Hurricane Milton made landfall Oct. 9 on Siesta Key as a Category 3 storm. Southwest Florida counties, municipalities, businesses and nonprofits are dealing with damage from storm surge and high winds and are providing updates on closures, reopenings, recovery and ways to donate to hurricane relief funds.

General announcements

• Curbside pickup in Cape Coral of hurricane-related vegetation debris will begin the week of Oct. 21. Residential drop-off sites for debris are expected to open early next week.

• Waste Pro will resume household trash pick-up Oct. 14 in Cape Coral. However, there will be no collection of recycling, bulk waste,or horticulture next week. Only regular garbage will be collected.

• Garbage and recycling collection services will resume Oct. 11 in unincorporated Collier County, city of Marco Island and city of Everglades. Collier County Landfill, Immokalee Transfer Station and the recycling drop-off centers will also open Oct. 11. recycling drop-off centers accept household chemicals, batteries, electronics and paint; however, household waste is not accepted.

Curbside Collection

Residents may place garbage, recycling, small piles of yard waste and bulky items curbside on their regularly scheduled collection day. Place garbage and recycling in carts only – no loose bags will be collected. Keep curbside collection separated from hurricane debris by at least three feet.

Yard waste bundles, yard waste paper bags and personal containers are limited to 10 per collection. Bundles must weigh less than 50 pounds, be secured with twine and be no longer than 4 feet. Branches may not be larger than 4 inches in diameter. Use only paper yard waste bags or paper grocery bags. Plastic bags will not be accepted. Place all leaves, grass, and other trimmings in bags. Residents may use 45-gallon personal containers that weigh less than 50 pounds when filled. The yard waste may not extend more than 12 inches over the top of the container.

Hurricane Debris

Place debris generated by Hurricane Milton curbside, at least 3 feet apart, in separate piles of yard waste, construction and demolition (furniture, carpet), household hazardous waste, electronic waste and appliances. Do not mix waste piles. Debris will be collected by a separate hauler than the usual garbage hauler. When placing curbside, avoid blocking the road, driveways, sidewalks, mailboxes, and fire hydrants.

• The Charlotte County Emergency Management Operations Call Center will continue operating until 10 p.m. on Oct. 10 and from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. beginning Oct. 11 until further notice. The Call Center number is 941-833-4000.

• The Sanibel Causeway is open for property owners to return to Sanibel. Hurricane Re-entry Permits or proof of residency will be required for access. Residents of Sanibel with a green entry pass or a valid government issued photo ID showing a Sanibel address will be granted access. Business owners with a red reentry pass will be granted access. There are still portions of roadways with standing water and drivers are encouraged to use caution when returning to their homes and businesses. A curfew will be in place from 9 p.m.-6 a.m. daily until further notice.

• More than half of Lee county’s 453 traffic signals were not operating as of 8 a.m. Oct. 10, due either to no electrical service or physical damage.

• About 9,600 people stayed overnight in Lee County shelters and evacuees began leaving this morning. As of 11:30 a.m. Oct. 10 , 627 remained and that number is expected to vary Thursday as people assess damage at home and may need to come to a shelter. LeeTran will begin offering fare-free trips to people leaving shelters at 1 p.m. today, and some shelters may be consolidated.

• The South Gulf Cove lock is inoperable until further notice due to a power outage, Charlotte County officials said.

• Sunshine Ace Hardware began reopening retail stores after Hurricane Milton.

Sunshine Ace Hardware stores carry a variety of critical post-storm supplies, including generators, saws, drills, tarps, lanterns, flashlights, batteries, coolers, cleaning supplies and other items. Available inventory is limited and varies by store.

As of 12:30 p.m. Oct. 10, Sunshine Ace Hardware has reopened these stores:

Collier County:

• Downtown Naples – 141 Tamiami Trail N.

• East Naples – 4433 Tamiami Trail E.

• Marco Island – 1720 San Marco Road

• Golden Gate – 11673 Collier Blvd.

• Founders Square – 8850 Founders Square Drive

Lee County:

• Bonita Springs – 9100 Bonita Beach Road

• San Carlos – 18911 Tamiami Trail S.

