Sarasota Officials Urge Caution After Storm
Sarasota County Emergency Services urged residents during Hurricane Prep Week 2026 to wait until it’s safe to go outside, stay clear of downed power lines, Turn Around, Don’t Drown in floodwaters, use generators only outside and 20 feet from the home, and stay indoors until officials say it’s safe to leave, with additional guidance at scgov.net/beprepared and FloridaDisaster.org/Guide.
| May 8, 2026 at 8:12 AM | EMS |
Registration closes at noon for Sarasota County Economic Outlook
Registration closes at noon for Sarasota County's Economic Outlook on May 14, featuring Bemetra Simmons, president and CEO of the Tampa Bay Partnership, and Michelle Dennard, vice president and regional executive at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, with more than 350 business and community leaders expected to attend.
| May 8, 2026 at 7:00 AM | Business |
Sarasota County Leads Operation Readiness, Debris, Hurricane Prep
On May 6, Sarasota County Emergency Management led Operation Readiness efforts with Parks, Recreation and Natural Resources to host a County Staging Area Workshop highlighting Twin Lakes Parks improvements for disaster operations, while the Debris Management Branch held a Debris Workshop for county stakeholders and the department also gave a hurricane-preparedness seminar to CAI West.
| May 8, 2026 at 2:20 AM | EMS |
Sarasota police thank teachers for Teacher Appreciation Week
The Sarasota Police Department thanked teachers during Teacher Appreciation Week 2026, saying "Thank you, teachers" and noting its collaboration with Sarasota County Schools.
| May 7, 2026 at 1:25 PM | Police |
Sarasota County Urges Residents to Shelter Indoors During Storm
Sarasota County Emergency Services urged residents to stay indoors in a safe interior room away from windows, avoid downed power lines, rely on multiple weather alerts, and only leave when officials deem it safe as Hurricane Prep Week 2026 continues, with guidance at scgov.net/beprepared and FloridaDisaster.org/ShelterInPlace.
| May 7, 2026 at 8:06 AM | EMS |
Sarasota hosts last-chance economic outlook event
Registration closes Friday at noon for a last-chance Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County event on where the economy is headed and how it could affect organizations, featuring Bemetra Simmons, CEO of the Tampa Bay Partnership, and Michelle Dennard, vice president and regional executive at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, Jacksonville Branch.
| May 7, 2026 at 8:01 AM | Business |
Sarasota County Declares National EMS Week at May 5 Meeting
The Sarasota County Board of County Commissioners declared May 17–23 National EMS Week at its May 5 meeting, as Sarasota County Fire Department personnel logged 67,504 total calls for service (including 54,418 EMS calls) and transported 38,298 EMS patients in fiscal year 2025, and officials thanked EMTs and paramedics, saying, "We are eternally grateful to all the EMTs and paramedics at Sarasota County Fire Department and throughout Sarasota County for all they do to care for our community."
| May 6, 2026 at 10:40 AM | EMS |
Sarasota's Economic Outlook draws 350 leaders
More than 350 business and community leaders are expected at Sarasota County’s Economic Outlook on May 14, featuring Bemetra Simmons, president and CEO of the Tampa Bay Partnership, and Michelle Dennard, vice president and regional executive at the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, with registration closing May 8.
| May 6, 2026 at 8:01 AM | Business |
Sarasota County Fire Department adds photos; Dendy has five years.
