Hurricane Helene's impacts felt wide and far around Florida

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Lee County is in recovery mode from the impacts from Helene today (Sept. 27). There was significant storm surge all over the county, from Fort Myers Beach to downtown Fort Myers, Cape Coral, Sanibel, Pine Island and Matlacha.

This is continues to be developing story and our reporters and photographers are providing coverage from different locations in Lee County again today, contributing the latest updates on flooding, damage, power outages, and what you need to know.

Helpful links

POWER OUTAGES: LCEC power map is HERE.

POWER OUTAGES: FPL’s tracker is HERE.

POWER OUTAGES: HERE for United States power outage tracker

AIRPORT: RSW’s flight tracker for delays, cancellations

Edison Bridge reopens linking Fort Myers, North Fort Myers

Shortly after 3 p.m., Fort Myers police announced the Edison Bridge reopened in both directions. The southbound lanes reopened earlier Friday morning, around 10:45 a.m.

Traffic reopens to and from Sanibel

As of 11:46 a.m., the Florida Department of Transportation said, the Sanibel Causeway is open. Normal travel has resumed in both directions, officials said. Officials say the city is not requiring hurricane passes at this time. State officials remind motorists to not travel over flooded roads and allow the water to recede as city crews clean up debris from the roadways.

Hurricane Ian remembrance ceremony on Fort Myers Beach canceled

Citing the effects of Hurricane Helene, Fort Myers Beach town officials announced the remembrance ceremony for the storm’s two-year anniversary, initially set Saturday morning, has been canceled.“Due to the effects of Hurricane Helene and the cleanup our Town staff is currently undertaking, we regret to inform you that our Hurricane Ian Remembrance and Resiliency Ceremony has been canceled,” Nicole Berzin, spokesperson for Fort Myers Beach, wrote in a press release.

Fort Myers police provide update on road closings

Fort Myers police say they continue to assess the city as they move to a “soft closure” in the flooded areas.Downtown Fort Myers is still experiencing some minor flooding and police have moved to a “soft closure” with cones in place in areas of standing water. Authorities said crews continue to clean streets.Police ask that motorist do not move cones, which are “placed strategically for a reason.”Authorities said the Edison Bridge remains closed northbound as they continue to clear debris and monitor flood waters. The southbound lanes reopened around 10:45 a.m.Authorities say westbound traffic on Palm Beach Boulevard is still being diverted at Seaboard Street. First Street between Park and Seaboard remains closed, along with the Edison Bridge partial closure.Police said the city remains under a surge warning.

Bridge update in south Lee County

Big Carlos Pass Bridge has been closed while FDOT conducts cleanup from Hurricane Helene.

Photo gallery: Clean-up underway on Fort Myers Beach

Fort Myers Beach: People returning in ‘droves’ today

From reporter Chad Gillis:

Island residents and construction crews were returning to Fort Myers Beach in droves Friday morning, and those who stayed were already cleaning up from Hurricane Helene.

Tracy Dammermann is staying with friends on Fort Myers Beach and lived here during Hurricane Ian.

“There was 18 inches of water in the garage, and that’s high enough,” she said. “But compared to what we had with Ian, it’s not bad.”

She spent most of the morning scraping sand, rocks and debris from a driveway along Crescent Street.

“It seems like the hurricanes are increasing they’re coming more and more, but we knew that when we moved to Southwest Florida,” she said. “That’s part of living in paradise.”

One street over, Sheila Newman used a squeegee to get sand and water off her brick paver driveway.

“The water came up and it stayed up for quite a while because the wind was blowing,” she said. “But it stayed high for hours, and that causes havoc.”

She said the wind was strong overnight but that she was thankful for the Friday morning breeze.

She said the Town of Fort Myers Beach did a good job providing weather alerts during the storm.

Sanibel: Waste Management schedule, FYI

Officials with the city of Sanibel said solid waste collection in the island is suspended until Monday.

DOT announces road closure

From reporter Mickenzie Hannon:

DOT closed Hickory from Barefoot Beach to Big Carlos Pass, as of 8:40 a.m., and will be closed for an undetermined amount of time as message boards deploy and deputies use equipment to assess the general area.

Unless it’s absolutely necessary, officials ask residents to avoid Hickory Islands and Fort Myers Beach until further notice. Lee Sheriff Carmine Marceno shared the update on social media.

Island Park flooding: What to know

From our reporter Mickenzie Hannon:

According to an Island Park Road update from Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno at 7:38 a.m., the area is receding and has approximately 2 inches left of standing water. Water has entered some homes in the general location, he said. It is safe to pass at residents’ own risk.

Sanibel only allowing emergency personnel to travel onto the island

Sanibel city officials announced that as of 8:25 a.m. Friday island residents were only allowed to travel the Causeway off the island. Officials said only emergency personnel was permitted onto the island immediately following the storm.

Live from Fort Myers Beach: Report Chad Gillis provides update

Fort Myers Beach pier, what’s left of it, survived Helene

From Chad Gillis on Fort Myers Beach:

What remains of the old fishing pier on Fort Myers Beach is still standing, apparently unscathed from Hurricane Helene.

The concrete pillars that once held the deck of the pier took a pounding Thursday as 6-foot waves crashed into the structure for most of the day.

In a way, the pier is like the town – torn and tattered but still there despite great adversity.

And it’s still a landmark of sorts as the pillars are one of the few features on the north end of Fort Myers Beach that survived the Hurricane Ian two years ago.

A $17 million pier is being planned to replace the old structure, and it will be about twice as big and long as the original pier.

Design, permitting and construction is expected to take several years.

Are streets still closed in Fort Myers, Lee County?

