Helene and Milton in Sarasota and Venice
Sarasota largely escaped Ian’s surge — the National Hurricane Center notes offshore winds left most sensors north of Englewood dry. 2024 was different: Helene pushed the Venice Fishing Pier sensor to 5.71 feet above the normal high-tide line, and Milton made landfall on Siesta Key with 6 to 9 feet of water above ground from Venice to Boca Grande and 6.74 feet at the Venice pier.
- Helene (2024): 5.71 ft above high tide at Venice Fishing Pier
- Milton (2024): landfall on Siesta Key
- Milton: 6–9 ft above ground from Venice to Boca Grande
Source: NHC Tropical Cyclone Reports: Helene and Milton
The BarrierX® system we install in Sarasota
Rubicon installs BarrierX® removable aluminum plank barriers: side posts are anchored beside each opening once, and the planks drop into them when a storm is forecast. Height is chosen per opening in 8-inch steps.
- Heights from 25 in (3 planks) to 73 in (9 planks)
- 6063-T6 aluminum; independent tensile test of a plank: 31.0 ksi yield vs the 25.0 ksi ASTM B221 T6 minimum
- Closed-cell EPDM seals; stainless steel sleeve anchors into masonry
- Planks weigh 2.15 lb per linear foot (a 10-ft plank is about 21.5 lb)
Source: BarrierX® specification and test results
Sarasota homes: what we measure
Rubicon reviews garages, doors, sliders and lanai transitions on Sarasota, Siesta Key and Venice homes, including the wall material and threshold at each opening, before recommending a barrier height.
Getting Rubicon out to Sarasota
Rubicon replies to inquiries within an hour and can schedule an emergency appointment within 24 hours. Every system is measured on site first, then quoted per opening. Rubicon is based at 3729 Chiquita Blvd S, Cape Coral, FL 33914 and serves Sarasota, Siesta Key, Venice and Southwest Florida. Call 239-330-8888.
- On-site measurement before any quote
- Install, labeled storage and a deployment walkthrough
- Quoted per opening, not per web price list
What Rubicon customers say
5.0 on Google from 8 reviews (as of October 2026). Excerpts from Rubicon’s Google reviews across Southwest Florida (not necessarily from this city):
- “Super easy process from start to finish. You can tell they know what they’re doing.”
- “Great service and prompt response.”
- “Great experience and a great result!”
Source: Rubicon Flood Control on Google
Official local flood information
The City of Sarasota publishes flood information for residents; Sarasota County has a separate flood-protection page.
Source: City of Sarasota — Flood information
What a flood barrier can and can’t do
A barrier closes a measured opening — a garage, door or slider — up to its rated height. It does not stop water coming up through floor drains, through walls or over the top, and it doesn’t replace evacuation orders or elevation requirements in Sarasota. Travel and scheduling for Sarasota jobs are confirmed per project.