Sarasota County Emergency Services added two photos to its reports, and the Sarasota County Fire Department lists firefighter-paramedic Kimberly Dendy as having five years of service.
| May 5, 2026 at 2:01 PM | EMS |
Sarasota County Proclaims Economic Development Week
The Sarasota County Board of County Commissioners proclaimed May 4–8, 2026 as Economic Development Week, with support from the Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County, to recognize more than 100,000 global and local economic development professionals and the public-private collaboration driving sustainable growth as the International Economic Development Council marks its 100th anniversary.
| May 5, 2026 at 10:03 AM | Business |
Sarasota County urges residents to sign up for alerts
During Hurricane Prep Week 2026, Sarasota County Emergency Services urged residents to stay informed and sign up for alerts at AlertSarasotaCounty.com, stressing the difference between watches (conditions possible within 48 hours) and warnings (conditions expected within 36 hours) and recommending multiple alert sources, including NWS, weather apps, text and email alerts, social media, TV and radio, and alerts from family and friends, noting weather alerts save lives.
| May 5, 2026 at 8:02 AM | EMS |
Hurricane season begins June 1; residents urged to prepare.
Sarasota County Emergency Services urged residents to prepare for hurricane season, which starts June 1, by making a plan, gathering essentials and building a disaster supply kit ahead of storms as part of Hurricane Prep Week 2026.
| May 4, 2026 at 8:20 PM | EMS |
Hurricane Awareness Tour Lands in Sarasota
The Hurricane Awareness Tour landed in Sarasota on May 4 with NOAA hurricane experts to raise awareness of tropical cyclone threats, as Sarasota County Emergency Services urged residents to have a personal hurricane plan and participate in the READY TOGETHER initiative, while the National Hurricane Center briefed local partners on storm surge as part of the Operation Readiness training series.
| May 4, 2026 at 5:03 PM | EMS |
Pawtect and Serve Adoption Day at Sarasota Humane Society
Pawtect and Serve Adoption Day will be held May 16, 2026, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Humane Society of Sarasota County, 2331 15th St., Sarasota, Fla., where the first $1,000 in total adoption fees are waived, and attendees can expect a pet health and educational fair, pet giveaways and a QR code for donations provided by Crime Stoppers of Sarasota County and the Humane Society.
| May 4, 2026 at 4:33 PM | Police |
Sarasota Proclaims Salvation Army Day During National Salvation Army Week
During National Salvation Army Week, the Sarasota City Commission proclaimed May 13, 2026 as Salvation Army Day to recognize The Salvation Army of Sarasota County’s nearly century of service, its Center of Hope shelter and Capt. Jim Curry’s account of overcoming homelessness.
| May 4, 2026 at 12:15 PM | Gov |
Sarasota Economic Outlook Highlights Local Leaders, Federal Reserve Officials
The Economic Outlook event May 14 in Sarasota County will bring together local and regional perspectives from the Tampa Bay Partnership with national economic insights from the Federal Reserve Bank of Atlanta, feature speakers Bemetra Simmons and Michelle Dennard, expect more than 350 attendees, and be presented by the Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County with registration closing at noon May 8.
| May 4, 2026 at 10:02 AM | Business |
SCS leads Florida in HMH Education 180 honorees
Six honorees, including three students and three educators from Sarasota County Schools, were named in the HMH Education 180 Awards, the Florida district with the most honorees among 443 nationwide nominees.
| May 3, 2026 at 5:00 PM | School |
Sarasota County Observes Wildfire Preparedness Day
Sarasota County Emergency Services says Wildfire Community Preparedness Day was observed on May 2, and it urged groups to request a Sarasota County Fire Department presentation on wildfire risk assessment, home hardening and defensible space, and emergency evacuation planning at https://loom.ly/jpBA-e0.
| May 3, 2026 at 12:00 PM | EMS |
Wildfire Preparedness Day Emphasizes Home Ignition Zone Safety
Sarasota County Emergency Services urged residents to observe Wildfire Community Preparedness Day on May 2 by reducing wildfire risks in and around their homes, especially in the home ignition zone, with more information at the linked site.
| May 3, 2026 at 2:20 AM | EMS |
Sarasota County Offers 10 Weeks of Summer Programs
Sarasota County is offering 10 weeks of summer programs for students entering elementary through high school, including Day Camp for grades 1–5, Adventure Camp for middle schoolers, Counselor-in-Training for high schoolers and Specialty Camps; day campers will participate in The Patterson Foundation's Suncoast Summer Reading Challenge, with registration at SarasotaCountyParks.com.
