Hurricane Milton Thursday recap: Impact reports on Lee County, beaches and inland (2024)

Table of Contents
What does Fort Myers Beach look like after Milton? Sanibel councilmember returns to find 'fresh air' Lee County: Hertz Arena ceases operating as shelter After Milton: When will I start to get my mail again? Gasparilla Island off limits for search and rescue and disaster recovery City of Fort Myers: Normal operations resume on Friday (Oct. 11) Generators causing fires on Cape Coral Lee County suspends solid waste collection through Friday (Oct. 11) FGCU announces re-opening The scene on Matlacha and Pine Island after Milton Fish House restaurant in Bonita Beach swamped by Milton Post-Storm Response Hubs Cape Coral updates on power, trash collection, comfort stations Sanibel councilmember to returning residents: 'We are so grateful' Video: Iconic restaurant in Bokelia gets hammered by Milton Electrical issues impacting Sanibel's sewer system; curfew set for island Sanibel Causeway opens at 2 p.m. for residents and business owners Status check: Bonita Springs sees some flooded homes Status check: LeeTran Status check: Lee County intersections after Hurricane Helene Lee commissioner says tornado went right over his North Fort Myers home No deaths in Lee County from Milton, say sheriff, Sen. Rick Scott LCEC: Nearly 1,000 crew members working to restore power Mucky Duck Restaurant in Captiva severely damaged by Hurricane Milton Matanzas Pass Bridge reopened to residents, owners Downtown Fort Myers, muddy and a little wet No water in Matlacha until at least Monday; Pine Island wastewater plant not damaged by Milton Bridge loans available to Florida businesses impacted by Hurricane Milton Hickory Blvd in Bonita Springs impassable for vehicles Rachel at the Well standing strong Water restored on Fort Myers Beach, but boil water notice in effect Photos, videos show North Fort Myers tornado damage Publix update: Stores in Lee County to open at noon today Photos: Jim Cantore covered Hurricane Milton from a Charlotte County parking garage Captiva fire officials trying to contact residents who stayed behind for Hurricane Milton Hurricane Milton spurred tornadoes in Florida, including Lee County Pine Island, Matlacha see fires overnight, downed buildings Here's when you can get your car from short, long term parking at RSW Matanzas Pass Bridge to reopen for Fort Myers Beach residents today Drone unit assessing damage on Fort Myers Beach Storm surge warning no longer in effect for Lee County Sheriff Marceno: Lee County in 'good shape' after Hurricane Milton Edison Bridge southbound reopened Charlotte County deputies conducting search and rescue Lee County road hazards update No Lee County deaths related to Hurricane Milton reported so far RSW assessing Friday restart of flight operations Lee County urges motorists to stay off roads in wake of Hurricane Milton View of Fort Myers Beach's Time Square Thursday morning Lee County Sheriff's Office assisting in Bonita Beach National Guard arrives on Fort Myers Beach Fort Myers Fire Department back to normal operations after Milton Lee County urges residents to stay in place as crews assess, clear roads Video: See Lee County sheriff's cruiser pulls tree from roadway in Estero Cape Coral resumes emergency services, asks residents to stay off roads Structure fires on Matlacha Thursday morning How to check on Lee County family, friends after Hurricane Milton Storm surge warning, flood watch remain in effect for Lee County Fort Myers Beach access limited, wait for 'all clear' from officials Lee County Jail, Core facility lose power overnight Nearly 300,000 without power in Lee County Fort Myers Beach: Access limited after Hurricane Milton Lee County road conditions and hazards Edison Bridge impassable Lee County watches and warning in effect Florida power outage map Live radar: Hurricane Milton Helpful links for Hurricane Milton Hurricane Milton headlines from Wednesday as storm arrived More coverage Photos: Fort Myers Beach resembles 'ghost town'

Hurricane Milton made landfall near Siesta Key in Sarasota County around 8:30 p.m. Wednesday as a Category 3 storm. The powerful hurricane wrought havoc across Lee County, with devastating storm surge, flooding and winds.

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Conditions across Lee County quickly deteriorated, leaving nearly 180,000 without power and communities inundated with water, just two weeks after Hurricane Helene brought 2-4 feet of storm surge to the area.

By 6 p.m. Wednesday, 55 tornado warnings had been issued across Southwest Florida and at least one tornado tore through North Fort Myers, Cape Coral and Lee County, causing extensive damage.

Our team of journalists, reporters, photographers, videographers and editors areproviding urgent updatesto help residents of the region prepare for the storm.Mandatory evacuations have been ordered in coastal communitieslike Fort Myers Beach, Marco Island and Sanibel Island. Shelters are open in Lee and Collier counties.

Hurricane Milton By the Numbers: Surge, wind gusts, rainfall, tornado alerts for Naples

What does Fort Myers Beach look like after Milton?

Visual journalist Ricardo Rolon took the drone for a flight above storm-battered Fort Myers Beach:

And Andrew West captured the images of Hurricane Milton damage and cleanup.

Sanibel councilmember returns to find 'fresh air'

Sanibel Councilmember Holly Smith returned to Sanibel with the first wave of residents late Thursday. She planned to check on some houses, feed some cats for a friend who had been on vacation when Milton made a beeline for the western edge of Florida, and check on her own home.

She wasn’t sure what she would find, and, she said, she was surprised at how good her island looked. The water had receded even faster than it had after Hurricane Helene brushed by.

“I didn’t know what I was coming to see, but the sun is out, and I know why,” Smith said. “It looks really good. It sounds like we have some infrastructure issues noted, but our citizens know how to live post-Ian and they know how to come check their property and make sure it’s okay.”

Smith said there were a few areas she avoided driving through, as she was in a rental car and she didn’t want to drive it through standing water, but everything, even the lawns, looked good to her.

There was no water intrusion in the homes she checked on, no mud on the floors.

“It looks nothing like the ‘Mad Max’ world we had after Ian, where you couldn’t even see which street you were on,” Smith said.

She rolled down her car window and took a deep breath.

“I smell fresh air,” Smith said. “There is not that putrid smell. I smell fresh air."

Smith said she did see a thin, slick layer of mud on some houses, but none of that thick, caked mud that characterized Sanibel –– and much of Southwest Florida — after Ian.

“This makes me feel so much better for my community,” she said.

