Tracking Irma's aftermath

In the aftermath of Hurricane Irma, reporters went into the community chronicling the damage from the storm and the resiliency of our community. For continuing updates, visit yourobserver.com. To share your photos and stories, please message us on Facebook at facebook.com/ObserverGroup/

5:35 p.m., Sept. 11 - Sarasota County: Standard residential collection rules will be suspended for storm debris, the county government announced this afternoon. 

Residents are urged to place storm debris at the curb away from objects like mailboxes, fire hydrants and light poles. Residents are instructed not to mix storm debris with other waste.

Public Works crews will tour the city tomorrow with the storm debris collection contractor, Ceres Environmental, to assess pick up needs.  The contractor will then organize a collection schedule, which will then be passed along to the community.

5:12 p.m., Sept. 11 - Manatee County: County schools, Government and City of Bradenton offices, the Clerk of Circuit Courts office and the Department of Health will all be closed Tuesday, Sept. 12.  Manatee County Area Transit buses resume normal routes Sept. 12. Para-transit will only deliver dialysis patients on Tuesday. They will reassess Wednesday.

Meanwhile, county officials ask residents in unincorporated areas without power limit water use to prevent sewage back up. Manatee County Utilities has issued a precautionary boil water notice for all customers on barrier islands. All water used for drinking or cooking should be boiled as a precaution. A notice will be issued once the water has been shown to be safe, likely within the next 24-48 hours.

5:08 p.m., Sept. 11 - Sarasota County: An all-clear has still not been issued for Sarasota County. Residents are encouraged to stay off roads, which are not safe yet. Approximately 100 traffic lights in the county are still down, according to a county spokesperson, and this has caused several accidents. Residents are instructed to treat all intersections with inoperable traffic lights as a four-way stop.

4:35 p.m,, Sept. 11 - East County: Like the rest of the region, Manatee County saw damaged property and street signs, including at Blackberry Lane in Lakewood Ranch's Summerfield development.

A speed limit sign in the Country Club neighborhood was also downed by Hurricane Irma.

3:52 p.m., Sept. 11 - Siesta Key: Storm debris didn't stop some beach goers from using the key's playground equipment. 

Others hit up the beach. No lifeguards were on duty, but some people went into the ocean for a swim anyway. 

3:46 p.m., Sept. 11 - Siesta Key: Harry and Mary Goodan walk through flooded streets near the Point Crisp neighborhood on South Siesta Key. A felled tree is blocking entry to the neighborhood.

3:34 p.m., Sept. 11 - Longboat Key: Minor flooding on Gulfside Road is spreading onto Gulf of Mexico Drive. 

3:31 p.m., Sept. 11 - Sarasota: Traffic lights are still out along the intersection of Tamiami Trail and Stickney Point Road. 

3:27 p.m., Sept. 11 - Barrier islands: Earlier this afternoon Sarasota restored water to local barrier islands including Bird Key, Coon Key, St. Armands Key and Lido Key. A boil water notice is now in effect for 48 hours for those customers who lost water service.  Water customers will be notified when the advisory is lifted. For more information, residents can contact Utilities Dispatch at 941-955-2325.

3:01 p.m., Sept. 11 - Longboat Key: A tree has fallen near homes at the corner of Emerald Harbor Drive and Binnacle Point Drive. There doesn't appear to be any structural damage to any of the houses.

2:56 p.m., Sept. 11 - Longboat Key: The sign outside the Plaza at 5610 Gulf of Mexico Drive was knocked down during Hurricane Irma. 

2:44 p.m., Sept 11 - Sarasota: City crews are repairing 11 water main breaks. Affected neighborhoods will be notified by a flyer if there is a boil water advisory. Meanwhile the city is working with Florida Power & Light to restore electricity to the entire city. Residents can call the utilities hotline at 941-955-2325 for more info.

2:29 p.m., Sept. 11 - Longboat Key: A large tree was uprooted by Irma near the Lazy Lobster restaurant in the Centre Shops of Longboat Key. Other businesses in the area had signs knocked down.

2:21 p.m., Sept. 11 - Siesta Key: The Siesta Key Marina suffered minor damage. 

2:09 p.m., Sept. 11 - Longboat Key: Fred Lugano (white shirt) and Rudy Schippers hit the beach the day after the island was largely spared from Hurricane Irma. "This is the safest place in Florida," Lugano said.

1:58 p.m., Sept. 11 - Sarasota: Irma mangled the marque of the Mattress One on South Tamiami Trail.

