Manatee County: Don't Flush Toilets If You Don't Have Power, Boil Order For Some

BRADENTON, FL — Thousands of Manatee County residents remain without power Tuesday and authorities are asking residents not to flush toilets in areas without power. The Manatee County Emergency Operations Center remains at a partial activation as hundreds of people continue to call with questions related to Hurricane Irma. Power outages have complicated water-related issues around the county, as well, county officials said in a news release.

Wastewater pump stations are not working in areas without electricity, and Manatee County Utility asked residents avoid flushing toilets, taking showers and doing laundry. Wastewater has nowhere to go and can back up inside the home until power is restored. (For more hurricane news or local news from Florida, click here to sign up for real-time news alerts and newsletters from Tampa Patch. Click here to find your local Florida Patch. If you have an iPhone, click here to get the free Patch iPhone app.)

A boil water notice remains in place until Thursday for Anna Maria Island residents. Damage assessment crews are canvassing Manatee County Tuesday as residents called the Citizens Information Center line to report damages. The CIC line, (941) 749-3547, is the first number people should call to ask for non-emergency help from the county. Call takers will ask for a homeowner's name, number and address so assessment crews can assist and track all Irma-related damages.

Watch: Florida Governor: A Long Road To Recovery After Irma

Irma-related damages were not as severe in Manatee County as in other Florida communities, and local damages have been limited to private properties throughout Manatee County, authorities said. County officials likely won't know for many days or weeks the full extent of Irma damages. They say calling the CIC is the first step in getting help.

Homeowners should call their insurance company to file a claim for property damages. Residents may also call the Federal Emergency Management Agency to report damage at 1-800-621-FEMA. Residents with damage can also register with FEMA online at www.disasterassistance.gov.

Manatee Utilities said hazardous waste/e-scrap collection scheduled for Saturday has been cancelled. Residents should plan to bring their household hazardous waste and e-scrap to the scheduled collection at the Lena Road Landfill on Saturday, Oct. 21.

Household hazardous waste can also be taken to the following locations on Saturday, Oct. 21:

• Manatee County Fairgrounds, 1303 17th St. W., Palmetto from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
• Manatee County Utilities Department, 4410 66th St. W., Bradenton, from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

Radioactive and bio-hazardous materials and e-scrap will not be accepted on those dates. E-scrap can also be disposed on Sat., Oct. 7 at the Utilities Department listed above, from 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.

For more information on Manatee County Government, visit online at www.mymanatee.org or call (941) 748-4501. You can also follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/manatee.county.fl and on Twitter, @ManateeGov.

Patch file photo