Lee County: Hertz Arena ceases operating as shelter

Due to a declining number of people sheltering, Hertz Arena ceased operation as a shelter, Lee County shared in a press release at 5:07 p.m.Lee County consolidated its shelter operations Thursday afternoon as people return to their homes following a successful evacuation of Zones A and B for Hurricane Milton.The shelters that remain open are:• Island Coast High School• Estero Recreation Center• Dunbar High SchoolLeeTran will provide free transportation from the shelters that are closing to these listed available shelters. The county expects to further consolidate some of the remaining shelters Friday.The county said it is coordinating with partners to provide support and services to those evacuees impacted by Hurricane Milton during these consolidations.

After Milton: When will I start to get my mail again?

After first Hurricane Helene interrupted postal service to many in Florida, residents wondered: when would they start to receive their mail again?

After Hurricane Milton slammed through the state from west to east, the answer is not so simple.

As of Oct. 9, all USPS Florida processing facilities and most retail and delivery units had reopened after Helene, a statement by USPS said.“Where retail and delivery units remain inaccessible, we have relocated operations to nearby units and are further deploying mobile retail units to make sure we can provide retail and delivery services to impacted communities as quickly as possible,” the statement said.The U.S. Postal Service said it is “committed to restoring retail and delivery service as swiftly as possible in areas affected by Hurricane Milton, wherever it is safe to do so.”

Initial assessments are continuing and information will be updated regularly on the Postal Service’s website. Residents can visit the Service Alerts page at about.usps.com/newsroom/service-alerts/.

The Postal Service operates 303 facilities in Florida. Local areas using three-digit ZIP Codes beginning in 335,337,339,342 and 346 were the most severely impacted by Hurricane Helene.As of Oct. 9, 293 postal facilities had reopened — only ten remained closed, and the operations from those facilities are being transferred to others. Ten facilities were flooded, however, none were destroyed.Roughly 10 offices have reported 92,4387 pieces of mail delayed by Hurricane Helene, the Postal Service said. As of Oct. 7, there was a backlog of 1,259. parcels.More than 7,300 addresses are currently considered unreachable in Florida due to displacement or inoperable routes, as of Oct. 7.The USPS asked residents who relocated due to the storm to complete a change of address request at moversguide.usps.com. If, instead, you are in a temporary shelter, USPS employees will be onsite this week to assist with change of address requests to ensure mail and packages are sent to the correct address.Additionally, Social Security checks that have arrived are being delivered to all units for delivery. They are also available for customer pick up.

Gasparilla Island off limits for search and rescue and disaster recovery

Residents and visitors are barred from accessing Gasparilla Island while search and rescue and disaster recovery operations are underway, Charlotte County announced Thursday.

Gasparilla Island is home to Boca Grande, a village situated on the Lee County side of the island.

For storm response and recovery information, call the Charlotte County Emergency Operations Center at 941-833-4000 7 a.m.-7 p.m. daily. Those with internet access can find information on resources at www.CharlotteCountyFL.gov/storm.

City of Fort Myers: Normal operations resume on Friday (Oct. 11)

The City of Fort Myers will reopen for normal operations at 8 a.m. Friday, Oct. 11, the City shared in a press release at 5:25 p.m.

Parks will repen Friday afternoon with the exception of Jefferson Park given storm debris. The Aquatic Center and Skatium will reopen Saturday, and S.T.A.R.S. will reopen Monday with regular business hours.To support recovery efforts, City parking garages, including City of Palms, Main Street and Luminary Hotel, are free until noon Saturday. Additionally, the City will waive downtown on-street parking fees until Monday.The City of Fort Myers is suspending residential and commercial solid waste collections until Monday. Commercial and residential trash collection will resume at that time, as well. Horticulture, recycling and bulk collection are suspended until further notice as the City focused on storm clean-up, it said. Updated announcements regarding regular collections resuming will follow.For recovery information, including waived permitting fees for repairs, the City encourages residents to visit www.cityftmyers.com/recover and follow the City’s social media channels.

Generators causing fires on Cape Coral

From Tomas Rodriguez:

Cape Coral Fire on Thursday responded to two structure fires caused by incorrect storage of gasoline too close to the generator, the fire department said. They said no one was injured in either incident.Cape Coral Fire urges residents to keep the generator at least 20 feet from the structure and never run it in enclosed spaces, including the garage.They also warn that residents make sure the generator is cool before refueling and to always have a working carbon monoxide detector at home.Officials recommend that residents store gasoline in a cool dry place away from the generator and other heat sources.

Lee County suspends solid waste collection through Friday (Oct. 11)

Lee County Solid Waste has suspended service through Friday, Oct. 11. Regular household garbage collection will resume on Monday, Oct. 14. Next week on your usual collection day, you should only set out household garbage. Recycling and regular household yard waste collections will be delayed.

Storm debris will be collected separately from your regular collections. Take the time now to sort your debris into the appropriate piles at the curb. Multiple passes will be made to ensure all debris is collected. Please visit leegov.com/storm for guidance on how storm debris should be separated.

FGCU announces re-opening

Florida Gulf Coast University will remain closed through Sunday and resume normal operations on Oct. 14.

The scene on Matlacha and Pine Island after Milton

A three-plus mile long line of vehicles, stretching from Burnt Store Road in Cape Coral to Yucatan Waterfront Bar & Grill on Matlacha, painstakingly inched forward shortly after noon Thursday. Inside, scores of anxious home and business owners who fled the island communities before Hurricane Milton’s arrival were returning to see what damage this latest storm wrought, two years after Hurricane Ian devastated the region.

While a morning tour of the region indicated far less destruction than Ian delivered, not everyone escaped Milton unscathed.

Read the full story HERE.

Fish House restaurant in Bonita Beach swamped by Milton

After Hurricane Ian, it took the waterfront eatery 10-1/2 months to recover. On Thursday, workers scrambled to get the restaurant cleaned up after it was swamped with near waist-deep water. One of them shared the preparations for the storm were much better this time, which means the business should be able to reopen much sooner.

"This is getting to be old news," the other of the two men commented, declining to give his name.

He added: "We're getting good at this."

Up the road, workers were scrambling to dry out and clean up Coconut Jack's Waterfront Grille, with Lee Sheriff's deputies detouring drivers nearby, due to the temporary closure of Hickory Boulevard for storm clean up, including piles of sand pushed ashore.

