BRADENTON BEACH – City officials reported minor damage and flooding from Tropical Storm Debby on Aug. 4-5 before it became a hurricane, but said that the city fared well overall.
Several of the coconut palms on Bridge Street toppled over during the tropical storm force winds and rain from Debby and were removed by the city.
“We took out five, they were the ones that just could not hold,” Police Chief and Interim Public Works Director John Cosby said. “This was the last straw for them. We made the decision that if they went down again because of the wind, they have to go. We’re going to put some kind of plant in there, but the five won’t be going back.”
Mayor John Chappie said the trees will be planted elsewhere in the city.
“Thankfully we didn’t have a lot of wind,” Cosby said. “We just got a ton of rain.”
Ingrid McClellan, coordinator of the Scenic Manatee Advisory Committee, reported that several palm trees fell on the Gulf Drive medians near the Coquina Beach entrance.
She noted that is an evacuation route for Longboat Key going north.
“We just received a report from Manatee County that crews are onsite taking care of this item,” FDOT Landscape Architect Daryl Richard wrote in an Aug. 6 email, adding that the Alexander palms were restaked.
Two of the city’s finger docks were damaged in the storm and were repaired quickly.
“One came completely loose; the weld snapped,” Cosby said. “We had Duncan (Seawall Dock-Boat Lift) check it and they are being repaired.”
Cosby said there will be no interruption to the Gulf Island Ferry service to Bradenton Beach.
Cosby said five structures had water inundation and one in the Sandpiper Trailer Park had some damage.
BEACH EROSION
Charlie Hunsicker, Manatee County Natural Resources director, characterized beach erosion from the storm as “measurable but marginal.” On a scale of 1-10, he rated Anna Maria Island’s shoreline between 3-5.
“We were fortunate that the timing of the storm and tides was not as critical as it could have been. The beaches did a great job protecting our parks, infrastructure and private property,” Manatee County Information Outreach Manager Bill Logan wrote in an email to The Sun on behalf of Hunsicker.
The next beach renourishment project will take place at least a year from now and that will be based on damage from Hurricane Idalia with FEMA assistance, according to Logan.
