MANATEE — About 6.5 percent more people will have to evacuate if a Category 1 hurricane makes a direct hit on Manatee County. That was what elected officials were told Tuesday at a Council of Governments meeting. Laurie Feagans, emergency management chief in the county Public Safety Department, gave the officials a preview of the revised evacuation zone maps. Because a more accurate system of measuring the topography of the county was used, some property and homes that were in the Category 2 zone in the 2005 maps are now in the Category 1, meaning residents will have to evacuate sooner when a storm is approaching. Feagans said the Light Detection and Ranging, or LIDAR, technology had a vertical precision of within 6 inches, compared to a variance of 5 feet or more with the federal government maps used to establish the previous evacuation zones. As expected, much of the changes in the new map are close to bodies of water, such as Sarasota Bay and the Manatee River. There is an area of about 60 square blocks in Northwest Bradenton that previously was in the Category 2, or Level B evacuation zone, that were upgraded to the Category 1, or Level A zone. For those residents it means when a Category 1 storm, which has sustained winds of between 74-95 mph, is forecast to come ashore, the county will order an evacuation of the Level A zone. A storm modeling tool called SLOSH, or Sea and Lake Overland Surge from a Hurricane, is used to determine the evacuation zones. The topography of the Level A zone lends it to be flooded from a storm surge of at least 6 feet a Category 1 storm creates. Another area that changed with the new maps is Bayshore Gardens. Much of the neighborhood was in the Level A, or first-to-evacuate zone, under the old maps, but is now split between the Level B and Level C zones. But at the same time. a large portion of land east of U.S. 41 between Whitfield Avenue and Cortez Road is now upgraded from Level E to Level D. An interactive map showing where the new evacuation zones are located can be found on the county Web site at www.mymanatee.org Printed maps also will be available at county and municipal facilities, Feagans said. Another change in the maps that will be used as a standard across the state, is the color scheme. Whereas before the highest alert, or first-to-evacuate zone, was a pretty, pastel purple, it is now a fiery, alarming red. Feagans emphasized that although experts dictate statically what a storm surge for a specific category storm would be, most times the surge is many feet higher because of the wave action or a high tide. Once an area is flooded, an individual is cut off from any emergency assistance until after the storm event. One point Feagans made was that the evacuation zone maps do not affect flood insurance rate maps. Posted on Fri, Feb. 19, 2010 County commissioners focus on Parrish issues By SARA KENNEDY PARRISH — A standing-room only crowd of perhaps 100 packed the Parrish Community Center on Thursday night as Manatee County commissioners held an informational workshop focused on local issues. County officials came prepared with maps and data on hot button subjects, like construction of a new Fort Hamer Bridge, completion of a widening project along U.S. 301 and improvement plans for Erie Road. What did the audience members want to know? They asked about the status of the road and bridge projects, and also touched on topics such as where they could drive their golf carts when they’re not on the links, and whether bike lanes might be a possibility for area roads. Vincent Canna, a project manager for the county public works department, gave details of a project to build a new Fort Hamer bridge crossing the Manatee River. Planning and design for the bridge tentatively could take 15 months, he estimated, and once that’s completed, construction would take another two years, he said. The bridge will be 2,200 feet long and carry two lanes of traffic for the time being, and four lanes eventually, he told the crowd. As for the widening project along U.S. 301, officials said it is at the halfway mark, with completion slated for Jan. 1. They were less sure about the time frame on a project that would soften the radius of the curve west of 69th Street East along Erie Road, saying it is still in the beginning stages. Mark Byers, 44, of Parrish, asked a question about a project that calls for a modification at the intersection of Fort Hamer Road and U.S. 301. He wanted to know how the design might affect his property along Fort Hamer Road, but said afterward he was still unsure exactly what current plans call for. As for the golf cart questions, county commissioners said that along U.S. 301, local officials have no jurisdiction, and the Florida Legislature would be taking the issue up during this year’s session. Sara Kennedy, Herald reporter, can be reached at (941) 745-7031. Published: Friday, February 19, 2010 at 1:00 a.m. PARRISH Before the next growth spurt happens, residents want the county to be prepared to: Widen exceptionally narrow roads, especially those on school bus routes, and add sidewalks and bike lanes. Create a master storm-water drainage system with a lake that can be incorporated into a public park. Work with the Florida Department of Transportation to make a commercial strip on U.S. 301 of feed stores and other older businesses more pedestrian oriented and possibly designated for golf carts. Someday use an existing rail line for a commuter rail linking On Thursday, county commissioners took a bus tour through Parrish to see where roadwork and other projects are needed. Then they conducted a town hall-style meeting at the newly refurbished schoolhouse that now serves as a community center. A standing-room-only crowd of more than 150 residents attended. Residents want to see a different development trend for Parrish that preserves its rural heritage but also encourages small commercial development, Ben Jordan of the Parrish Civic Association told commissioners. "We're building subdivisions," Jordan said. "We're not building communities." Yet he and others said a shift in thinking is already under way. The newly opened First Manatee Bank, which commissioners saw on the tour, is cited as an example of commercial development with a Parrish look. The bank resembles a farmhouse, with a tin roof and front porch. The community center, which the county paid $1.8 million to renovate, has become a major start for efforts to unite older and newer residents of Parrish, Hugh McGuire of the Parrish Foundation said. Sean Allison of the YMCA, which runs the center's fitness programs, said the Y's new Parrish chapter now has 2,250 members. County officials updated residents and commissioners on several matters: • The county received several bids from construction firms wanting to build the proposed Fort Hamer bridge across the Manatee River and will soon recommend a bidder to the commissioners. Design work for the bridge could take a year. • The intersection of Erie Road and 69th Street will be redesigned and rebuilt to make it safer. • The widening of Erie Road has yet to be funded. • The Rocky Bluff library, now in rented space in a shopping center, may be expanded. A permanent library is to be eventually built on three acres in the Parrish Plantation development. • Construction of a bypass alternative to U.S. 301 linking Fort Hamer Road and 121st Avenue is probably a decade away. All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be re-published without permission. Links are encouraged.
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Current Listings Ad (PDF)
The following agents were some of the winners of an inter-office contest.
CONGRATULATIONS WINNERS!!Luci Spielsinger with Leslie Wells
Deanna Harrison with Leslie.
Bonnie Manny with Leslie.
Kristen Harvey with Leslie.
Duane Cole with Leslie.
Patricia Baker / 2nd Place with Leslie.
And 1st Place goes to ...........Marilyn Sakalaris / 1st Place with Leslie.
Posted July 22, 2010
Parrish Heritage Parade was on Mar 27th, 2010.
Jazminn Lucas, Jaylyn Clark and Kiana Lucas
Posted on Wed, Apr 8, 2010
IMAGINE SCHOOL SPRING FLING!
There was a carnival held on Mar 20, 2010 to raise money for the school. Leslie Wells Agents sponsored a Frisbee Toss game for the carnival. The agents involved were Bonnie Manny, Jordan Chancey and Nancy Jones.
The children had a wonderful time and there were many games for them to play at the carnival.
Posted Wed, Mar 20, 2010.
To keep up on more local news, go to www.ParrishFlorida.com .
Posted Feb 13, 2010
CONGRATULATIONS Leslie!
December 2009 Manatee Association of Realtors Installation Dinner
Posted Feb 17, 2010
Meet and Greet Fund Raiser for Julie Aranibar, who is running for School Board, was held at Mangrove Grill on 02/10/10.
Tiffney Mosley and Kelly Eckersen.Leslie Wells (Event Chair), Jane Grace and Julie Aranibar.
Katie Kennedy, MaryAnn Fulton and Pat Baker (Hostess Committee).
Leslie Wells (Event Chair) and Bob Gause (School Board Member).
Manatee hurricane evacuation map revised
Local officials get look at new hurricane evacuation map
By CARL MARIO NUDI
cnudi@bradenton.com
© 2010 Bradenton.com and wire service sources. All Rights Reserved. http://www.bradenton.com
Read more: http://www.bradenton.com/2010/04/07/v-print/2186090/manatee-hurricane-evacuation-map.html#ixzz0kRaCOSky
Posted on Apr 8, 2010
skennedy@bradenton.com
Parrish residents seek plan for community
By Dale White
This story appeared in print on page BN1
Parrish, Palmetto and Bradenton.
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Leslie and Charlie Wells
Leslie sworn in as Vice President for 2010
Posted on Wed, Apr. 07, 2010
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