Charlotte County

• Port Charlotte, Kingsway – 912a Kings Highway

• With Collier County Public Schools closed and assessing post Hurricane Milton, the education team at The Naples Players if offering to help by offering free child care Oct. 11 to student parents and the rest of the community who need it to get to critical work, repair their homes or help with Hurricane Milton response. The  Players will offer a free, safe space for parents to drop their students off 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m. at The Naples Players, Sugden Community Theatre, 701 Fifth Ave. S. The theater is asking parents to  sign up in advance, if possible, so that the theater can staff accordingly. The care is offered in half-day increments and parents who need it all day need to sign up for each increments. All parents and guardians must complete the registration paperwork to ensure the safety of the students, by clicking here. 

The Naples Players are also asking for qualified volunteers who can be on standby for child care day. Qualified volunteers are those who have volunteered with Naples Players before and undergone the mandatory background screening for the safety of both children and staff. 

Those qualified volunteers willing to help are ask to email  e-mail Director of Education Jen Price at jprice@naplesplayers.org. 

• Collier County Public Utilities crews began working to restore services and ensure the safety and well-being of the community. Water and wastewater teams entered the field, assessing conditions and making necessary repairs. The loss of electrical power has affected some wastewater pump stations, county officials said. Generators and other assets are being deployed to critical locations. Officials urged customers to minimize water use during this critical period. “We appreciate the community’s cooperation and patience as our crews work to restore services,” Wastewater Director Robert VonHolle said. “Conserving water during this time will greatly aid our restoration efforts.”

• Beach Road in Englewood is closed at State Road 776, and North Beach Road is closed at the Charlotte-Sarasota county line due to impacts from Hurricane Milton. Charlotte County officials urge motorists not to drive on North Beach Road and Gulf Boulevard on Manasota Key.

• RxOpen is activated for Florida in response to Hurricane Milton. RxOpen is a mapping tool that helps patients and providers locate open pharmacies in areas impacted by natural disasters and public health emergencies. Click here to view the map and find open pharmacies.

• Lee County restored water to the town of Fort Myers Beach. The entire barrier island is under a boil water notice.

• Lee Health is preparing staffing to transition from Team A to Team B.

The following is a full list of information from the system:

• Lee Health hospitals remain open to patients.
• Lee Health staff will transition from Team A to Team B at 1 p.m. Oct. 10.
• TeleHealth visits are being offered to Lee Health patients in Florida free of charge.
• Visitation at hospitals remains limited.
• Lee Health outpatient facilities and offices are closed and will reopen as facilities and utilities allow for it.
• Elective procedures will resume Oct. 14.
• Lyfts are being provided to all staff needing to travel to or from hospitals for work. Information for utilizing the service is available through Lee Health.
• Staff with questions about current response can call the Lee Health Storm Hotline at 239-468-7876.

• Charlotte County Utilities Department urges customers to limit water usage. Numerous wastewater lift stations within the county are without power.

Low pressure sewer customers must also limit water usage during the power outage. In a power outage, low pressure sewer pumps will not function. The home’s wastewater will remain onsite within the interceptor tank and cannot enter the central sewer system. The onsite tank has a reserve capacity for limited water use during the outage.

Currently, there are no boil water notices in effect. Our water systems are operational.

Contact the Utilities Department at 941-764-4300 if experiencing a sewer back-up.

• City of Marco Island facilities will be open to the public for normal operations at 8 a.m. Oct. 11.

• Lee County Emergency Management urges residents to remain in place this morning, even though Hurricane Milton made landfall north of the county Oct. 9.

There are dangerous, downed powerlines and downed trees. Debris, standing water and other hazards are on roadways. Traffic signals may not be working.

As of 6 a.m. today in Lee County, about 125,000 LCEC customers are without power and 107,000 FPL

The county and its local response partners have started mobilizing crews to assess infrastructure and begin clearing roads.

“We understand everyone’s instinct is to get up and go check on their homes because the weather seems calmer and they may have evacuated,” Lee County Public Safety Director Benjamin Abes said. “Don’t go yet. Stay where you are. Give responders time to do the necessary assessments.”

• Charlotte County Public Safety resumed emergency response to calls following Hurricane Milton. This includes the Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office, Charlotte County Fire & EMS and Englewood Fire Department.

