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Hurricane Season

Longboat Key Fire Department Personnel shared photos of the island taken Thursday, Oct. 10, after Hurricane Milton passed through Sarasota.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • October 10, 2024
Longboat Key to open for residents Friday

Town crews spent Thursday assessing damage from Hurricane Milton and working with the Florida Department of Transportation to clear debris from the island.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
A Christian Retreat home will need a new roof after Hurricane Milton passed.
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • October 10, 2024
East County residents remain resilient after Hurricane Milton's wrath

The Category 3 hurricane had its eye on the Lakewood Ranch area, but residents were busy cleaning up Thursday.

  • East County
  • News
Hurricane Milton at 9 p.m. Oct. 9, 2024, shortly after making landfall near Siesta Key.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 5, 2024
Hurricane Milton news, updates in Sarasota, Manatee

Hurricane Milton made landfall near Lido and Siesta keys at 8:30 p.m. Oct. 9 as a Category 3 storm. Access to the barrier islands, including Casey, Manasota, Siesta and Longboat keys, remains closed as the post-storm search-and-rescue mission is completed.

  • Hurricane Season
Mauricio Colucci said his backyard flooded with 6-7 inches of water.
    By
  • Jim DeLa
  • October 10, 2024
Sarasota couple hunkers down and toughs out Milton

Mauricio Colucci and Michelle Teeter said it was scary and loud but thought it would be much worse than it was.

  • Sarasota
  • Neighbors
Historic Laurel Park home sustains damage from Hurricane Milton
    By
  • Andrew Warfield
  • October 10, 2024
Historic Laurel Park home sustains damage from Hurricane Milton

A tree and pole crashed through the roof of the Dr. Walter Kennedy House of Ron Kashden and Kelly Franklin after they evacuated just hours earlier.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The yacht Blue Symphonie sits in a slip at Marina Jack in Sarasota. The boat's owner said he would ride out Hurricane Milton on board.
    By
  • Jim DeLa
  • October 9, 2024
While many evacuate for Hurricane Milton, some choose to stay

Not everyone heeds orders to leave the water's edge.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Sarasota Memorial Hospital recently released its 2024 Community Update.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 9, 2024
Sarasota Memorial Hospital set to ride out Hurricane Milton

Facilities are self-sufficient and ready for Hurricane Milton, SMH CEO David Verinder says.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Less than two weeks after Hurricane Helene passed, the region prepares for Hurricane Milton to make landfall.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 9, 2024
Residents make last-minute preparations for Milton

Residents make last-minute preparations for Milton With the storm expected to make landfall early Thursday morning, locals scramble to complete their to-do lists to secure their homes and businesses.

  • Sarasota
  • News
Thierry Raynal, owner of Bonjour French Cafe, fastens a covering to a window at Bonjour French Cafe.
    By
  • Ian Swaby
  • October 8, 2024
Siesta businesses prepare for Hurricane Milton as they recover from Helene

Just two weeks after the previous devastating storm surge, business owners braced for a hurricane impact once again.

  • Siesta Key
  • Neighbors
Like other businesses on Longboat Key, Ventura's in Whitney Plaza was boarded up on Oct. 7 before Hurricane Milton.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • October 7, 2024
Longboat Key issues immediate evacuation order for Hurricane Milton

The town issued the evacuation order at 10:30 a.m. Monday as officials are preparing for "life-threatening impacts."

  • Longboat Key
  • News
Manatee County orders Level A, B evacuations
    By
  • Jay Heater
  • October 6, 2024
Manatee County orders Level A, B evacuations

Hurricane Milton is expected to hit Florida's west coast on Wednesday.

  • East County
  • News
Bradenton residents get sandbags at the Public Works Annex, 1411 Ninth St. W. Forecasts for heavy rain next week are prompting Manatee County to urge residents to prepare.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 4, 2024
Manatee issues new state of emergency ahead of heavy rain forecast

Rainfall totals could rival amount received during Hurricane Debby, officials say.

  • East County
  • News
Chris Udermann and his wife, Susan, were working hard on Tuesday morning to clean their house and start necessary drywall removal after Hurricane Helene.
    By
  • Carter Weinhofer
  • October 4, 2024
In Longboat's lowest areas, Helene's storm surge smothered family homes

The Udermanns’ home in the Village is just one example of how Helene’s high storm surge caused major damage to Longboat Key homes.

  • Longboat Key
  • News
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 4, 2024
Sarasota County operating sandbag locations on Friday

More tropical weather is expected into next week.

  • Sarasota
  • News
The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office is warning residents of a scam involving storm debris.
    By
  • Observer Staff
  • October 3, 2024
Sarasota Sheriff's Office warns of storm debris scams

All water service in Sarasota County has been restored, officials say.

  • Sarasota
  • News
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Latest News

1
Dolores Virginia Levy
  • June 8, 2026
Dolores Virginia Levy (1932-2026)
Sponsored Content
2
  • June 8, 2026
10th Annual Fireworks on the Lake
3
The inaugural Under Armour Track and Field Nationals featured Daphne Quintal, and she ultimately placed sixth for pole vault among female middle schoolers.
  • June 8, 2026
East County Athlete of the Week: Daphne Quintal
4
The installation of span wire traffic signals on Lakewood Ranch Boulevard at the intersections of Gatewood Drive and Wood Fern Trail are two projects within Manatee County's "master vision" for speed management on Lakewood Ranch Boulevard between 44th Avenue East and State Road 64.
  • June 8, 2026
More traffic signals coming to Lakewood Ranch Boulevard
5
Trish Shinkle served as Town Clerk for the town of Longboat Key from June 2006 to June 2026.
  • June 8, 2026
Trish Shinkle, who recorded town history for 20 years, has retired

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