Post-Storm Response Hubs

The City of Fort Myers has prepared the locations below as post-storm response hubs for the community. City employees and volunteers will be available to advise of open facilities and offer information on resources available, such as FEMA Individual Assistance. Residents are welcome to visit these hubs tomorrow, October 11th, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Water will also be available.• Alliance for the Arts- 10091 McGregor Blvd• Stars Complex- 2980 Edison Ave• Saint Hilary's Church- 5011 McGregor Blvd• Apostolic Revival Center- 2100 Barden Street• Jesus Christ Outreach Center- 4050 Ballard Rd• Winn Dixie Plaza- 10580 Colonial Blvd

Cape Coral updates on power, trash collection, comfort stations

Late Thursday, the city of Cape Coral announced in a release that city hall would be closed tomorrow, only with emergency staff continuing to work. City offices are also closed Monday for the holiday, and will reopen Tuesday with normal business hours.

More than 80,000 residents on Cape Coral are without power, even leaving some on wells with electric pumps, unable to pump water into their homes. The city is giving support to electricity provider LCEC in order to speed the process, the release said.

If you do not have water, the city has set up a comfort station with showers, toilets, fresh water distribution and laundry services. The opening date and hours of operation will be announced shortly.

Waste Pro will also resume household trash pickup Monday, but there will be no collection for recycling, bulk waste or horticulture next week. The city announced curbside pickup 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, but the dates and locations are not yet set.

All parks and recreation facilities are closed while the city assesses the damage. The city asked residents to refrain from using them in the meantime.

Too, the city asked residents to limit their travel to only essential trips. Several traffic lights are out of operation. Please stay off the roads today to allow crews to safely address downed power lines, assess traffic signals, and remove debris, the release said

Sanibel councilmember to returning residents: 'We are so grateful'

Sanibel City Councilmember Holly D. Smith headed back on-island Thursday afternoon, joining a long, slow line of cars headed over the Sanibel Causeway. She didn’t know what was waiting for her on the other side, but was hopeful. The response from residents, she said, was incredible.

“All our citizens heeded the call” to evacuate, Smith said. “Very few stayed on the island. We are so grateful … that they trusted us and they left.”

Residents, pass holders and commercial pass holders are allowed to access the island right now, she said. You must have an ID that state you live on the island, or a green or red pass signifying whether you are a resident or have a commercial building on-island.

“There are gong to be restrictions,” Smith said. “A curfew from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. There are water and sewer concerns that need to be addressed. It is with caution people should come over, and understand the limitations. To the best of my knowledge, there is no power on the island right now, but we have been through this before so our residences and our businesses understand what they need to do and how to take care of their properties.”

Video: Iconic restaurant in Bokelia gets hammered by Milton

Electrical issues impacting Sanibel's sewer system; curfew set for island

From reporter Mickenze Hannon:

Hurricane Milton severely damaged the electrical transmission lines serving Sanibel Island, preventing power restoration to the city’s sewer system. While the sewer plant is running on a backup generator, the distribution system relies on power from LCEC, which is currently offline.

Residents with a Sanibel reentry pass ID and business owners with a red ID pass can now return to the island immediately. A curfew will be in effect from 9 p.m. Thursday until 6 a.m. Friday for safety reasons. Access to Captiva is blocked due to a road washout, and residents are advised to follow updates from Lee County regarding the situation.

Residents are also under a boil water notice due to low water pressure, and the sewer system cannot manage wastewater removal. Officials strongly urge residents not to use water in their homes or businesses to prevent potential backups. If residents plan to leave, officials ask them to consider turning off water to avoid issues.

LCEC crews are working to restore power but face significant delays due to multiple downed poles. The City will continue to provide updates through email and Facebook live sessions. Standing water remains on some roadways, and residents are reminded not to drive through barricades or floodwaters, as even a small amount of water can severely damage vehicles.

City Hall will remain closed tomorrow, and staff will continue operating remotely.

Sanibel Causeway opens at 2 p.m. for residents and business owners

When the Sanibel Causeway reopens at 2 p.m. to residents and business owners, Blind Pass Bridge will remain closed, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office said in a statement at 1:55 p.m.

The approach to the Blind Pass Bridge is damaged on the Captiva side.

A plan is in place to repair this damage by Thursday afternoon, and the bridge itself is safe, said Lee CountyPublic Information OfficerBetsy Clayton. Crews are working tirelessly to repair the bridge, but there is no estimated reopening time yet on Blind Pass, LCSO said.

Status check: Bonita Springs sees some flooded homes

Hurricane Milton left its mark on Bonita Springs, flooding some homes near the Imperial River, and other waterways. At a canal-front home off Tonya Court, Ben Van Klingeren and his two sons worked to clean up the mess left behind by the flooding and high winds for the owners, who had evacuated. He said a foot of water got into the house. "Just trying to dry it out," he said, which included removing drywall. On the same street, a couple, returning home, opened their garage door, and water spilled out onto the driveway.

Status check: LeeTran

As of 1 p.m. Thursday, LeeTran will offer only life-sustaining trips, countywide emergency transportation support and fare-free evacuation assistance on fixed routes for evacuees from emergency shelters.

Paratransit will focus on life-sustaining trips and assist the Emergency Operations Center with response efforts throughout Lee County. Ultra mobility on demand services remain suspended at this time, the County shared in a 12:55 p.m. release.