• Lee County Government and local Fire Rescue Departments have partnered to provide welfare checks to help out-of-area people check in on family and friends in Lee County after Hurricane Milton passes.

People need only to email WelfareStormChecks@leegov.com with the following information about the people they wish to check on:

• Name
• Address
• Phone number

The email requesting welfare checks will be directed to the local Fire Rescue Departments for follow-up. The number of requests may be significant, so residents are asked to be patient.

• Several areas in Charlotte County are still experiencing significant flooding and hazards may not be visible. Public Works Department crews are deploying to assess and clear debris from roads and identify roads that are still unpassable. Residents are urgedto stay off roads until further notice. There is no guarantee any road on the way to or from any location in the county will not have some level of flooding or dangerous debris, county officials said.

Once it is safe to drive around the county, when a traffic signal is out of power, treat the intersection as a four-way stop and come to a complete stop.

Yield right of way:

• The first vehicle to stop has the right of way.
• If two vehicles stop at the same time, the one on the right has the right of way.
• If one vehicle is turning left and the other is going straight, the vehicle going straight has the right of way.
• Proceed cautiously and be prepared for others who may not follow these rules.
• Obey all road closure signs and barricades

• Marco Island roads are passable, city officials said. The vehicle curfew was lifted and the mandatory evacuation was ended. Residents, visitors, businesses may return to the island. However, 68% of the Island is without power. There are still some side streets with salt water.

• First responders and city of Sanibel crews mobilized and returned to the island to assess the safety of island. First reports from crews on the island indicate that there is substantial water over roadways in excess of three feet in some areas, city officials said.

Only first responders and essential personnel may access the island at this time.

• FloridaCommerce and the State Emergency Response Team activated the Business Damage Assessment Survey in response to Hurricane Milton. Business owners can self-report physical and economic damage caused by Hurricane Milton. State officials said survey responses will expedite Hurricane Milton recovery efforts by gathering data and assessing the needs of impacted businesses. Businesses can complete the survey online by clicking here.

• FloridaCommerce activated the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan Program, making $50 million available for businesses impacted by Hurricane Milton, including in Collier, Charlotte and Lee counties. The program provides short-term, zero-interest loans to small businesses that experienced economic injury or physical damage due to the Category 3 storm. Interested applicants can apply through Dec. 4, 2024, or until all available funds are expended. Eligible small businesses may apply for loans of up to $50,000 through the program. Loans of up to $100,000 are available for agriculture and aquaculture small businesses, and loans of up to $150,000 are available for citrus and cattle operations. To apply, click here.

• Charlotte County enacted a curfew from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. for all of the county, including the city of Punta Gorda, effective at 9 p.m. Oct. 9. The curfew will be in place until further notice. Violation of the curfew is a misdemeanor. The curfew includes a ban on the sale of alcohol between 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. until the curfew is rescinded.

• Both NCH Baker and North Hospitals and freestanding emergency departments will remain open to provide essential medical services throughout the storm.

NCH announces the following closures/cancelations through Oct 10:

• All elective surgeries canceled
• Marco Urgent Care Center closed – may reopen later Oct. 10 when deemed safe.
• NCH Wellness Centers closed
• NCH Business Center closed
• NCH Medical Group offices and Ortho Now Clinic closed

• Lee Health will remain open for patients. Lee Telehealth will begin offering free service to Florida residents Oct. 9. Visitation has ended. Urgent Care and Complex Care and Cape Coral Hospital are closed.

• Fort Myers Beach enacted a 24-hour daily general curfew Oct. 7. The curfew prohibits any pedestrian or vehicular movement within the town limits of the town of Fort Myers Beach, except for on-duty fire, police or town employees, and other emergency services and utility personnel explicitly authorized by the town.

• There will be no collection of garbage, recycling, bulky or yard waste on Oct. 9 and 10 in unincorporated Collier County, city of Marco Island and Everglades City. No make-up collections will be made. Curbside collection services will resume on the next regularly scheduled day.

The Collier County Landfill, the Immokalee Transfer Station and the Recycling Drop-Off Centers will also be closed on Oct. 9 and 10. The facilities will reopen on Friday, Oct. 11.

• Lee County has announced additional shelters opened Oct. 8 in advance of the approach of Hurricane Milton.