| May 2, 2026 at 6:00 PM | School |
Final Days to Secure Seats at Sarasota Economic Outlook
SARASOTA, Fla. — Registration for Sarasota County's Economic Outlook event closes May 8, with more than 350 business and community leaders expected to hear from Bemetra Simmons and Michelle Dennard.
| May 2, 2026 at 4:10 PM | Business |
Sarasota County Completes First Week of Hurricane Preparedness Training
Sarasota County, Fla. — The county's emergency management team completed the first week of a two-week hurricane preparedness training program for hundreds of employees and partners, covering emergency alerts and warnings, points of distribution, evacuation centers and medically dependent programs, with officials saying, "We're one team and another step closer to being READY TOGETHER," and urging residents to learn their evacuation level using the Know Your Level tool at scgov.net/beprepared.
| May 1, 2026 at 4:04 PM | EMS |
Sarasota Honors 2026 Outstanding Volunteers
During National Volunteer Month, Sarasota County Schools celebrated the 2026 Outstanding Volunteer Award recipients—Senior Volunteer Susan Sanderson of Brentwood Elementary, Adult Volunteer Sara Winter of Atwater Elementary, the Rotary Club of Sarasota as Business Partner, and Youth Volunteer Alyssa Bartolome of Sarasota High School and formerly McIntosh Middle School—who together logged 5,598 hours of service valued at $2,815,025.04 for local schools, with thanks to sponsors and partners including Neal Communities and the Education Foundation of Sarasota County.
| May 1, 2026 at 12:01 PM | School |
Sarasota County Urges Wildfire Preparedness Ahead of Saturday
Sarasota County Emergency Services urged residents to prepare for Wildfire Community Preparedness Day on May 2 by clearing fuels and creating defensible space around homes, stressing that preparedness starts at home even as firefighters receive additional wildfire training.
| May 1, 2026 at 10:10 AM | EMS |
Sarasota County's Technology and Innovation Council Partners with Rite Technology
The Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County says its Technology & Innovation Council brings C-suite leaders together to advance the region’s innovation economy, as it partners with Rite Technology to host and strengthen ties between technology leadership and regional economic development.
| May 1, 2026 at 10:02 AM | Business |
Sarasota County urges wildfire preparedness ahead of May 2
Sarasota County Emergency Services urged residents to plan for Community Wildfire Preparedness Day on Saturday, May 2, saying even small projects such as removing flammable items from decks and porches, clearing debris and vegetation, and working with neighbors to create defensible space can reduce wildfire risk, with additional ideas from the National Fire Protection Association and wildfire preparedness resources from the county Fire Department (call 311 or visit scgov.net/fire).
| Apr 30, 2026 at 2:49 PM | EMS |
Beach safety: Stay vigilant, alert lifeguards, throw flotation device.
Sarasota County Emergency Services urged beachgoers to stay vigilant, educate visitors about rip currents and beach hazards, alert lifeguards at the first sign of trouble, and throw flotation devices to those in need instead of attempting rescues themselves.
| Apr 30, 2026 at 12:00 PM | EMS |
Sarasota County Holds Hurricane Readiness Tabletop Exercise
Sarasota County held a tabletop hurricane exercise at the Emergency Operations Center on day two of Operation Readiness, bringing together county staff and partners from municipalities and other agencies to test readiness, coordination and communication and identify improvements.
| Apr 29, 2026 at 11:17 AM | EMS |
Sarasota County kicks off Operation Readiness training
Sarasota County Emergency Services said Operation Readiness is off to a strong start as two intensive weeks of training opened with a Mass Feeding Workshop, the EOC team conducted test alert notifications, a flash report was issued to prep for Tuesday's exercise, and residents are urged to prepare for hurricane season at scgov.net/beprepared with updates at #SRQCountyES.
