Longboat Key resident Roger Lusins was one of many residents that took advantage of the 10 free sandbags offered by the town on Tuesday.
Photo by Carter Weinhofer
Longboat Key
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Up and down Longboat Key on Tuesday morning, residents, town government workers and business owners prepared for the effects of Hurricane Idalia.
While the storm is predicted to make landfall Wednesday in the Big Bend area of Florida as a Category 3 hurricane, the Key is anticipated to face a storm surge of 3-5 feet, along with rainfall of 6-8 inches and winds from 45-65 mph.
All of Longboat Key remains under evacuation orders from Sarasota and Manatee counties.
"With the storm track moving north overnight, we are highly likely to have our 1st responders staying on the island throughout the event (including me)," said Town Manager Howard Tipton, in an email Tuesday morning. "The island is pretty quiet this morning. Our Town prep work is all completed and so now we wait and watch."
Public Works Program Manager Charlie Mopps fills a sandbag for residents at the Broadway Beach Public Access.
Photo by Carter Weinhofer
At 9 a.m. Tuesday morning, a large chunk of the beach had already been covered over by incoming high tide, worsened by Idalia.
Photo by Carter Weinhofer
Some streets on the north end of Longboat Key were already showing the effects of higher tides early Tuesday morning, like this canal that was draining onto Saint Judes Drive.
Photo by Carter Weinhofer
Few shops in Whitney Beach Plaza, like Sips, remained open for the morning before Idalia was supposed to make landfall. Others, like Sips' neighbors Eason Builders Group, prepped earlier.
Photo by Carter Weinhofer
The landscape of the public beach right off of Longboat Key's Broadway Street access point already seemed to be feeling the effects of abnormal weather by noon on Tuesday.
Photo by Carter Weinhofer
Hours before the storm, over a hundred shorebirds grouped together, possibly doing preparations of their own.
Photo by Carter Weinhofer
Simone Salustri of Le Colonne on St. Armands Circle moving all the outside furniture in his restaurant.
Photo by Petra Rivera
Omar Abassi of Le Colonne on St. Armands Circle moving outside furniture inside
Photo by Petra Rivera
David Posner of Coastal Hobo raising his products off the floor in his store in preparation of Hurricane Idalia.
Photo by Petra Rivera
A handful of people went to Lido Beach the morning of Aug. 29 to surf and enjoy the beach before Hurricane Idalia.
Photo by Petra Rivera
Mobil Gas Station on Longboat Key covered stations in the morning of Aug. 29.
Photo by Petra Rivera
Alex Fabrizo taking in signs and other outdoor items from the Publix parking lot.
Photo by Petra Rivera
Cafe L'Europe was boarded up the morning of Aug. 29 in prepartion of Hurricane Idalia
