Emergency information for residents of Sarasota County
By Times Staff Writer
Published June 6, 2004
Click here for a printable Sarasota County evacuation zone map with current information about shelters. You will need the free Acrobat Reader from Adobe for viewing.
*You will need the free Acrobat Reader from Adobe for viewing.
(Shelter openings may vary with each emergency. Stay tuned to local media for a listing of
which shelters will be opened for an event. Do not go to the shelter until local officials
announce through the media that the shelter is open. Shelter openings will differ by size and
intensity of a disaster. Information used in the development of the evacuation zones provided
by and in cooperation with the Southwest Florida Regional Planning Council.)
Tuttle Elementary School, 2863 8th St., Sarasota
Pine View School, One Python Path, Osprey
Taylor Ranch Elementary School, 2500 Taylor Ranch Trail, Venice
Sarasota High School, 1000 S School Ave., Sarasota
Heron Creek Middle School, 6501 W Price Blvd., North Port
Booker Middle School, 2250 Myrtle St., Sarasota
Laurel Nokomis School, 1900 E Laurel Road, Nokomis
The Tabernacle Christian School, 4141 Desoto Road, Sarasota
Booker High School, 3201 N Orange Ave., Sarasota
Emma E. Booker Elementary School, 2350 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way, Sarasota
Gulf Gate Elementary School, 6500 S. Lockwood Ridge Road, Sarasota
North Port High School, 6400 W Price Blvd., North Port
Garden Elementary School, 700 Center Road, Venice
Help is available
Sarasota County Emergency Management is ready to help if you have questions about the information in this guide or when a hurricane affects our area. If you need assistance or transportation during an evacuation because of age, disability or other special needs, please register with us now. All information you give is confidential and protected under Florida statutes.
During hurricane operations, please restrict calls to emergency management officials to those that are absolutely necessary. Monitor local TV and radio stations for hurricane status reports and general evacuation information. If you need information on audiotape, contact the County Emergency Management Citizen Help Lines listed below.
Emergency phone numbers
(Note: Do not call 911 for hurricane information. The 911 line is reserved for
life-threatening emergencies only.)
Sarasota County Department of Emergency Management 861-4636
Deaf communications for TDD messages 861-1833
Special needs registration 861-5932
Media organizations
Listen to local radio or TV for announcements of evacuation information or shelter openings. Not every shelter may be open.
The colored areas on this map are vulnerable to storm surge. Storm surge is salt water flooding that rushes over coastal areas - near where the eye of the hurricane strikes - destroying homes and businesses in its path. Nine of 10 hurricane-related deaths are caused by storm surge.
Hurricanes are categorized on a scale of 1 to 5 depending on the strength of the winds. Storm surge can reach 5 or 6 feet above sea level in the Category 1 hurricane to more than 25 feet above sea level in a Category 5 hurricane. Depending on the track and strength of a threatening hurricane, local officials may order one of five evacuation levels. These levels correspond to the storm surge flooding that is likely to occur from the five categories of hurricanes.
If you live in an area ordered to evacuate, or if you live in a mobile home, manufactured home or RV, gather your emergency supplies, secure your home and leave immediately. Failure to obey an evacuation order is a violation of Florida law.
[Last modified June 2, 2004, 13:15:41]
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