Additional shelters are:

• Alico Arena
  12181 FGCU Lake Parkway East, Fort Myers
• East Lee County High School
• 715 Thomas Sherwin Ave., Lehigh Acres
• Harns Marsh Elementary School
  1800 Unice Ave. N., Lehigh Acres
• Harns Marsh Middle School
  1820 Unice Ave. N., Lehigh Acres

• Collier County will open general population shelters at 4 p.m. Oct. 8. The shelters include Gulf Coast High School, 7878 Shark Way in North Naples; Immokalee High School, 701 Immokalee Drive in Immokalee; Golden Gate High School 2925 Titan Way in Golden Gate; Corkscrew Middle School (Pet-friendly), 1165 Oil Well Road in Golden Gate Estates; Cypress Palm Middle School (Pet-friendly), 4255 18th Ave NE in Golden Gate Estates; Golden Gate Middle School (Pet-friendly), 2701 48th Terrace SW in Golden Gate; Immokalee Middle School (Pet-friendly), 401 Ninth St. in Immokalee; and Oakridge Middle School (Pet-friendly), 14975 Collier Blvd. in North Naples. A special needs shelter will open at 2 p.m. Oct. 8 at Palmetto Ridge High School, 1655 Victory Lane.

• Because of Hurricane Milton, the Collier County Growth Management Community Development Department will be suspending new permit applications through 8 a.m. Oct. 11. Permit inspection scheduling will be suspended from 5 p.m. until 8 a.m. Oct. 11. For general questions, contact Growth Management Community Development Department customer service at 239-252-2400.

Donate

• Collaboratory is opening the Hurricane Milton Relief Fund to collectively help Southwest Florida rebuild, supporting local nonprofits helping individuals needing immediate and long-term resources to recover. The SWFL Emergency Relief Fund in partnership with United Way of Lee, Hendry, and Glades Counties.  The fund supports Southwest Florida nonprofits helping people and areas of most pressing need. Donors can contribute by clicking here.

• As Florida’s Gulf Coast prepares for the arrival of Hurricane Milton, a nonprofit group that helps Florida families and children in times of need is mobilizing rapid response teams to aid those in the storm’s expected path. On Oct. 7, volunteers from Better Together will canvas communities in the predicted direct path of the storm, including those in Citrus, Manatee and Pinellas counties in the Tampa Bay area and Taylor County in the state’s Big Bend.

These regions continue to recover from Hurricane Helene, which made landfall in the Big Bend region on Sept. 26.

Better Together CEO Megan Rose said the organization will help families find shelter and resources, as well as coordinate efforts to match children of first responders and those in medical emergencies with host families who can temporarily provide emergency care and shelter. On Oct. 8, Better Together will shift those efforts to Southwest Florida, where Hurricane Milton is expected to heavily impact the area.

• FMB Strong is mobilizing to support the Fort Myers Beach community by launching both an Amazon Wish List and a Hurricane Milton Relief Fund. These efforts aim to gather essential supplies and financial contributions to aid in the recovery and relief process for those impacted by the storm.

The Amazon Wish List includes vital items, such as nonperishable food, water, hygiene products, cleaning supplies and tools that will be crucial for debris removal and community recovery. Donors can view and contribute to the wish list here: FMB Strong Amazon Wish List.

Additionally, for those who wish to contribute financially, FMB Strong has established a Hurricane Milton Relief Fund through Donorbox. All donations to this fund are tax-deductible and will go directly toward recovery efforts, including providing immediate assistance to residents in need. You can make your donation here: FMB Strong Hurricane Milton Relief Fund.

•  Collier County Community Foundation reactivated the Collier Comes Together Hurricane Disaster Relief Fund to assist Hurricane Milton victims. The fund’s purpose is to assist those affected and the nonprofits that support the victims in the aftermath of a crisis. The fund also ensures donors’ support reaches its intended cause. Any funds not used for Hurricane Milton relief will be retained for future disasters to ensure the Collier Community Foundation is prepared for future events that affect our community. To donate, click here.

Closings

• Florida SouthWestern State College will remain closed through Oct. 12, as its continue to assess the damages caused by Hurricane Milton. During this time, all classes and activities are canceled at all FSW locations.

