Inmates At Manatee County Jail Evacuated Sunday Evening

Updated: 10:40 p.m., Sunday

PALMETTO, FL — The Manatee County Sheriff’s Office evacuated 345 low-risk inmates from the Manatee County Jail in Palmetto Sunday night as a breach at Piney Point’s reservoirs threatens to flood the area, Randy Warren, MCSO public information officer, said.

The county, working with local, regional and state partners, is siphoning thousands of gallons of water from the retention pond at the site of the former Piney Point phosphate fertilizer processing plant. Officials hope this will remove pressure on the reservoir, preventing the collapse of one of the phosphogypsum stacks on site and the uncontrolled release of toxic wastewater.

Acting County Administrator Scott Hopes said that if there’s a full breach, a “20-foot wall of water” could hit the area.

See Related Story: Water 'Completely Safe To Drink' During Piney Point Crisis: Baugh

“We will be moving 345 low risk inmates to an undisclosed location in order to free up bed space for the remaining 721 inmates on the upper level of the Manatee Jail. The ground floor will be vacated as a precaution,” Warren said.

The location hasn’t been made public while the inmates are being transferred for security purposes.

“Sheriff Rick Wells and staff are still in constant communication with officials on the situation and are feeling better with the ongoing progress of draining the stack. In the event of a collapse, we expect only about a foot of water making it onto jail property,” Warren said.

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The jail, which is located at 14470 Harlee Road, is northwest of Piney Point on the edge of the evacuation zone.