Man Missing, 1,000 Evacuated in Florida Flood

Floodwaters swept a motorist away Wednesday, closed schools and forced the evacuation of at least 1,000 people after three days of heavy rain on Florida’s central Gulf Coast.

Across the overflowing Manatee River from Bradenton, police in Palmetto were forced to ride in garbage trucks after street flooding made patrol cars useless.

The National Guard was put on alert as forecasters said there would be no letup today in Florida’s heaviest rain since Hurricane Elena three years ago.

Emergency Declared

A local state of emergency was declared in Manatee County along the Manatee River, which was 7 feet above flood stage Wednesday and was expected to crest at 11 1/2 feet above flood stage.

The Red Cross opened three shelters for residents of south Tampa, where waters lapped at car windshields.

State officials said they were providing four-wheel-drive vehicles from the Game and Fresh Water Fish Commission to help in the evacuations, which involved hundreds of homes and at least 1,000 people in Manatee County.

“One third of the interbay peninsula is under water,” said Edward J. McElroy, acting manager of emergency operations in Tampa.

Divers Seek Motorist

Divers searched unsuccessfully for a man who was swept away after a car carrying four people stalled in a drainage ditch in Tampa, then began to float. The other three people were rescued.

Manatee County schools were closed after several were flooded in the Bradenton area.