Status check: Lee County intersections after Hurricane Helene

Lee County Sheriff Carmine Marceno released a list of county intersections and their statuses:

  • Pine Island Road and Pondella Road, Cape North (hurricane), generator needed
  • Bayshore Road and State Road 31, Northeast (hurricane), generator needed
  • Del Prado Boulevard and Southeast 12th Terrace, Cape North (hurricane), generator needed
  • Del Prado Boulevard and Bolado Parkway, Cape North (hurricane), generator on site
  • Del Prado Boulevard and Hancock Bridge Parkway, Cape North (hurricane), generator on site
  • Del Prado Boulevard and Pine Island Road, Cape North (hurricane), generator needed
  • Veterans Parkway and Country Club Boulevard, Cape North (hurricane), generator on site
  • Veterans Parkway and Skyline Boulevard, Cape North (hurricane), generator needed
  • Veterans Parkway and Chiquita Boulevard, Cape North (hurricane), generator needed
  • Pine Island Road and Veterans Parkway, Cape North (hurricane), generator on site
  • Palm Beach Boulevard and New York Drive, Downtown (hurricane), generator needed
  • Palm Beach Boulevard and Ortiz Avenue, Downtown (hurricane), generator on site
  • Palm Beach Boulevard and Tropic Avenue, Northeast (hurricane), generator needed
  • Buckingham Road and Riverdale High School, Northeast (hurricane), generator needed
  • Palm Beach Boulevard and Buckingham Road, Northeast (hurricane), generator on site
  • Palm Beach Boulevard and Riverdale (mid-block), Northeast (hurricane), generator needed
  • Ortiz Avenue and Tice Street, Downtown (hurricane), generator needed
  • Luckett Road and Enterprise Parkway, Downtown (hurricane), generator needed
  • Ortiz Avenue and Luckett Road, Downtown (hurricane), generator needed
  • State Road 80 and River Hall Parkway, Northeast (hurricane), generator on site
  • Crystal Drive and Beacon Street, Central-South (hurricane), generator needed
  • Daniels Parkway and Plantation Road, Central-South (hurricane), generator needed
  • Daniels Parkway and Six Mile Cypress Parkway, Central-South (hurricane), generator on site
  • Daniels Parkway and Cross Creek/American Colony, Central-South (hurricane), generator needed
  • Daniels Parkway and Palomino/Fiddlesticks, Central-South (hurricane), generator on site
  • Daniels Parkway and Sophomore Lane, Central-South (hurricane), generator needed
  • Cypress Lake Drive and Summerlin Road, Central-South (hurricane), generator on site
  • U.S. 41 and County Road, South-Estero (hurricane), generator needed
  • Santa Barbara Boulevard and Northeast Pine Island Road, Cape North (hurricane), generator needed
  • Southwest Pine Island Road and Chiquita Boulevard, Cape North (hurricane), generator on site
  • Country Club Boulevard and Nicholas Parkway, Cape North (hurricane), generator needed
  • Pine Island Road and Hancock Bridge Parkway, Cape North (hurricane), generator on site
  • Pine Island Road and Nicholas Parkway, Cape North (hurricane), generator on site
  • Nicholas Parkway and Cultural Park Boulevard, Cape North (hurricane), generator needed
  • Santa Barbara Boulevard and Southeast 24th Street, Cape North (hurricane), generator on site
  • Santa Barbara Boulevard and Southeast 21st Street, Cape North (hurricane), generator on site
  • Northeast Pine Island Road and Andalusia Boulevard, Cape North (hurricane), generator needed
  • First Street and Monroe Street, Downtown (hurricane), generator needed
  • Bay Street and Monroe Street, Downtown (hurricane), generator needed
  • Colonial Boulevard and McGregor Baptist Church, Central (hurricane), generator needed
  • Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard & Michigan Avenue, East (hurricane), generator needed

Lee commissioner says tornado went right over his North Fort Myers home

Commissioner Brian Hamman, whose district covers North Fort Myers, said at a noon press conference Thursday that the tornado that hit mobile home communities Lake Fairways and Pine Lakes, went right over his house as it passed into Lake Fairways.

"A lot of the homes damaged were occupied by snowbirds," Hamman said. "Than goodness not many people displaced, (and there were) not many serious injuries."

No deaths in Lee County from Milton, say sheriff, Sen. Rick Scott

No one died from Hurricane Milton in Lee County, said Sheriff Carmine Marceno and Sen. Rick Scott, applauding the large number of residents who evacuated or removed themselves to county shelters during the storm.

"We had just under 10,000 people sheltering in our shelters," said Marceno. "We’ve done about 75 wellbeing checks today. That was over the 4,000 mark during Ian.

"That tells me they listened," he said. "No loss of life. That is really, really important."

Scott cautioned residents to stay inside, not walk through standing water and not to touch powerlines. "It's still dangerous," he reminded people.

"If you don’t have to come outside, don’t," Marceno said.

LCEC: Nearly 1,000 crew members working to restore power

LCEC has close to 1,000 crew members out, working to restore power to customers in Lee and Collier counties, public relations manager Karen Ryan said early Thursday afternoon. They have more crew on the way from other states, including Idaho, and ultimately expect to see about 2,000 crew members working 'round the clock.

"We normally get crews from Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina," said Ryan, "but they were hit hard (by Helene) and we had to go outside our normal coverage area."

Mucky Duck Restaurant in Captiva severely damaged by Hurricane Milton

The Mucky Duck Restaurant in Captiva Island appears to have been significantly damaged by Hurricane Milton.

"One of my favorite restaurants, The Mucky Duck in Captiva, unfortunately bore the full force of Hurricane Milton," Brian Krassenstein posted on X.

"It’s heartbreaking to see such a beloved place, filled with memories and charm, take such a hit. I hope the owners and staff are able to rebuild and come back stronger, but it’s so sad to see the destruction to such an iconic spot on Captiva."

Matanzas Pass Bridge reopened to residents, owners

The Town of Fort Myers Beach announced at noon it reopened the Matanzas Pass Bridge to residents and owners only.

Downtown Fort Myers, muddy and a little wet

A thin layer of slick mud covered some of downtown Fort Myers’ streets and sidewalks as businesses assessed what Milton left behind minus power mid-Thursday morning.

Businesses on the west side of First Street and down to the Caloosahatchee River, like City Tavern, Firestone and Hideaway Sports Bar, had about three inches of water inside according to those cleaning up. A worker at Hideaway suspects the water came up through the drains in the bathrooms and kitchen and not through the doors, which were taped and had protective foam sealing.

The Historic Arcade Theatre had mud and water halfway up its hallway off Bay Street and inside one of the shops.

Businesses on the east side of First Street, like Izzy’s Fish and Oyster and the Lodge, remained dry inside.

No water in Matlacha until at least Monday; Pine Island wastewater plant not damaged by Milton

There was no damage to the Pine Island Wastewater Treatment Plant, according to a post on the Matlacha/Pine Island Fire Control District Facebook page Thursday.

There are some leaks, and the Greater Pine Island Water Association is in the process of locating them. Water might be turned off on some streets and portions of neighborhoods if there are multiple leaks.

