As the 2026 hurricane season approaches, Sarasota County has installed color-coded poles at local beaches to help residents and visitors understand just how high storm surge can rise during a hurricane.
The poles, placed at Siesta Key and Manasota Key beaches, indicate the peak storm surge levels recorded during Hurricanes Helene and Milton. According to county emergency management officials, Helene brought 4 to 7 feet of storm surge to Sarasota County’s Gulf Coast, while Milton produced an isolated peak of 10 feet of storm surge at Manasota Key Beach — two storms that struck less than two weeks apart in 2024.
The colors on the poles correspond with the risk map used by the National Weather Service, with each color representing three feet of water above ground level.
A third installation is planned at North Jetty Beach near Nokomis.
County officials also want to remind the public that storm surge is not limited to beachfront areas. It can travel up rivers and canals, reaching well inland from the coastline.
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