Hurricane Hermine drenches Sarasota area

Although Sarasota and the surrounding area avoided the worst of Hurricane Hermine, residents still experienced high winds and flooding. 

Gov. Rick Scott issued a state of emergency for 51 counties Thursday, including Sarasota and Manatee counties, as then Tropical Storm Hermine neared Florida's coasts. 

Several Siesta Key roads were already under water on Thursday as surfs were rising along beaches causing sea water to trickle down roads in Siesta Key Village. Sarasota County declared a local state of emergency and announced its waste water facilities were at capacity on Thursday, cautioning residents to conserve water.

Hurricane Hermine, Florida's first hurricane since 2005, made landfall early Friday morning in North Florida's Big Bend area. 

Several Longboat Key residents woke up Friday morning without power after being battered by several of Hermine's outer bands throughout Thursday night and into Friday morning.  

County crews inspected over 2,500 properties after the storm had passed and found 31 affected by the storm. As of Friday, Sarasota County's preliminary damage assessments estimated  almost $700,000 damage.