Follow all of the latest news and developments in Lee County for Hurricane Milton, a powerful hurricane that is forecast to impact Southwest Florida in a variety of ways, including storm surge, flooding debris and widespread power outages.
Be informed:Sign up for text message updates and crucial information on Hurricane Milton
Our team of journalists, reporters, photographers, videographers and editors are providing urgent updates to help residents of the region prepare for the storm. Mandatory evacuations have been ordered in coastal communities like Fort Myers Beach, Marco Island and Sanibel Island. Shelters are open in Lee and Collier counties.
AIRPORT:No flights will be operating at Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) on Wednesday, Oct. 9 and Thursday, Oct. 10. The short-term parking garage is full.
SCHOOLS: Both Lee and Collier County schools are closed through Friday, Oct. 11 due to Hurricane Milton.
Margaritaville Resort Beach Cam
Here are some helpful links:
EVACUATION ZONES FOR LEE COUNTY:Find out where yours hisHERE.
FLOOD ZONES IN LEE COUNTY:Find out where you flood zone isHERE.
WEATHER:GoHEREfor Lee County weather watches, warnings and advisories.
POWER OUTAGES:LCEC power map isHERE
POWER OUTAGES:FPL's tracker isHERE
Lee shelters still have room for evacuees, Lee County says
From reporter Kate Cimin:
Despite residents fear that the shelters are full, Lee County Public Information Officer Betsy Clayton said that is far from the case.
"There is plenty of space," she said in a press release.
Those searching for a shelter near them can go to https://www.leegov.com/hurricane/helene for a list of available shelters. All shelters in Lee County are pet-friendly. While in the shelter, pets must remain on a leash or in a kennel.
Bring your ownshelf-stable food and enough up to three days to support you and your family. Refrigeration will not be provided.
Additionally, Floridians can get a free ride to the shelters from Uber, thanks to a partnership between the rideshare company and the Florida Division of Emergency Management.
- Open the Uber app
- Tap Account on the bottom right & tap Wallet
- Add promo codeMILTONRELIEF You can get a free ride of up to $35 each way, to & from a state-approved shelter:http://FloridaDisaster.org/shelter-status/
Video: 'Quiet before the storm' on Fort Myers Beach
Fort Myers Beach shrimp boats sent away
From reporter Kate Cimini:
Shrimpers in Lee County, who were hard-hit by Hurricane Ian, are sending their boats away and hoping they’ll be safe and out of harm’s way.
Shrimping is a longstanding industry in Southwest Florida and one of the largest, bringing in more than $20 million annually in dockside landings in Lee County alone. Hurricane Ian severely damaged the industry, smashing packing houses and tossing the steel-hulled boats around like so many children’s plastic toys. The three-dock industry was trimmed down to one, so many decades-old boats put to rest by Ian.
Two years later, shrimpers are facing down Milton, wondering if, this time, things will be different.
Christine Gala, part-owner of Trico Shrimping Co., devastated by Ian and now in receivership, has recently begun purchasing new boats after Ian destroyed her 14-boat fleet.
“We're as prepared as we can be (for Milton)," she said.
Gala has sent several boats up the Caloosahatchee River, and a new boat is tied up to the huge pilings at the Key West Express, she said.
At Erickson & Jensen Shrimp Packers, the other shrimping game in town, plans are already in motion.
Two boats, the Babe and the Green Flash, are in Key West, where they were already out on shrimping runs, taking them out of the equation for now.
Two other boats, the Anna and The Malolo, went up past the locks on the river to ride out the storm, while three others are tied up at their home berth on San Carlos Island: the Double E, the Galaxy and the Nautilus.
“(We’re) hoping for the best,” co-owner Grant Erickson said. Several crew members are riding out the storm on boats to steer the 200-ton steel-hulled beasts safely through the winds and waves — without them, their livelihood, and Erickson’s, is gone.
“God bless them,” Erickson said.
What to expect: The most dangerous time for Lee will be overnight
Bands of rain – sometimes heavy – and thunderstorms rolled into Southwest Florida early this morning.
Weather conditions in Lee County are expected to deteriorate as the day progresses.
Tropical storm force winds could be blowing in Lee County beginning around 2 p.m., when Hurricane Milton will be off the SWFL Coast.
Landfall is forecasted somewhere along the west coast, possibly just south of Tampa Bay around 1 or 2 a.m. Thursday morning.
At the 5 a.m. advisory, Lee County remained in the forecast cone that shows were the eye of the storm may make landfall. A hurricane warning is in effect for Lee County.
High tide in Fort Myers Thursday will be at 12:17 a.m. and 8:39 a.m. while low tide will occur at 2:28 a.m. and 6:42 p.m.
Reporter Chad Gillis reports: Early Thursday morning is expected to be the most dangerous time for coastal Lee County and even downtown Fort Myers, which could receive several feet of storm surge.
Storm surge warning: Boca Grande to Bonita Beach: 8 to 12 feet; Bonita Beach to Chokoloskee, 5-8 feet. By comparison, last week’s Helene brought about 5 feet of surge in Lee County.
Wind: Where the storm will be as it approaches the west coast will impact how powerful the winds are for SWFL.
At the 5 a.m. National Hurricane Center Advisory, Milton was still a Cat 5 storm with winds near 160 mph. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 30 miles from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 125 miles. Fort Myers 80 miles from Bradenton.