Contact the association at 239-283-1071 if there are signs of water line breaks so they can be isolated as quickly as possible.

Matlacha residents, including Shoreview Drive, will not have water until at least Monday while the association investigates the water mains. Once the water comes on, Matlacha will be under a precautionary boil water notice.

Bridge loans available to Florida businesses impacted by Hurricane Milton

FloridaCommerce has activated the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan, making $50 million available to Florida businesses impacted by Hurricane Milton.

  • Up to $50,000 for small businesses with up to 100 employees, including sole proprietors.
  • Up to $100,000 for agriculture and aquaculture businesses.
  • Up to $150,000 for cattle and citrus operations.

Apply here: http://FloridaJobs.org/EBL

Hickory Blvd in Bonita Springs impassable for vehicles

Hickory Blvd is impassible for vehicles. The City of Bonita Springs is encouraging the public to stay off roads, the city posted on Facebook.

Bonita Beach residents can still access their properties.

Hurricane Milton Thursday recap: Impact reports on Lee County, beaches and inland (4)
Hurricane Milton Thursday recap: Impact reports on Lee County, beaches and inland (5)

Rachel at the Well standing strong

Hurricane Milton Thursday recap: Impact reports on Lee County, beaches and inland (6)

Fort Myers’ iconic Rachel at the Well statue on McGregor Boulevard, which was bent in half by Hurricane Ian two years ago, held strong against Hurricane Milton.

After talking to experts, the city wrapped the statue in bubble wrap with duct tape to protect her finish and then placed it’s biggest water truck next to her to act as a wind buffer, according to Fort Myers City Councilman Liston Bochette. The precautions worked and the wrap was removed Thursday morning to allow her to greet visitors entering downtown.

Hurricane Milton Thursday recap: Impact reports on Lee County, beaches and inland (7)

Water restored on Fort Myers Beach, but boil water notice in effect

Lee County restored water to the Town of Fort Myers Beach, as of 11:04 a.m. Thursday.

"Although you now have water, the entire Island is currently under a boil water notice," officials shared in a news release.

Two consecutive days of satisfactory bacteriological water samples must show that the water is safe to drink before the boil water notice is lifted.

Photos, videos show North Fort Myers tornado damage

Publix update: Stores in Lee County to open at noon today

Good news.Publix grocery storesare going to be open again, post-Hurricane Milton.

In Southwest Florida, all Publix with modified hours in Lee, Collier and Charlotte will open at noon today.

There are 67 stores in Southwest Florida, according to Publix map on the Publix website.

Photos: Jim Cantore covered Hurricane Milton from a Charlotte County parking garage

Well-known The Weather Channel meteorologist Jim Cantore spent Wednesday night covering Hurricane Milton from a parking garage at theSunseeker Resort along Charlotte Harbor as storm surge waters steadily rose inside the structure.

Captiva fire officials trying to contact residents who stayed behind for Hurricane Milton

Upper Captiva Fire officials say eight people stayed on the island as Hurricane Milton swept across the area. Officials have so far made contact with four of them.The fire district said unconfirmed reports indicate the island received the same amount of storm surge from Milton as it did with Hurricane Helene less than two weeks ago.

Hurricane Milton spurred tornadoes in Florida, including Lee County

A tornado touched down in North Fort Myers in Lee County around 1 p.m. Wednesday, causing extensive damage across Fort Myers, Cape Coral and Lee County.

According to NOAA's Storm Prediction Center:

  • The Lee County Sheriff's Office reported tornado damage in Matlacha
  • Social media video and images showing tornado damage to homes near Colonial Blvd and Orangewood Ave.
  • Social media videos of tornado and damage near SE area of Fort Myers Country Club.

Pine Island, Matlacha see fires overnight, downed buildings

Pine Island and Matlacha, two barrier islands off the coast of Lee County, did not emerge from Milton unscathed.

At least one fire took place overnight, said Jen Russell, who, along with her husband Kevin, is the unofficial mayor of Pine Island and administrator of the popular Facebook group Things to do on Pine Island.

The Matlacha / Pine Island Fire District posted photos of a large fire, with flames reaching 20 feet high or more. According to Russell, the fire department said it took place around 2 a.m. Thursday. There were no reported injuries, she said.

Hurricane Milton Thursday recap: Impact reports on Lee County, beaches and inland (10)

The fire district could not be reached for comment.

“Crews made access to the island a few hours ago and are responding to several calls including structure fires,” the district wrote on its Facebook post. “Please stay off the road.”

There were downed power lines on Stringfellow Road, as well, and any residents on-island should avoid them if possible, and otherwise take caution if passing by.

Hurricane Milton Thursday recap: Impact reports on Lee County, beaches and inland (11)

Too, the old Hooked Island Grill building collapsed further during Milton, blocking Pine Island Road overnight. While the road is now clear, the fire department has asked that only islanders return, in order to keep the roads clear for emergency responders as needed, Russell said.

The Hooked Island Grill on Matlacha was initially severely damaged in Hurricane Ian. The local chain with outlets in Fort Myers and Cape Coral had planned to repair the building and return.

Here's when you can get your car from short, long term parking at RSW

Around 9:30 a.m. Thursday, officials with Southwest Florida International Airport said that if you have a car in the short-term parking garage, you can retrieve it Thursday, adding that payment is credit card only and cash is not an option.

If your car is in the long-term lot, they said, shuttle busses will not operate until Friday.

"RSW is closed today and Thursday, Oct. 10. Airlines, car rental agencies and parking facilities are not operating," airport officials said. "We plan to resume operations on Friday, Oct. 11, but that will depend on damage assessments and staffing, as many RSW employees will have storm impacts. Remember, the airport is not a public shelter and the terminal building is closed."

Status check: RSW in Fort Myers remains closed today. What to know about operations

Matanzas Pass Bridge to reopen for Fort Myers Beach residents today

Fort Myers Beach plans to re-open the Matanzas Pass Bridge to residents and owners only at noon today, according to the town's Facebook page.

Drivers are asked to use caution as debris removal contractors will be out continuing to clear roads. Contractors will not be allowed on Fort Myers Beach at this time.

Drone unit assessing damage on Fort Myers Beach

The Lee County Sheriff’s Office said members of their Drone Unit are out on Fort Myers Beach assessing Hurricane Milton damage.

