UPDATE: County provides update on Hurricane Helene | News, sports, jobs – SANIBEL-CAPTIVA

UPDATE: Today, September 26, at approximately 3:15 p.m., Lee County government provided an update on Hurricane Helene.

Emergency Management is urging residents to stay off roads and stay home if possible as Helene’s severe weather continues to impact Southwest Florida this afternoon and evening. If you must drive, avoid standing water, use caution at all intersections in case traffic lights are not working, and monitor local law enforcement social media for road information.

Lee County government will reopen September 27th after a one-day closure due to Helene. For specific office or operational information, as in some cases there may be minor adjustments due to the storm, visit www.leegov.com/departments.

Solid Waste haulers will resume garbage, yard waste and recycling collections on September 27th.

– Regular household pickups will be delayed by one day for the remainder of the week. Today’s collections will be picked up on Friday and Friday collections will be picked up on Saturday. Collections will resume as usual on September 30th.

– All waste disposal facilities in Lee County will be open regular hours on September 27th and will have extended hours on September 28th.

The Department of Community Development is asking unincorporated Lee County residents experiencing water intrusion into their homes or those residing in the Special Flood Danger Zone with wind damage to email [email protected] for assistance to obtain approval requirements and resources. Residents can also visit www.leegov.com/dcd/BldPermitServ/disaster-recovery for more information.

The Lee County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) remains activated, and county staff and partners continue to work closely with state and federal partners, including the Florida Division of Emergency Management, the National Weather Service, and the National Hurricane Center.

– To view the county’s midday update, visit

– The EOC is fully staffed at Level 2, with almost all positions in Plans and Operations filled. Public safety partners, including fire and law enforcement, are coordinating on any response issues that arise due to the high winds. The Lee County Department of Transportation (DOT), Natural Resources and Utilities is preparing emergency crews to respond to impacts once the storm passes.

The EOC works with FPL and LCEC to monitor power issues throughout the community. Residents who use generators should locate generators at least 20 feet from doors and windows and keep exhaust fumes away from homes.

Community members should continue to take steps to stay informed:

– Monitor reputable local media, the National Weather Service-Tampa and the National Hurricane Center.

– Follow Lee County Government and Lee County Public Safety on social media, including Facebook, YouTube, X and LinkedIn.

– Sign in to AlertLee and download the LeePrepares app from Google Play or the App Store.

– Visit www.leegov.com/storm.

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ORIGINAL (September 26, 2024):

Today, September 26, at approximately 9:45 a.m., Lee County government provided the following updates related to Hurricane Helene.

The Lee County Emergency Operations Center (EOC) is activated and county staff and partners continue to work closely with state and federal partners, including the Florida Division of Emergency Management, the National Weather Service and the National Hurricane Center.

Residents are invited to tune in to the county’s Facebook Live event with Public Safety Director Ben Abes scheduled for today, September 26, at noon. Go to www.facebook.com/leecountyflbocc. The update will also air on the county’s YouTube channel and LeeTV.

Emergency management is recommending that all residents stay home throughout the day if possible as Helene’s inclement weather will continue to bring heavy rain and strong, gusty winds. Even if the weather clears for a short period of time, the public is urged to stay indoors – especially this afternoon.

Don’t drive if you don’t have to. The massive storm will continue to impact the region even after it passes north of Lee County. Do not drive through standing water. Monitor local law enforcement social media channels and local media outlets for information about flooded roads. Specifically, Fort Myers Beach Fire & Rescue is asking motorists not to drive to Fort Myers Beach at this time. Please note that once the storm subsides, depending on the strength of the wind, drivers should exercise caution at all intersections in case traffic signals are not working.

Lee County not in the truest sense of the word “close” B. Bridges during hurricanes with barricades, cones, gates or signs, as these can easily be blown away, making them ineffective and dangerous. The Lee County Department of Transportation (DOT) strongly advises motorists to stay away from bridges – and the roads leading to them – when sustained winds reach 40 miles per hour. Drivers may encounter police officers near bridges. Follow the instructions provided.

The EOC is fully staffed at Level 2, with almost all positions in Plans and Operations filled. Public safety partners, including fire and law enforcement, are coordinating on any response issues that arise due to the high winds. The DOT, Natural Resources and Utilities are positioning their crews in advance to respond to surges once the storm passes.

The EOC works with FPL and LCEC to monitor power issues throughout the community. Residents who use generators should locate generators at least 20 feet from doors and windows and keep exhaust fumes away from homes.

Residents who have not already done so should sign up for AlertLee, which provides tornado warnings in addition to hurricane-related warnings and watches. Visit www.leegov.com/hurricane/helene and scroll to the bottom of the landing page.

The two Safe Havens that Lee County opened Sept. 25 will remain open for those who do not feel safe in their housing situation and do not have a friend or family member’s home to go to. They remain open as Lee County monitors storm conditions. The locations are:

– North Fort Myers Recreation Center, 2000 North Recreation Park Way, North Fort Myers

– Estero Recreation Center, 9200 Corkscrew Palms Boulevard, Estero

As of this morning, 44 people were sheltered at the site in North Fort Myers and 19 in Estero. There are no evacuation orders in place and no hurricane shelters are open.

Lee County offices and all parks, libraries and other facilities are closed. LeeTran’s regular fixed-route bus service is not offered. Collection of household waste, garden waste and recycling is suspended. Do not place trash cans on the side of the road.

Announcements regarding reopening and resumption of normal operations will be made shortly.

Residents who have questions about non-emergency matters can call the emergency information line. United Way activated the hotline earlier this week. Call United Way 211 at 211 or 239-433-3900 with questions about sandbag distribution locations, closures and real-time updates. Call 911 for urgent or life-threatening matters.

The Department of Community Development is asking unincorporated Lee County residents experiencing water intrusion into their homes or those residing in the Special Flood Danger Zone with wind damage to email [email protected] for assistance to obtain approval requirements and resources. Residents can also visit www.leegov.com/dcd/BldPermitServ/disaster-recovery for more information.

Community members should continue to take steps to stay informed:

– Monitor reputable local media, the National Weather Service-Tampa and the National Hurricane Center.

– Follow Lee County Government and Lee County Public Safety on social media, including Facebook, YouTube, X and LinkedIn.

– Sign in to AlertLee and download the LeePrepares app from Google Play or the App Store.