All road closures in the Downtown area remain in effect. The Edison Bridge remains closed in all directions. The Fort Myers Police Department said it will be assessing roadways and updating as it deems areas safe for travel throughout Friday morning.

The roadway at Cleveland Avenue US 41 are reopen as of 7:28 a.m. after a power line fell near Hill and Cleveland Avenue and blocked the roadway just before midnight, the Fort Myers Police Department shared.

Fort Myers Beach: Clean-up of sand, debris is underway

From Chad Gillis:

Work crews are using machinery to clear sand and debris from the base of the Matanzas Bridge on Fort Myers Beach in the wake of Hurricane Helene.

Much of the island was flooded overnight as strong onshore winds combined with a high tide phase pushed water up and onto the island.

First-floor flooded here seems widespread.

A group of Lee County Sheriff’s Officer’s marine unit made landfall on the island in a small inflatable skiff and brought the boat the corner of Crescent Street and Estero Boulevard.

The News-Press is not sure at this point if any rescues were conducted.

Winds have subsided considerably, and the 6-foot waves that pounded the old pier most of Thursday are now about 2-feet in size.

High tide is at 9:18 a.m.

Conditions are expected to improve throughout the day on the island, which was ravaged by Hurricane Ian just two years ago.

Vehicles can now get on the north end and are starting to trickle onto the island. But they have to take a detour as the Times Square area is covered with sand still. So, vehicles are OK for the north end. Backup possible due to detour.

What to know: Lee County ‘hot spots’ after Helene

FORT MYERS BEACHFrom Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno’s latest update at 6:55 a.m. the roadway is open on San Carlos Boulevard. He warned residents to proceed with caution and to not park along the roadway as crews move about. Deputies were present at San Carlos Boulevard and Pine Ridge Road early Friday at 5:48 a.m., and roadway assessments are forthcoming, Marceno shared.As of 7:18 a.m., the roadway is open from Hickory Island onto Fort Myers BeachMATLACHA

The Matlacha Pass Bridge is open. Deputies remain on scene as motorists pass through, Marceno said. Roadway crews are also assessing the area. Drivers should still proceed with caution.SANIBELAs of 5:30 a.m. the Sanibel Causeway is closed to through traffic, Marceno shared. The contractors are working to remove debris from the roadway and anticipate safely opening the roadway around noon today.SOUTH LEEIn South Lee County, water has receded on Hickory and Imperial Shores. However, the roads are still unsafe due to downed power lines and debris, Marceno’s update at 5:22 a.m. warns. A roadway assessment is requested, he added.Flooding is also present on West Terry and Harbor Drive. Halfway down Harbor Drive and most side streets have roughly 1 foot of standing water and is impassable.

Airport update: Flights to resume today

The airlines serving RSW plan to resume flights today, Sept. 27. There will be delays and cancellations. Check with your airline for the most up-to-date information.

Fort Myers Beach report: Waters are receding

Reporter Chad Gillis is on Fort Myers Beach this morning:

The streets of Fort Myers Beach were covered in a quarter-inch layer of sand as waters receded early Friday morning.

Hurricane Helene passed offshore Thursday and made landfall in the Big Bend area last night.

The storm brought significant surge to the Lee County coast, flooding some first-floor dwellings and businesses.

Cars were trickling off the island very slowly while driving through the remaining sea water.

Street barricades and other debris floated along Crescent Street just before dawn.

The next high tide phase is at 9:18 a.m., and experts expects waters to fully recede going into the afternoon low tide phase.

Power outages update from FPL

As of 6 a.m: FPL says “we’re responding to severe weather as it impacts parts of Florida. Crews are restoring power in between weather bands as conditions allow. Remember to stay far away from flooding, downed power lines and debris. VisitFPL.com/storm

Total customers in Lee county: 293,210Total customers out: 10,560

Sanibel causeway closed, ‘Significant flooding’ on the island

There wasn’t a breach, but the Florida Department of transportation has closed the Sanibel Causeway both ways, Sanibel spokesman Eric Jackson said.

City offices will remain closed today because of “ Significant flooding on the island,” Jackson said. “Staff will be assessing and responding. It will take some time for water to recede and for crews to clean up debris from roadways

Lee County public schools are closed today

Lee County public schools will be closed for a second day today due to the impact of Hurricane Helene, the school district announced late Thursday.

Thursday evening the district had said that classes would resume Friday after Thursday’s closure. Later, the district said it was closing three schools on barrier islands, which were hit hard by flooding cause by Helen’s storm surge and then made an update announcement that all schools would be closed.

Last night’s storm surge wallops FM Beach, Sanibel, Fort Myers, Cape

Southwest Floridians may be waking up today to impassable roads and residual flooding, especially in coastal communities.

After a relative calm in the storm Thursday afternoon, a wave of storm surge Thursday night inundated Fort Myers Beach, stranding residents; caused the Caloosahatchee to rise and threaten parts of downtown Fort Myers and nearby neighborhoods; ruined a business on Pine Island and made roadways impassable in Cape Coral and Sanibel.

A Fort Myers official expected peak surge at 1 a.m. overnight.

Water is expected to still be on the Fort Myers Beach landscape Friday morning, when a high tide will occur at 9:18 a.m.

Hurricane Helen: Coverage of storm’s arrival on Thursday

Video coverage of Hurricane Helene

Photo galleries

Here are some of the photos galleries taken on Wednesday showing the wrath of Hurricane Helene. Even though Lee County and Southwest Florida didn’t take a direct hit from what turned into a Category 4 storm Thursday night, there was significant storm surge and flooding.

Hurricane Helene’s impacts felt wide and far around Florida

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