For Thursday, Accuweather’s forecast shows: “Very windy; a couple of showers and a thunderstorm in the morning; otherwise, partly sunny and humid.”
Fort Myers Beach a ghost town this morning
Visual journalist Andrew West reports that Fort Myers Beach is a ghost town.
The Beach was evacuated earlier this week, city hall closed, its water services shut down with the town expecting a devastating hit from Hurricane Milton, especially from storm surge.
Here's what it looks like around 7 a.m. this morning:
Evacuees can use Alligator Alley shoulder
Heavy traffic eastbound on Interstate 75 along Alligator Alley has prompted Florida Highway Patrol to activate Emergency Shoulder Use to assist with any further evacuations.Beginning at mile marker 101 to mile marker 25 in Broward County, the eastbound outside right shoulder can be used for travel.
Travel time from Fort Myers to Fort Lauderdale was about 5 1/2 hours Tuesday night, according to one evacuee.
The News-Press won't be delivered to coastal areas
Due to the early effects of Hurricane Milton, many coastal areas of both Naples and Fort Myers will not be deliverable this morning. Subscribers that can get a paper will receive one this morning, otherwise they will receive the Wednesday edition the next time we deliver.
Lee County shelters
These shelters Lee County shelters are available for residents in Evacuation Zones A and B, as well as those in mobile and manufactured homes under the mandatory evacuation order. More than 500 people were sheltering at Hertz Arena Tuesday, with a total of 1,651 residents now across all open shelters in the county.
- Dunbar High School, 3800 Edison Ave., Fort Myers
- Estero Recreation Center, 9200 Corkscrew Palms Blvd., Estero
- Island Coast High School, 2125 DeNavarra Parkway, Cape Coral
- Gateway High School, 13820 Griffin Drive, Fort Myers
- Hertz Arena, 11000 Everblades Parkway, Estero
- Oak Hammock Middle School, 5321 Tice St., Fort Myers
- Tortuga Preserve Elementary School, 1711 Gunnery Road N., Lehigh Acres
- Treeline Elementary School, 10900 Treeline Ave., Fort Myers
- Varsity Lakes Middle School, 801 Gunnery Road N., Lehigh Acres
- Alico Arena at FGCU, 12181 FGCU Lake Pkwy E, Fort Myers, FL 33913
- East Lee County High School, 715 Thomas Sherwin Ave, Lehigh Acres, FL 33974
- Harns Marsh Elementary School, 1800 Unice Ave N, Lehigh Acres, FL 33971
- Harns Marsh Middle School, 1820 Unice Ave N, Lehigh Acres, FL 33971
READ the full story from Mickenzie Hannon HERE.
What's happening on Sanibel Island?
Stuff’s getting real for Sanibel, as the island city evacuates before Hurricane Milton.
Deadline for everyone to be off the island was 10 p.m. Tuesday, said City Manager Dana Souza.
That’s also when a curfew goes into effect, Souza said, and will remain until further notice. Anyone on or trying to get on the island after that by vehicle or by boat could be arrested, he said.
Mayor Richard Johnson was emphatic: “It is not time to be a hero,” said Johnson. “It’s not time to try to stand against the storm surge that’s coming,” Johnson said. “Get everything you can out of the way of the water, especially yourself, your family and your pets.”
READ the full story by Amy Williams HERE.
What's happening on Fort Myers Beach?
Fort Myers Beach announced evacuations and declared a state of emergency on as Hurricane Milton bore down on Estero Island. It’s the fifth such order since 2022 when Hurricane Ian smashed the town, which is still in recovery mode.
Councilors met Sunday afternoon to discuss the storm, which is expected to arrive as a dangerous Category 3. In cooperation with Lee County, said Town Manager Andy Hyatt, residents should have been off the island by 3 p.m. Tuesday.
READ the full story by Amy Williams HERE.
What's happening on Cape Coral?
From reporter Kate Cimini:
Tuesday the city of Cape Coral reminded residents of the measures it has taken to ensure they are still informed, even if the internet, cell towers or electricity go out.
One, look for signs outside every fire station, the city announced. These will indicate when you can get crucial updates about Hurricane Milton. If power and cell service go out, head to the nearest fire station for the latest information.
Two, tune your hand crank radio into B 103.9 for daily updates from the city during the storm.
Finally, before Milton makes landfall, sign up for AlertLee to receive emergency updates straight to your phone, and follow the city of Cape Coral on social media for real-time information.
30 Photos: What's happening in downtown Fort Myers
What's happening in Bonita Springs?
From reporter Laura Layden:
The city of Bonita Springs encourages residents living near the Imperial River and canals to continue monitoring water levels. The level of the Imperial River is currently at 10.73 feet. To check water levels,click here.
In other news, Bonita Springs Utilities has been working to prepare its water supply system for Hurricane Milton's effects. It reports that its supply system is performing well, and it's prepared to weather storm conditions, while continuing to provide water to residents. Residents are reminded to limit water use to ease stress on sewer operations and to help prevent backups or spills. Here are some tips:
•Keep toilet flushing to a minimum
•Abstain from running dishwashers and clothes washers
•Limit the amount of water used during a shower or the amount to fill your bathtub
Boil water notices will be posted on the following web page:https://bsu.us/service-alerts/.
This story was updated to add a video.
