Bradenton residents need to prepare for heavy rain and flooding. Here’s the latest on closures and emergency info from around our area.

Manatee County officials said residents must hunker down where they are, as weather conditions have rapidly deteriorated.

Near Rye Bridge, the river is expected to reach a peak of 13 feet Thursday evening and fall below flood level by Friday afternoon. By comparison, during Hurricane Debby, the Manatee River at Rye Bridge rose to a record crest of 20.12 feet, flooding nearby roads and properties.

Manatee County has opened up six new shelters as residents evacuate. The six new shelters in Manatee County are: There is space available at the already opened locations: A special needs shelter is also available for residents who have pre-registered.

Hurricane Milton's winds reach 90 mph and is expected to reach Category 4 strength. Sarasota and Manatee counties are in center of forecast cone.

Waffle House is more than just a breakfast hotspot during hurricane season; this iconic diner chain has become an unconventional yet effective measure for evaluating storm severity, creating the Waffle House Index.

Key Takeaways The "Waffle House Index" is an unofficial Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) metric that can indicate a need for serious disaster response.Under normal circumstances, Waffle Houses are open 24/7.