Lee County EDO offers Hurricane Milton updates

10/09/2024

As Hurricane Milton continues to track toward Southwest Florida, Lee County strongly encourages you to take appropriate measures now to ensure the safety of of yourselves and your businesses,

Please share the following information with your networks as appropriate.

Prepare Your Business

Business Continuity Planning Guide

Post Storm Business Assessment Survey

CLICK HERE TO COMPLETE BUSINESS SURVEY

Free Transportation to Shelters
LeeTran has free transportation to shelters from any bus stop.
Uber is offering free rides to shetlers for residents. Use promo code MILTONRELIEF

Lee County has announced additional shelters opening in advance of the approach of Hurricane Milton. The open shelters include:

  • Alico Arena – 12181 FGCU Lake Parkway East, Fort Myers
  • Island Coast High School – 2125 DeNavarra Pkwy., Cape Coral
  • East Lee County High School – 715 Thomas Sherwin Ave., Lehigh Acres
  • Estero Recreation Center – 9200 Corkscrew Palms Blvd., Estero
  • Dunbar High School – 30 Edison Ave., Fort Myers
  • Harns Marsh Elementary School – 1800 Unice Ave. N, Lehigh Acres
  • Harns Marsh Middle School – 1820 Unice Ave. N, Lehigh Acres
  • Hertz Arena – 11000 Everblades Pkwy., Estero
  • Gateway High School – 13820 Griffin Drive, Fort Myers
  • Oak Hammock Middle School – 5321 Tice St., Fort Myers
  • Tortuga Elementary – 1711 Gunnery Road N, Lehigh Acres
  • Treeline Elementary – 10900 Treeline Ave., Fort Myers
  • Varsity Lakes Middle School – 801 Gunnery Road N, Lehigh Acres

Please bring your own shelf-stable food and enough for up to three days to support you and your family. Refrigeration will not be provided.
All shelters are pet-friendly. Pet owners are responsible for pet food and medications and should have all animals on a leash or in a crate.
To view a video of Public Safety Director Ben Abes discussing the shelters, go to https://youtu.be/Dm9I3J1oVQE.
Additional information: If you’re heading to one of Lee County’s shelters, you need to bring a Go Kit. Include a three-day supply of food, water and snacks. You’ll also need a pillow and sleeping bag; folding chair; medications and eyeglasses; disinfectant wipes; toilet paper; a three-day supply of clothing; a sleep mask and earplugs; hygiene items; games or books; a phone charger or battery bank; and instant coffee or teabags.
Pets are allowed in all Lee County shelters, but you’re responsible for bringing what they need. Pack your pet a Go Kit. Make sure there’s a collar, leash and ID tags. Have a photo of you with your pet in case you become separated. Bring a crate or pet carrier. Include a week’s worth of water; food and treats; clean-up supplies including waste bags for dogs and litter box with litter for cats; remember any medicine your pet needs. You can find out more about preparation at leegov.com/storm.

Evacuation Zones A and B
On Monday, Oct. 7., Lee County issued mandatory evacuation orders for Evacuation Zones A and B. People who live in mobile homes and manufactured homes are also part of the evacuation order. All shelters are pet-friendly; pets must be on leashes or in kennels.
Residents are encouraged to make more comfortable arrangements by staying with a friend or family member outside of the evacuation zones. Residents should plan to be in a safe location outside of the evacuation zones by tonight.

LeeTran and Lee County bridges suspend fares & tolls
Transportation is available to shelters. People can go to any LeeTran stop and advise the driver that they need to go to an open shelter. They will be taken to a transfer center and then to a shelter. LeeTran has suspended fares.
Tolls on Lee County bridges – Cape Coral Parkway, Midpoint Bridge and the Sanibel Causeway – have been suspended.

Solid Waste services suspended
Residents throughout Lee County are not to place any additional garbage, recycling or yard waste to the curb. Solid Waste collection services will be suspended countywide, through Thursday. Announcements about Friday collections will be made Thursday.

Lee County asks that residents: 

  • Obey evacuation notices.
  • Pack a go-kit with family and pet needs.
  • Bring their own personal items and supplies if going to a shelter.
  • Report blocked ditches, swales and canals.
  • Know that where it rains, it can flood. Even if you are not in a flood zone, you could still be prone to flooding due to local drainage issues and existing saturated areas.
  • Understand that even if you are not evacuated or in an evacuation zone, flooding can still occur. Be prepared for flood inundation.
  • Be sure you are signed up for AlertLee. The link is at www.leegov.com/storm.

Accommodation Availability Survey
We encourage inland hoteliers to share current availability to help first responders, pre- & post-storm.

Lee County Port Authority
Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) airlines  will not be operating on Wednesday, Oct. 9, and Thursday, Oct. 10.