North Port Fire Rescue crews spent the week of Aug. 4 practicing how to pull people from floodwaters when roads become impassable, a scenario Sarasota County residents know well from Hurricane Ian.

The department conducted watercraft training at multiple locations including Wellen Park, focusing on boat launches, navigation and flood scenarios, ABC7 Sarasota reporter Alyssa Perry reported Aug. 5. A separate drill at the North Port Aquatic Center simulated a Category 4 hurricane striking the eastern side of the area.

North Port Fire Rescue said on its official Facebook page that training focused on patient access and rescue, victim retrieval and coordinated operations. Crews practiced reaching patients in both shallow and deep water, approaching and securing victims and removing them safely.

Why North Port is especially vulnerable to flooding

The drills carry particular weight in North Port. The city sits in the southern portion of the Big Slough Watershed, making it prone to severe flooding during tropical weather. Its stormwater system includes more than 80 miles of canals and 64 water control structures, according to the city of North Port.

Hurricane Ian overwhelmed that system in 2022

That infrastructure was overwhelmed during Hurricane Ian in September 2022. Rainfall across central and southern Sarasota County ranged from 15 to 20 inches, with a maximum of 21.45 inches recorded northeast of North Port, according to National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) storm records. The Myakka River reached a record 12.84 feet. Flooding closed Interstate 75. Eight people in Sarasota County died.

North Port is roughly 25 miles southeast of Sarasota, but the two cities share the same county emergency management system and face identical hurricane threats along the Gulf Coast.

Training arrives as peak season and the new school year approach

The training comes as the county moves deeper into the June 1 through Nov. 30 Atlantic hurricane season and days before Sarasota County schools reopen Aug. 10.