Storm surge warning no longer in effect for Lee County

"The Storm Surge Warning along the Florida west coast has been discontinued," NWS Storm Surge posted on Twitter Thursday morning.

Sheriff Marceno: Lee County in 'good shape' after Hurricane Milton

Lee County is in “good shape” in the aftermath of Hurricane Milton, Sheriff Carmine Marceno said in a phone interview on NewsNation Thursday morning.

“We know how to handle these storms,” he said. “The most important thing for us is that people really listened this time. They didn’t stay in harm’s way, and not only is that lifesaving, but it makes our job a lot easier.”

Marceno said his office has been working through the night with their incident management team, the emergency operations center, county commissioners and state and federal entities to resolve the damage from the storm.

He noted FPL and LCEC are working to restore power to around 250,000 homes, and about 50 percent of traffic lights in the county are not functional.

He also delivered a warning to potential bad actors looking to target residents affected by the hurricane.

“Not only will they be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, but jail would be one of the better places for them,” he said. “You walk into someone’s home, you’re getting carried out here in Lee County.”

Edison Bridge southbound reopened

The southbound Edison Bridge has reopened, Fort Myers police announced just after 9 a.m. Thursday.

Charlotte County deputies conducting search and rescue

Charlotte County Sheriff's deputies are still assessing damage and conducting search and rescue missions.

No known fatalities have been reported, said public information officer Christopher Hall.

"Even when we know of fatalities, a cause of death would need to be determined, which takes time," Hall said. "We don’t want to prematurely say that a death occurred because of Milton only to find that the person overdosed, passed due to a medical condition, etc."

Lee County road hazards update

The Lee County Sheriff's office reported the following known roadway hazards, as of 8:45 a.m.:

1ST PRECINCT:

  • Inlet Dr (off Orange Grove) – Now Passable.
  • Stipe St. E from Moody Rd – Standing water - Not Passable
  • Seaworthy Rd at Moody Rd – Standing water - Not Passable
  • Betmar Blvd at Jayde Ct – Impassable
  • N Tamiami at E N. Shore – Standing water – Impassable
  • Pondella Rd between Barrett Rd and Forsyth – Impassable
  • Snead Dr. - Not Passable - Tornado debris
  • Skyline Dr. East of Moody - Not Passable - Tree in the road.
  • Hancock Bridge / Moody Estates – Passable – 4 inches of water on eastbound lanes (Hancock Bridge Pkwy)
  • St. Clair – Standing water - Not Passable
  • Edison Bridge is now passable.
  • N-Tamiami and Oak – standing water – Impassable
  • N-Tamiami at Pondella – standing water – Impassable
  • Orange Grove South of Seafan Cir. Standing water – Impassable
  • N-Cleveland near the base of the bridge on the northbound side - Tree down blocking 1 lane
  • N-Tamiami and Laurel Southbound blocking 1.5 lanes. - Tree down blocking 1.5 lanes
  • N-Tamiami Just North of Pondella - two Power lines down on road.
  • Donald Rd. at curve - Standing water - Not Passable.
  • Upriver Rd. at end near river - Flooded - Not Passable.
  • Cable lines hanging near entrance of Tara Woods.

3RD PRECINCT:

  • San Carlos and Broadway - water over the roadway, but receding. Not Passable
  • San Carlos has lots of debris to include dumpsters on the roadway.
  • Standing water on McGregor from A&W Bulb to McGregor Park Court.
  • Summerlin to the causeway still has a lot of debris on the roadway - Not Passable
  • McGregor at Wilson - tree blocking the entire road.
  • College Pkwy and Whiskey Creek Dr. - Tree down in roadway
  • Victoria Cove Ct. and Gladiolus Dr. - Powerlines down in roadway
  • Sunset Vista Dr. and McGregor Blvd - Tree down blocking McGregor
  • Debris on Summerlin south of FSW - Palms down southbound
  • Summerlin / Cedarbend Dr - Large branch blocking road
  • San Carlos / Pine Ridge - Large waste bing in center turn lane on San Carlos
  • Cape Bridge at Cape Coral Pkwy at Del Prado is closed.
  • Power lines and transformers are sparking at John Morris and Kelly Sands.
  • Summerlin and Maple has a large tree blocking the right SB lanes.
  • Wire down on Palm/Seventh in Pine Manor.
  • Fifth between Palm and Cypress in Pine Manor has a large tree down blocking the roadway.
  • Tree down at Lakewood and Summerlin blocking the road.

4TH PRECINCT:

  • Island Park Rd has approximately 3+ feet of water - Not Passable
  • Briarcliff Road (East of Michael G Rippe) - Passable with 6-12"" of water over the roadway.
  • Mullock Creek Area - approximately 3+ feet of water - Not Passable
  • Park Road - has 3 feet of water.- Not Passable
  • Coconut Road (Spring Creek Area) has 1 to 2 feet - Not Passable
  • W Terry (South) has 3+ feet of water - Not Passable
  • Riverside Park has 3+ feet of water
  • Imperial River Corridor (Pennsylvania - North) has 3+ feet of water - Not Passable
  • Bonita Beach Park has 1 to 2 feet of water.
  • Imperial Shores Area (Tarpon Avenue - Big Bend Road) has 3 feet of water - Not Passable
  • Hickory Island - Kings Kew not Passable due to sand on roadway.
  • Hickory Island - Mclaughlin Blvd not Passable due to sand on roadway.
  • Hickory Island -Bay Road not Passable due to sand on roadway.
  • Imperial Shores/ Bonita Beach Rd has 1+ feet of water. - Passable with truck
  • Hyatt Regency entrance has 2.5 feet of water.
  • Palmacea & Ponce De Leon - Trees and Powerlines in the roadway.
  • BEN HILL GRIFFIN AND ALICO RD - TREES DOWN SB LANES
  • IMPERIAL PKWY AND MCKENNA AVE - TREES DOWN IN ROADWAY
  • Shell Point and Woodsong has a power line down.

