Manatee County residents living near the former Piney Point fertilizer processing plant were evacuated Saturday because of serious concerns that a collapse of the walls holding hundreds of million gallons of polluted industrial wastewater at the complex by Tampa Bay could occur at any time.
Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency in Manatee County in response to the danger, and the Florida Highway Patrol closed part of U.S. 41 between the Hillsborough County Line and Moccasin Wallow Road as crews worked to release more water in order to relieve pressure on the containment system. Other roads such as Buckeye Road, Bud Rhoden Road, 113th Street and Oneill Road were also closed.