Bridge Connecting Lido Key and Longboat Key to Sarasota Sustains Damage After Hurricane Milton

Sarasota, FL — The Little Ringling Bridge, a vital link between Lido Key, Longboat Key, and Sarasota, has sustained damage due to the impact of Hurricane Milton. Sandra Tapfumaneyi, Chief of Emergency Management at Sarasota County Emergency Services, confirmed the damage, stating that efforts are underway to assess the situation.

"We're working to check on the residents who decided to stay behind. There are at least a couple hundred people on Longboat Key that we know of," Tapfumaneyi said.

In addition to the bridge damage, Siesta Key faced significant flooding due to storm surge. While the water levels are beginning to recede, the area saw storm surges of between seven to eight feet—higher than previous storms like Hurricane Helene, which struck the area just two weeks ago.

“We are grateful that the storm surge wasn’t higher, but it still exceeded what we experienced with Hurricane Helene,” Tapfumaneyi added.

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Stay safe and informed as Sarasota County continues recovery efforts in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton.