Some urged to relocate during Lake Manatee strategic release

MANATEE COUNTY, Fla. — After record-breaking rainfall, officials in Manatee County said Monday a strategic release of water from Lake Manatee was needed. 

Manatee County Chief of Emergency Management, Matt Myers, said the Manatee Dam has done what it’s supposed to do, but the release is needed so there won’t be any future problems.

“It is still releasing, controlled through the channels in the dam,” he said. “So that is to keep it pressurized from what’s coming into the dam and what’s coming out. We want to keep that level so that we don’t have any problems.” 

As part of the water release, some residents were sent notices encouraging them to relocate, including Mike Jacobs. 

After all the rain Hurricane Debby brought, he said he was not surprised. 

“The river is just beyond these mangroves but you can see here the water has encroached in this low-lying area which rarely do you ever see water here,” said Jacobs. “It’s usually bone dry.”

Driving along the golf course near his home, Jacobs said only once in his 20 years living in the area had he seen the water reach such heights.

When the evacuation notice arrived Monday, he wanted to make sure his family would be safe at home. 

“We were a little bit nervous,” he said. “My wife and I talked about it and tried to decide whether we were going to go or whether we were going to stay.”

Manatee County Emergency Management said high-water vehicles have been placed around the county to assist with potential rescues.