PALMETTO, Fla. — Residents of Manatee County are preparing for potential flooding as evacuation orders are in place for those in Zone A. Despite the growing concern, some locals remain calm as they make preparations or continue with their daily activities.
Throughout Thursday morning, conditions at the Palmetto Boat Ramp steadily worsened, with increasing winds and rising waters from the Manatee River creeping onto the dock. Some residents, however, appeared unfazed, continuing to fish or take walks in the area.
One of those preparing for the storm is Steve Manbeck, who lives on a boat with his dog, Max. Manbeck explained the steps he was taking to secure his home ahead of the anticipated flooding.
"You gotta loosen up [the ropes] for when it rises and when it goes back down," Manbeck said. He is one of the 120,000 residents currently under evacuation orders in the county.
For those like Manbeck, finding a safe place to evacuate remains a challenge. "Now I have to find somewhere else to go," he said. When asked if he knew where he would head, Manbeck replied, "Not right off hand."
Dozens of shelters have opened across Manatee County to assist evacuees. While many residents were still out in public Thursday morning, they expressed plans to seek shelter as the storm intensified.
Patricia, another resident, expressed her concerns for those affected. "They're in my prayers, believe me. They're in my prayers for all that I know and all that I don't know. I pray that they keep the faith," she said.
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As flooding remains a threat, Manatee County residents are encouraged to report standing water or downed power lines by calling 311.