1:41 p.m., Sept. 11 - Siesta Key: Standing water on Beach Road is not acting as a deterrent for drivers.

1:36 p.m., Sept. 11 - Sarasota County: The county government has begun removing storm debris from roadways. All residents are asked to separate their debris by type. For more information, call (941) 954-4198 or visit the county website.

1:31 p.m., Sept. 11 - Longboat Key: Downed trees line Gulf of Mexico Drive near Dry Dock Waterfront Grill. 

1:27 p.m., Sept. 11 - Bradenton: Earlier today Bob Weronik used a Kioti tractor to clear away trees for his Mill Creek neighbors. 

1:21 p.m., Sept. 11 - Sarasota: Roof debris litter the parking lot of Dry Cleaning To Go on Main Street.

1:17 p.m., Sept. 11 - Sarasota: Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium will re-open to the public Wednesday. Staff were on site during the storm, and additional staff arrived early this morning to assess the aquarium, Mote announced in an email. All animals are safe, but additional time is needed for clean up. 

1:14 p.m., Sept. 11 - Sarasota: First Baptist Church in downtown Sarasota lost its cross in the storm.

1:12 p.m., Sept. 11 - Longboat Key: Cars are already lined up trying to get onto the island. Business owners are allowed on the island now, and all residents may return beginning at 4 p.m. 

12:55 p.m., Sept. 11 - Sarasota: There are downed trees by the Sarasota Yacht Club and Plymouth Harbor, but none are in the way of the street.

12:52 p.m., Sept. 11 - Sarasota: Awnings are down on some businesses in downtown Sarasota 

12:47 p.m., Sept. 11 - Longboat Key: Longboat Key Police Chief Peter Cumming said the town will be open to all residents at 4 p.m. Monday. Town Hall is scheduled to open tomorrow morning. 

12:44 p.m., Sept 11 - Sarasota: After a delay opening the John Ringling Causeway because of damaged trees in danger of falling, all lanes of John Ringling Boulevard are now open, the Sarasota Police Department says.

12:41 p.m, Sept 11 - Sarasota: Sarasota County Emergency Management Chief Ed McCrane says 108 traffic signals are out throughout the county. Residents should treat those intersections as a four-way stop. McCrane encourages residents to stay off the roads.

12:38 p.m., Sept 11 - Sarasota: Large oak trees have fallen in the Bayfront Park playground area.

12:30 p.m., Sept. 11 - Siesta Key: Siesta Key Village looks unharmed by the storm. 

12:29 p.m., Sept. 11 - Sarasota: Officials are still blocking access across the Ringling Causeway, only allowing island residents to pass.

12:26 p.m., Sept. 11 - Sarasota: Boats sit in the water and along the shore on the bayfront near O’Leary’s.

12:23 p.m., Sept. 11 - Siesta Key: Sea levels are high along Ocean Boulevard, sending waves crashing over the seawall.

12:18 p.m., Sept. 11 - Sarasota: The marquee at the Players Centre for Performing Arts bids farewell to Hurricane Irma.

12:15 p.m., Sept. 11 - Sarasota: Metal debris wraps around a tree at Palm Avenue and Ringling Boulevard.

12:13 p.m., Sept. 11 - Siesta Key: Sarasota County says the all-clear has not been given for travel onto Siesta Key. Some cars are traveling over the north bridge anyway.

Some streets in the area are flooded, including Ogden Street, which also has downed trees and power lines along the road.

12:03 p.m., Sept. 11 - Sarasota: The Sarasota Coast Guard Auxilery, located near Sarasota's Bayfront area, shows damage from the storm.

12:01 p.m., Sept. 11 - Sarasota: Boarded windows remain on Discovery Day Preschool in Sarasota.

11:58 a.m., Sept. 11 - Sarasota: Trees are downed in Gillespie Park.

11:53 a.m., Sept. 11 - Sarasota: Just northeast of downtown, a tree sits on an Eighth Street home. A police officer at Eighth Street and East Avenue is blocking access to the north side of East Avenue.

11:31 a.m., Sept. 11 - Sarasota: The majority of the damage in the area has come from fallen trees and street signs. If you see a downed tree, street lights without power or other storm-related issues in Sarasota County, you can report problems to officials online.

11:26 a.m., Sept. 11 - Sarasota: A downed tree lays in front of the ICard Merrill building on US 301 and Main Street in Sarasota.

10:33 a.m., Sept. 11 - Siesta Key: Areas on and near the beaches are flooded, as is Beach Road.