5TH PRECINCT:

  • Colonial and Fowler - Trees in roadway
  • SB FOWLER AND WINKLER - TREE DOWN IN THE ROAD
  • ORANGE RIVER AND CEDAR HAMMOCK - TREE DOWN IN ROADWAY
  • UPCOHALL AND SECOND ST - TREE DOWN IN ROADWAY
  • E RIVERSIDE AND MIRAMAR - LARGE TREE IN ROADWAY
  • 247 GRANADA - POWERLINE IN RD
  • Six Mile and Hammond Stadium northbound lane has a tree.
  • PLAZA DR AND HAMILTON DR HAS DOWNED POWER LINES AND TREES BLOCKING

6TH PRECINCT:

  • Matlacha just east of the draw bridge is partially blocked by a house (1 lane available)
  • Bokeelia at Main Street has 1 foot of water on roadway. has 1 foot of water on roadway. Only passable with high water vehicle.
  • Pineland Marina has 1 foot of water on roadway. Only passable with high water vehicle.
  • St. James City at Oleander and Eighth Ave has approximately 8" of water. Only passable with high water vehicle.
  • St. James City at Oleander and Six/Seventh Ave has approximately 2" of water.
  • Little Pine Island bridge is now open .
  • Stringfellow and Howard Road has 3 high power telephone poles blocking the roadway.
  • Tipton/Pine Island has 1' of water on road.
  • Captiva at Blind Pass/Turner Beach is impassable.
  • Captiva at Tween Waters impassable.
  • Captiva at South Seas impassable.

No Lee County deaths related to Hurricane Milton reported so far

Lee County Sheriff’s Office deputies are out assessing the area after Hurricane Milton hit Florida last night. So far, no deaths have been reported within their jurisdiction, they say.

RSW assessing Friday restart of flight operations

Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) is assessing when flight operations can restart in the wake of Hurricane Milton.

"We will be working with our airlines, federal agencies (FAA, TSA and CBP), concessions, parking and more to determine when operations will begin tomorrow," airport officials said Thursday morning.

"As soon as we know, we will post. Please be patient as everyone at RSW works to get you back in the air."

Lee County urges motorists to stay off roads in wake of Hurricane Milton

While Lee County says it's still too soon for motorists to be out and about, it shared some things to keep in mind once roads are open and passable.

Lee County Emergency Management continues to urge residents toremain in placethis morning, even though Hurricane Milton made landfall north of the county Wednesday night. This allows crews to better assess and begin clearing debris and downed powerlines, the county said in an email.

Motorists are urged to treat intersections without functioning signals or flashing signals with caution.

Use this traffic signal informationafterofficials have indicated it is safe to drive:

  • If a signal is dark: After coming to a complete stop, proceed carefully through the intersection.
  • If it’s flashing yellow: Proceed with caution.
  • If it’s flashing red: Treat it as a stop sign.
  • If law enforcement is on-scene, follow the directions of deputies or officers.
  • Do not drive into standing water.

According to the email, Lee County Department of Transportation crews are working to restore signals and clear roadways. Lee DOT manages the 453 signals throughout the county.

View of Fort Myers Beach's Time Square Thursday morning

Photos from Time Square on Fort Myers Beach, provided by the Lee County Sheriff's Office Thursday morning.

Hurricane Milton Thursday recap: Impact reports on Lee County, beaches and inland (12)
Hurricane Milton Thursday recap: Impact reports on Lee County, beaches and inland (13)
Hurricane Milton Thursday recap: Impact reports on Lee County, beaches and inland (14)
Hurricane Milton Thursday recap: Impact reports on Lee County, beaches and inland (15)

Lee County Sheriff's Office assisting in Bonita Beach

Lee County deputies are assisting residents in Bonita Beach. Only foot traffic is allowed on Hickory Island currently, LCSO shared on social media at 7:55 a.m.

Hurricane Milton Thursday recap: Impact reports on Lee County, beaches and inland (16)
Hurricane Milton Thursday recap: Impact reports on Lee County, beaches and inland (17)
Hurricane Milton Thursday recap: Impact reports on Lee County, beaches and inland (18)

National Guard arrives on Fort Myers Beach

Governor DeSantis deployed the National Guard to render assistance to towns impacted by Hurricane Milton, the town of Fort Myers Beach said in a post on X Thursday morning.

"The Town of Fort Myers Beach appreciates the Governor’s actions and show of support for our community!" the post reads.

Hurricane Milton Thursday recap: Impact reports on Lee County, beaches and inland (19)
Hurricane Milton Thursday recap: Impact reports on Lee County, beaches and inland (20)
Hurricane Milton Thursday recap: Impact reports on Lee County, beaches and inland (21)

Fort Myers Fire Department back to normal operations after Milton

The Fort Myers Fire Department temporarily suspended services on Wednesday night into Thursday because of high wind speeds, according to their Facebook page.

Normal operations resumed on Thursday at 3 a.m.

All backlogged calls have been addressed and resolved, according to the department.

Lee County urges residents to stay in place as crews assess, clear roads

Lee County Emergency Management is urging residents to stay in place this morning.

"Do not drive this morning. There are dangerous, downed powerlines and downed trees. Debris, standing water and other hazards are on roadways. Traffic signals may not be working," officials said in an email.

As of 6 a.m., in Lee County, about 125,000 LCEC customers are without power and107,000 FPL customers, the agency reported.

Crews are being mobilized 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.”

Video: See Lee County sheriff's cruiser pulls tree from roadway in Estero

"4th Precinct deputies and Estero FD clearing a downed tree blocking westbound traffic on Corkscrew Rd and Cypress Park Cir.," a video caption posted on Facebook by the Lee County Sheriff's reads.

Cape Coral resumes emergency services, asks residents to stay off roads

Cape Coral emergency services were suspended overnight and have since resumed operations, according to the Cape Coral Fire Department Facebook page.

The city waited for winds to fall below 45 miles per hour to respond to 911 calls.

Now, the department is asking people to stay off the roads so first responders can get to emergencies and public works can clear the roads.

"We know everyone who has evacuated wants to get back and check on their home, but help us out, and don't go out," the Thursday morning post stated. "There is debris, standing water, downed powerlines and other hazards on the roadways."

The Cape Coral Fire Department is urging people to wait to get on the roads as there are flooded areas and debris on the streets.

Street signs are down, and most traffic signals are out.

"Please wait until later in the morning when the roads have had time to clear before heading out," the Thursday morning Facebook post stated.

Structure fires on Matlacha Thursday morning

Multiple structure fires were reported on Matlacha on Thursday morning.

Crews were able to access the island and the Pine Island Fire District is asking people to stay off the road, according to a Facebook post.

