MANATEE COUNTY – Manatee County Public Safety Officials announced Saturday evening that evacuation orders surrounding Piney Point would expand yet again.
The evacuation zone now expanding the closure of U.S. 41 South from Buckeye Road to Moccasin Wallow Road and Moccasin Wallow Road will be now be closed West of 38th Avenue East.
“Today we have to deal with this, do you know what I’m saying, instead of celebrating Easter like having family time, we have to deal with this crisis,” said Business Owner, Omar Eraq.
Eraq’s business, Country Deli Store sits right on U.S. 41. His business just feet away from where Florida Highway Patrol State Troopers are turning vehicles around.
“If we have to evacuate that would really hurt my business, because this is like a Mom and Pop business, not a big cooperation, so it’s like, we live from this business, so it would affect us, yes, big time,” said Eraq.
County officials say there are now an estimated 316 households in the evacuation area.
“I wouldn’t know what to do, I don’t have the money to stay in a motel, I’d probably have to call the Red Cross and have them come in and help, but at this point we’re at piney point so we don’t know,” said Manatee County Resident, Bill Schafer.
Schafer works at the Circle K on U.S. 41 and Moccasin Wallow Road, which sits within the evacuation area. But the store remains open for those needing fuel.
“We’ve been through a pandemic that has crushed most of us already, and this on top of it right now… I don’t know, let’s just hope for the better,” said Schafer.
County officials say the red cross has helped residents needing a place to stay find temporary housing in nearby hotels. There’s no word on when they might be able to return back home.
Anyone seeking information on the Evacuation Zone can reach out to the Manatee County Call Center at 311 or use Manatee County’s resident information tool here.
