Lee County officials say Milton still on track to pose serious storm surge threat
Lee County officials urged those in evacuation zones to get going Tuesday ahead of Hurricane Milton as the evacuation order which takes effect at 10 p.m. tonight for those in the low-lying areas of zones A and B.
During a press conference Tuesday afternoon, officials said Milton was still on track to land as a Category 4 hurricane and bring as much as 10 feet of storm surge to the county. The National Weather Service is predicting as much as 12 feet to low-lying coastal communities. Areas further north of Lee County between Sarasota County and Tampa could see as much as 15 feet of storm surge, according to the National Weather Service.
“Our storm surge (model) has held steady for the last 24 hours,” Lee County Public Safety Director Ben Abes said. “We’re happy with where we are at.”
Abes said Hurricane Milton is currently a Category 4 storm with 150 mph winds. While the timing of the storm has been pushed back, officials don’t want that to delay the evacuations of residents who have been ordered to leave the low-lying parts of the county in zones A and B by tonight, he said. Those zones include Fort Myers Beach, Bonita Springs, Sanibel, Matlacha, Pine Island and parts of Cape Coral.
Earlier weather forecasts had predicted the hurricane would make landfall Wednesday afternoon with current projections have it striking Florida late Wednesday evening or Thursday morning. Abes said the weather will start growing worse tonight.
“We don’t want you to be driving anywhere overnight or into tomorrow,” Abes said, adding the weather will begin deteriorating overnight.
The Town of Fort Myers Beach and City of Sanibel have announced curfews at 10 p.m. beginning tonight. Lee County officials have not yet announced a curfew order.
Lee County District 4 Commissioner Brian Hamman said there have been some reported issues with the county’s non-emergency hotline 211. An alternative number is 239-433-3900.
Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno told residents not to wait to evacuate until it’s too late.
“Get yourself out of harm’s way,” he said.
Marceno stressed that once there are sustainable winds of 45 mph or more, “we will not be able to get to you.”
During Hurricane Ian, many of those who died could not be assisted as emergency responders were not able to reach them.
Marceno said residents should not go outside or be driving anywhere once the hurricane begins due to all of the possible hazards.
“You don’t know what the water brings. It could be a foot deep, it could be six feet deep, there could be electrical lines in there so we want to make sure you know most importantly – shelter in place,” Marceno said.
“Mother Nature is unpredictable. We’ve seen last-minute changes (with previous hurricanes),” Marceno said. “It’s supposed to hit Tampa and, unfortunately, it comes to Fort Myers and Lee County.”
Marceno said deputies are helping to transport sand to fire departments that residents can pick up.
Abes said more than 1,650 people are in shelters countywide with room for more if you don’t have a better alternative.
“You will be more comfortable if you go to a family member or friend’s home but we do have plenty of space available at our shelters,” Abes said.
The county opened additional shelters today at noon – at Alico Arena in Fort Myers, East Lee County High School in Lehigh Acres, Harns Marsh Elementary School in Lehigh Acres and Harns Marsh Middle School in Lehigh Acres. This morning, the county announced that it was also opening shelters at Gateway High School in Fort Myers, Hertz Arena in Estero, Oak Hammock Middle School in Fort Myers, Tortuga Preserve Elementary School in Lehigh Acres, Treeline Elementary School in Fort Myers and Varsity Lakes Middle School in Lehigh Acres. On Monday, the county opened up shelters at Island Coast High School in Cape Coral, Dunbar High School in Fort Myers and the Estero Recreation Center.
To reach NATHAN MAYBERG, please email nmayberg@breezenewspapers.com