Public Safety
Public Safety
Latest reporting from the Public Safety desk.
Public Safety
Latest reporting from the Public Safety desk.
Public Safety
Latest reporting from the Public Safety desk.
Public Safety
Gulf system hits 80% formation chance, raising Sarasota flood concerns
The National Hurricane Center on Monday gave a low-pressure system in the southwestern Gulf an 80% chance of becoming a tropical depression within seven days, with heavy rain possible across the Sarasota region all week — and stormwater repairs from 2024 flooding still unfinished.
Public Safety
Sarasota's $52.6M Clark Road interchange opens after years of work
The $52.6 million Clark Road interchange at I-75 in Sarasota County is complete, featuring an eight-lane diverging diamond design, 3,600-plus new trees and plants, buffered bike lanes, and noise walls.
Sarasota, FL
76°F
Sunny
Feels like 83° · 0% rain
TueSunny88°F0%
WedSunny89°F0%
ThuSunny90°F22%
FriSunny88°F41%
SatIsolated Showers And Thunderstorms85°F45%
SunIsolated Showers And Thunderstorms83°F42%
MonIsolated Showers And Thunderstorms84°F32%
Public Safety
Gulf system hits 80% formation chance, raising Sarasota flood concerns
The National Hurricane Center on Monday gave a low-pressure system in the southwestern Gulf an 80% chance of becoming a tropical depression within seven days, with heavy rain possible across the Sarasota region all week — and stormwater repairs from 2024 flooding still unfinished.
Public Safety
Sarasota County approves $21M Lorraine Road segment
Sarasota, FL
76°F
Sunny
Feels like 83° · 0% rain
TueSunny88°F0%
WedSunny89°F0%
ThuSunny90°F22%
FriSunny88°F41%
SatIsolated Showers And Thunderstorms85°F45%
SunIsolated Showers And Thunderstorms83°F42%
MonIsolated Showers And Thunderstorms84°F32%
Public Safety
Gulf system hits 80% formation chance, raising Sarasota flood concerns
The National Hurricane Center on Monday gave a low-pressure system in the southwestern Gulf an 80% chance of becoming a tropical depression within seven days, with heavy rain possible across the Sarasota region all week — and stormwater repairs from 2024 flooding still unfinished.
Public Safety
Sarasota County approves $21M Lorraine Road segment
Sarasota, FL
76°F
Sunny
Feels like 83° · 0% rain
TueSunny88°F0%
WedSunny89°F0%
ThuSunny90°F22%
FriSunny88°F41%
SatIsolated Showers And Thunderstorms85°F45%
SunIsolated Showers And Thunderstorms83°F42%
MonIsolated Showers And Thunderstorms84°F32%
Public Safety
Sarasota faces wetter fall as 'super' El Niño tops 90% odds
Federal forecasters give the 2026 El Niño a greater than 90% chance of reaching "super" strength, and a Columbia University model projects above-normal rainfall for the Southeast, including Sarasota, from October through December — just as the county begins $32 million in flood-prevention projects.
Public Safety
Sarasota, Manatee sheriffs help recover 46 children in state's largest operation
The Sarasota and Manatee county sheriff's offices participated in Operation Statewide Shield, Florida's largest-ever child recovery initiative, which recovered 163 missing children statewide with the Tampa Bay region leading all regions at 46 recoveries.
Public Safety
Sarasota agencies debut helicopter hoisting in joint water-rescue drill
Sarasota Police, the Sarasota County Sheriff's Office and the Manatee County Sheriff's Office held their biannual helicopter-and-dive training at Nathan Benderson Park on Aug. 21, adding a new hoisting extraction technique made possible by the Sheriff's Office's recently acquired helicopter.
Public Safety
Three agencies pull sailboat captain from Big Pass sandbar in nighttime rescue
Sarasota Police, Longboat Key Police and a Sarasota County Sheriff's helicopter coordinated a nighttime rescue on July 28 after a sailboat captain became stranded on a sandbar near Big Pass between Lido Key and Siesta Key.
Public Safety
North Port Fire Rescue practices flood rescues as hurricane season peaks
North Port Fire Rescue conducted water rescue training drills during the week of Aug. 4, simulating Category 4 hurricane conditions at multiple locations as Sarasota County enters peak hurricane season.
Public Safety
Water main break shuts down Beneva Road for hours near Markridge intersection
An overnight water main break at Beneva Road and Markridge Road closed lanes on a major Sarasota corridor for most of Wednesday, Aug. 5, before all lanes reopened by 5:45 p.m.
Public Safety
Sheriff's office targets 14 high-crash roads in pedestrian and bike safety blitz
The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office will deploy extra deputies along 14 high-crash corridors starting Aug. 10 as part of a state-funded pedestrian and bicycle safety enforcement program running through May 2027.
Public Safety
Storms cut power to 3,000 in Sarasota County; wet pattern continues through weekend
Thunderstorms that hit Sarasota County early Thursday, July 30, knocked out power to more than 3,000 Florida Power & Light customers and prompted a National Weather Service Flood Advisory, with forecasters warning the wet pattern will continue through the weekend along with high rip current risk at area beaches.
Public Safety
Sarasota's driest stretch since 1911 depletes aquifer, leaves reservoir near empty
Sarasota is in its driest nine-month stretch since 1911, with the Floridan Aquifer depleted, the region's main reservoir at 15% capacity, and Phase III water restrictions extended through October — and officials say recovery will take months of above-average rain.
Public Safety
Sarasota sheriff's office hosting free online safety seminar for parents
The Sarasota County Sheriff's Office will host its free "Digital Parenting 101" seminar on Thursday, Sept. 10, giving parents tips from detectives on monitoring devices and protecting children from online predators.
Public Safety
Sarasota County emergency officials addressed neighborhood leaders on hurricane preparedness
Sarasota County Emergency Services Director Rich Collins and Chief of Emergency Management Sandra Tapfumaneyi spoke at the July 14 CONA meeting on hurricane preparedness, days before Tropical Depression Two formed in the Gulf.
Public Safety
North Port lifts outdoor burn ban but warns drought conditions persist
North Port Fire Chief Scott Titus rescinded the city's outdoor burning ban on Monday, July 20, citing seasonal rains, but cautioned residents that dry conditions remain and strict water restrictions stay in effect through October 1.
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©2026 The Sarasota Record
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©2026 The Sarasota Record
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