• Hendry County government offices will remain closed through Oct. 11. Offices are expected to resume regular business hours on Monday, October 14.

• All Florida Department of Health in Lee County offices will be closed Oct. 11. Offices will remain closed until further notice.

• Lee Clerk’s office will remain closed through Oct. 11. All court hearings are suspended until further notice and will be rescheduled.

• Southwest Florida International Airport is closed Oct. 9 and Oct. 10. Airlines, car rental agencies and parking facilities are not operating. Operations are expected to resume Oct. 11, but that will depend on damage assessments and staffing, as many RSW employees will have storm impacts, Lee County Port Authority officials said.

• The offices of the Charlotte County Clerk of the Circuit Court, Property Appraiser and Tax Collector will be closed Oct. 9-11.

• Wells Fargo branches in Charlotte, Collier, and Lee counties will closed at noon Oct. 8 and will remain closed Oct. 9.

• Visitation of patients at Lee Health facilities will end at 5 p.m. Oct. 8. Urgent Care facilities are open until 5 p.m. Oct. 8, as well as Complex Care Facilities at Lee Memorial Hospital and Cape Coral Hospital.

• Charlotte County offices and facilities will remain closed through Oct. 11 in response to Hurricane Milton. Community Services Department offices, libraries, parks, recreation centers and pools will be closed through Oct. 11.

• Most Lee Health outpatient facilities are closed Oct. 8-10, except for the Complex Care Centers that will be open until Oct. 8 at 5 p.m. Call Centers will also be open to take calls on Oct. 8.

• Whole Foods Market at Mercato in North Naples will be closed Oct. 8-9.

• Cape Coral City Hall and all ancillary facilities will be closed Oct. 8-10. Normal business hours are expected to resume Oct. 11, pending any unforeseen circumstances.

• Charlotte County offices and facilities will close at noon Oct. 7 and remain closed Oct. 8-10. Community Services Department offices, libraries, parks, recreation centers and pools will be closed Oct. 7-10.

• City of Marco Island will close city facilities on Oct. 8-10.

• The historic property of Edison and Ford Winter Estates will be closing at 2 p.m. Oct. 7 and will be closed to the public on October 8, 9, and 10. The site is scheduled to reopen Oct. 11, weather permitting. Hurricane shutters are being installed on the historic homes and buildings to protect the structures and artifacts. Porch furniture in vulnerable locations will be moved inside, and antique cars will be moved from the Ford property to the museum. Additionally, the Orchid Sale and Symposium scheduled for Oct. 12-13 is canceled. It will be rescheduled for April 12-13 and will be combined with the springtime Grow Fort Myers event.

• Baker Senior Center Naples, 6200 Autumn Oaks Lane, will be closed Oct. 9-10, with the anticipation of reopening Oct. 11.

• SWFL Inc.’s office in Estero will be closed Oct. 8-9.

• All Florida SouthWestern State College locations will be closed and all classes will be canceled Oct. 8-11.

• Keiser University Naples and Keiser University Fort Myers will be closed Oct. 8-10.

• Community Cooperative will be closing early at 1 p.m. Oct. 8 and will remain closed all day Oct. 9. Additionally, it postponed its mobile food pantries scheduled for Oct. 8-11.

• Fishermen’s Village is closed to allow merchants/staff adequate time to make necessary preparations to secure their business/property for the approach of Hurricane Milton.

• Chops City Grill, Pazzo! Cucina Italiana, Keewaydin’s on Fifth in Naples are closed Oct. 7-9. All three plan to reopen for dinner Oct. 10 and encourage customers to check their websites and social media.

• Campagna Hospitality Group’s restaurants on Fifth Ave. S and at Mercato are closed until Oct. 10, including Osteria Tulia, Bar Tulia (Fifth Avenue), The French Brasserie, Bar Tulia Mercato, Rouge Clandestine Steak, Tulia Catering and Events.

• bha! bha! Persian Bistro on Fifth Avenue South will be closed Oct. 8-9 and plans to reopen Oct. 10.