| Apr 28, 2026 at 9:49 AM | EMS |
Sarasota County EDC posts 47 new photos on Facebook
SARASOTA COUNTY, Fla. — The Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County posted 47 new photos on its Facebook page.
| Apr 28, 2026 at 7:57 AM | Business |
North Port High Class of 2026 Countdown Underway
The North Port High School Class of 2026 is nearing graduation as seniors reflect on their impact on campus and across Sarasota County Schools and gear up for the next chapter.
| Apr 27, 2026 at 3:25 PM | School |
Sarasota County Emergency Management Launches Operation Readiness for Hurricane Season
Sarasota County Emergency Management kicked off Operation Readiness, a 10-day initiative with more than 25 training sessions for hundreds of county staff and dozens of partner agencies to boost hurricane-season preparedness ahead of June 1.
| Apr 27, 2026 at 11:01 AM | EMS |
Sarasota Area Kindergarten Kickoff Events Scheduled
Sarasota, Fla. — Families connected with their school community this week as kickoff events for kindergarten readiness are scheduled for April 28 in Sarasota and April 30 in North Port at Suncoast Technical College from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.; more information is at bit.ly/Kickoff2K2026.
| Apr 26, 2026 at 5:00 PM | School |
April 27 deadline to apply for Sarasota County Fire Department.
Sarasota County Emergency Services says the deadline to apply for this round of hiring at the Sarasota County Fire Department is April 27, with openings for Firefighter/EMTs starting at $56,784 and Firefighter/Paramedics starting at $76,784, plus benefits, and applications available at SCGOV.NET/JOBS.
| Apr 25, 2026 at 2:00 PM | EMS |
Lt. Jeff Heck recognized for 20 years of service
Lt. Jeff Heck of the Sarasota County Fire Department was recognized for 20 years of service, and Sarasota County Emergency Services added a new photo.
| Apr 23, 2026 at 5:25 PM | EMS |
Sarasota County installs color-coded storm surge poles at beaches
Sarasota County installed two color-coded storm surge poles at Siesta and Manasota beaches to help residents gauge potential flood levels, with a display linking colors—red for more than nine feet, orange six to nine, yellow three to six, blue one to three—to the National Hurricane Center risk map, and a third pole planned for North Jetty Beach as officials urge residents to know their evacuation levels and stay prepared.
| Apr 23, 2026 at 1:30 PM | EMS |
Sarasota County EDC Attends MRO Americas in Orlando
The Economic Development Corporation of Sarasota County, in partnership with SelectFlorida and the City of North Port’s economic development team, attended MRO Americas in Orlando to strengthen relationships, explore innovation and position Sarasota County as a competitive player in the global aviation and aerospace ecosystem.
| Apr 23, 2026 at 10:14 AM | Business |
Two Ashton Elementary teachers named SCS Cares of the Month
Two Ashton Elementary teachers, Amy Dumas and Tiffany Lloyd, were named Sarasota County Schools' SCS Cares of the Month for recognizing troubling changes in a student and advocating for the family, which led to critical medical care and a lasting impact.
| Apr 22, 2026 at 2:02 PM | School |
Sarasota County honors International Firefighters Day
The Sarasota County Board of County Commissioners designated May 4 as International Firefighters Day at its April 21, 2026 meeting, noting that the Sarasota County Fire Department responded to 67,414 total calls for service in fiscal year 2025 (6,590 fire calls, including 112 confirmed structure fires) and urging residents to help firefighters by installing working smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors, never leaving the kitchen unattended and creating defensible space around their homes.
| Apr 22, 2026 at 8:14 AM | EMS |
Opossums Released after Sarasota Traffic Stop
Sarasota police stopped a headlight-violating vehicle near Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Way and U.S. 301, arrested the habitual offender after he claimed there were unusual passengers in the bed of the truck, and with guidance from Animal Services released a mother opossum and her three babies back to the wild.
| Apr 22, 2026 at 2:20 AM | Police |
