with small aircraft are already able to use the airport’s airfield. The airport parking lots and access for car rental purposes remain open.
More: Sarasota Bradenton Airport hopes to resume flights soon after Hurricane Milton roof damage
“I think we have at least $10 million worth of damage, if not more,” Piccolo said. “We have debris, pieces of roof that blew off and a lot of hangars that have been either heavily damaged or destroyed. We are working as fast as we can, we have a temporary roof we are working on that should be done hopefully by Tuesday at midnight so that we can re-open Wednesday morning.”
SeaPort Manatee was also affected by Milton and had to be closed to ship traffic and landside traffic due to a lack of electricity, but is now open to ship traffic with restrictions set by the U.S. Coast Guard Captain of the Port. Electricity at the port has been partially restored and limited cargo operations have resumed
DeSantis said there are contingency plans to help deliver gas to the Sarasota and Manatee area to ensure Milton’s impacts on the port do not contribute to fuel supply needs in the SRQ region.
“They are going to bring in from Everglades they are going to bring in from Tampa to be able to service the Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte area,” DeSantis said. “But, wouldn’t it be good if we got (SeaPort Manatee) up and running as soon as possible.”
Anna Maria Island residents begin Hurricane Milton recovery
Kathy Brown, 81, was among many residents who returned to Anna Maria Island this weekend to begin Hurricane Milton cleanup and resume far-from-finished repair work from Hurricane Helene’s impact a couple of weeks prior. Brown said her home of 34 years in the city of Bradenton Beach was already ruined by hurricanes Debby and Helene before Milton made landfall.
More: ‘We’ll rebuild’: Bradenton Beach community begin rebuilding after Hurricane Milton
All Anna Maria Island residents were able to return home this weekend to begin recovery efforts for Hurricane Milton. The seven-mile barrier island is home to three cities. The city of Bradenton Beach opened access to residents via the Cortez Bridge on Friday. The city was the slowest to re-open post Helene because feet of sand had covered much of Gulf Drive and many side streets in the city, in addition to any damage to buildings. Milton’s storm surge was more modest, although the storm did add significant wind damage to many buildings on the island.
The city of Holmes Beach opened access via the Manatee Avenue bridge to island residents on Saturday, also making it possible for city of Anna Maria residents to return to their homes on the northern end of the island through the bridge.
Manatee County residents endure impact from multiple hurricanes
Milton is the third hurricane to impact the Manatee County area in some way since August, but it was the first time many homes on the Manatee County mainland have been damaged — although there were unfortunate residents who have endured impacts from two or all three storms combined.
Milton tore a part of Adriaan DeVilliers’ roof from his house in Palmetto. DeVilliers, who is a candidate for the Florida District 71 seat held by Republican William Robinson, said Helene created a three- to four-foot storm surge in his neighborhood but that Milton’s impact was mostly wind-related.
‘Ghost town’: Palmetto residents return to ripped off roofs, damaged docks
Residents of the Rubonia community in northern Manatee are also working to begin the rebuilding and restoration process in the wake of Hurricane Milton.
Charles Miller Sr., 74, was sitting in his yard on Friday afternoon waiting for his son to return with gas for an electric saw they use to clean debris from his lot. Miller, a Vietnam veteran, said that the storm was one of the worst he had seen and all of his years as a Manatee County native.
The flood-prone community has flooded during every hurricane that has affected the area recently, prompting most residents to evacuate ahead of Milton. Residents hope authorities address concerns with repeat flooding. Residents of the economically challenged community say they are used to being left in search of answers to challenges posed by sea level rise and storm surge that well-beyond their means, and perhaps that of the county government itself.
“I’m here in the gulf near the water, so I went further inland with my kids,” Miller said. “I didn’t feel safe. Everybody in this street pretty much left out ahead of the storm.”
This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: DeSantis addresses gas shortage during Saturday pit-stop in Manatee
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