Cancellations

• Three local organizations have performances scheduled for this weekend. They have updated their schedule as follows:

• Naples Players at Sugden Theatre: The Oct. 10 evening performance of Rumors has been canceled and the box office is currently closed. Those holding tickets for Oct. 11 and this weekend should monitor its website for upcoming performances or to reschedule Oct. 10 tickets: naplesplayers.org
• The Studio Players at Golden Gate Community Center: The Oct. 10 evening performance of Dead Man’s Cell Phone is canceled. Ticketholders are asked to monitor the website for updated information for Oct. 11-13 performances and rescheduling for Oct. 10 night tickets: thestudioplayers.org
• Marco Island Art Center Theatre: The performance of A Few Good Men for Oct. 10 is canceled, and the Marco Island Center for the Arts is closed through Oct. 10. Please see its website for updates on weekend performances: marcoislandart.org

• The Collier County Commission meeting scheduled for Oct. 8 has been canceled and its agenda moved to the Oct. 22 meeting.

• The Collier Metropolitan Planning Organization meeting scheduled for Oct. 11, has been canceled.

• Collier County Public Schools are closed through Oct. 10.

• The 7 p.m Oct. 7 community remembrance at Temple Shalom, 4630 Pine Ridge Road, Naples, sponsored by The Jewish Federation of Greater Naples honor the victims of the Hamas terror attack on Israel one year ago.

• Cape Coral Bike Night, originally scheduled for Oct. 12, is canceled.

• The kickoffs for Walk to End Alzheimer’s Lee County on Oct. 8 and the kickoff event for Collier County on Oct. 9 were postponed.

Food safety after a power outage

In the case of an electrical outage, it is important to take careful precautions to ensure food safety. Discard any perishable food that has been at room temperature for two hours or more and any food that has an unusual odor, color, or texture. Not all spoiled food will have an unusual odor, color, or texture, so just remember, when in doubt, throw it out!

Basic tips for keeping food safe:

• Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed. The refrigerator will keep food cold for about 4 hours if it is unopened.
• A full freezer will keep temperature for approximately 48 hours (24 hours if it is half full) if the door remains closed.
• Buy dry or block ice to keep the refrigerator as cold as possible if the power is going to be out for a prolonged period of time.
• If you plan to eat refrigerated or frozen meat, poultry, fish, or eggs while they are still at safe temperatures, each item must be thoroughly cooked to a safe minimum internal temperature to ensure any foodborne bacteria present are destroyed. However, if at any point the food was above 40º F for 2 hours or more (or 1 hour if temperatures are above 90 º F) — discard it.

Once power is restored, determine the safety of your food:

• Check the freezer temperature when the power comes back on. If the freezer thermometer reads 40° F or below, the food is safe and may be refrozen.
• If there is no thermometer in the freezer, check each package of food – if the food still contains ice crystals or is 40° F or below, it is safe to refreeze or cook.
• If the power was out for no more than 4 hours, refrigerated food should be safe if the doors were kept closed. When the power comes back on, discard any perishable food (such as meat, poultry, seafood, milk, eggs, or leftovers) that has been above 40°F for 4 hours or more. Perishable foods that are at 45°F or below (measured with a food thermometer) should be safe but should be cooked and consumed as soon as possible.
• Perishable food such as meat, poultry, seafood, milk, and eggs that are not kept adequately refrigerated or frozen may cause illness if consumed, even when they are thoroughly cooked.

Flooding safety

Hurricane Milton caused life-threatening storm surge, which has already led to localized flooding, particularly in tidal and low-lying areas. When this occurs, please take the following precautions:

During flood stage:

• Stay on higher ground.
• Avoid contact with flood waters, especially if you have an open wound.
• Do not drive on flooded roads. Even though you may think it is safe to drive, you may strand yourself if your vehicle stalls. Do not drive around barricades. Driving through water increases the amount of water pushed into people’s homes.
• If your vehicle stalls, abandon it immediately and seek higher ground. It can be replaced. Your life cannot.
• Do not attempt to wade across any moving water that is higher than your knees.

After the flood stage:

• Do not eat fresh food that has come into contact with flood water.
• Drink only bottled water.
• Stay away from disaster areas. You will only hamper rescue and recovery efforts.
• Do not handle live electrical equipment.
• Report downed power lines to law enforcement or to the power company.
• If you have private well water, follow CDC guidelines for safety.