There are multiple lines and poles down. Matlacha is not accessible by car as of 5 a.m. Thursday.

Hurricane Milton Thursday recap: Impact reports on Lee County, beaches and inland (22)
Hurricane Milton Thursday recap: Impact reports on Lee County, beaches and inland (23)

How to check on Lee County family, friends after Hurricane Milton

People concerned about Lee County residents who stayed through Hurricane Milton will be able to check in on family and friends.

The Lee County government and local fire departments announced a partnership on Wednesday night to provide welfare checks after the storm.

Those wanting a welfare check can email WelfareStormChecks@leegov.com with the person's name, address and phone number they would like to check on.

"The email requesting welfare checks will be directed to the local Fire Rescue Departments for follow-up," the post from the San Carlos Park Fire Department stated. "The number of requests may be significant, so residents are asked to be patient."

Storm surge warning, flood watch remain in effect for Lee County

A storm surge warning remains in effect for coastal Lee County. Locations affected are Cape Coral, Sanibel and Captiva, according to the National Weather Service in Tampa Bay.

The potential for 2-4 feet of water above ground somewhere within surge prone areas is possible, the weather service warned.

A high rip current risk is in effect through Friday morning.

Additionally, Lee County is under a flood watch through Thursday evening. Excessive runoff may result in flooding of rivers, creeks, streams, and other low-lying and flood-prone locations. Storm drains and ditches may become clogged with debris.

Peak winds of 71 mph were reported just before noon Wednesday at Tarpon Point in Cape Coral, according to the National Weather Service in Tampa Bay.

Winds were also measured at 69 mph around 11 p.m. Wednesday at the San Carlos Park Fire Station in Fort Myers.

Fort Myers Beach access limited, wait for 'all clear' from officials

Fort Myers Beach is asking residents and contractors to wait until the "all clear" from the town, Fort Myers Beach Fire District and Lee County Sheriff's Department said Wednesday night.

"Our main priority is the safety of our residents and staff," the Facebook post stated. "Once the all clear is given, the Town will have staff stationed at the access points to check for Hurricane Re-entry Passes. You will not be allowed on Island without a Re-entry Pass."

Access to Fort Myers Beach is currently limited to emergency personnel and town staff and Pine Ridge Road is impassable as of 3:35 a.m Thursday.

Lee County Jail, Core facility lose power overnight

Both the Lee County Jail and CORE facilities lost power overnight, according to a post from the Lee County Sheriff's Office. Power has been restored at the CORE.

The department reported "no noticeable incidents" as of 5 a.m., though one transport was required due to "altered mental state."

Lee County Sheriff's Office says all inmates across 2 facilities safe during Hurricane Milton

Nearly 300,000 without power in Lee County

FPL reports that 143,660 customers out of 293,870 customers in Lee County are without power as of 4 a.m.

LCEC reports that 139,926 customers out of 251,415 in Lee County are without power as of 5 a.m.

  • FPL's tracker isHERE
  • LCEC power map isHERE

Lee County power outage map:

Fort Myers Beach: Access limited after Hurricane Milton

Town officials report that access to Fort Myers Beach is currently limited to emergency personnel and town staff.

Pine Ridge Road in south Fort Myers is currently impassable.

Residents and contractors will not be allowed on the island until the all clear is given.

Lee County road conditions and hazards

The Fort Myers Police Department asked residents to heed the following warning on Thursday morning: "We are still several hours away from high tide. Avoid the roadways until they are deemed safe."

"We have identified multiple inoperable intersections throughout the City of Fort Myers. As a reminder, treat ALL intersections as four-way stop signs until they have been restored."

Here are known road hazards as of 4:45 a.m. in Lee County, provided by the Lee County Sheriff's Office:

  • Debris on Summerlin, south of FSW, palms down southbound
  • Summerlin/Cedarbend Dr. has a large branch blocking the road
  • San Carlos/Pine Ridge has a large waste bin in the center turn lane on San Carlos
  • Cape Bridge at Cape Coral Pkwy at Del Prado is closed.
  • Plaza Dr. and Hamilton Dr. has downed power lines and trees blocking
  • Matlacha just east of the draw bridge is partially blocked by a house (1 lane available)
  • Little Pine Island bridge has a high line power pole leaning across the road at approximately 8 feet above the roadway.
  • Inlet Dr (off Orange Grove) – Not Passable
  • Betmar Blvd at Jayde Ct – Not Passable
  • Pondella Rd between Barrett Rd and Forsyth - Not Passable
  • N-Tamiami and Oak – standing water – Not Passable
  • N-Tamiami at Pondella – standing water – Not Passable
  • Orange Grove South of Seafan Cir - Standing water – Not Passable
  • Sky Villa and N. Cleveland Ave - Live power line down (waiting for LCEC to disconnect power)
  • 415 Snead Dr. - Not Passable - Tornado debris
  • Skyline Dr. East of Moody - Not Passable - Tree in the road.
  • Hancock Bridge / Moody Estates – Passable – 4 inches of water on eastbound lanes (Hancock Bridge Pkwy)
  • St. Clair Ave E at Orange Grove – Not Passable – Approximately 2’ of water
  • Edison Bridge Base (Both Sides) has 8" of standing water - Not Passable
  • Lavin Ln at Cardinal Dr. - Not Passable
  • N Tamiami Trl from Edison Bridge to Cabana 8" of standing water- Not Passable
  • Colonial and Fowler - Trees in roadway
  • Southbound Fowler and Winkler - Tree down in the road
  • Orange River and Cedar Hammock - Tree down in roadway
  • Upcohall and Second St. - Tree down in roadway
  • E Riverside and Miramar - Large tree in roadway
  • 247 Granada - Powerline in road
  • San Carlos and Broadway - water over the roadway, but receding. Not Passable
  • San Carlos has lots of debris to include dumpsters on the roadway.
  • Standing water on McGregor from A&W Bulb to McGregor Park Court.
  • Summerlin to the causeway still has a lot of debris on the roadway - Not Passable
  • McGregor at Wilson - tree blocking the entire road.
  • College Parkway and Whiskey Creek Drive - Tree down in roadway
  • Victoria Cove Ct and Gladiolus Drive - Powerline down in roadway
  • Sunset Vista Dr. and McGregor Blvd. - Tree down blocking McGregor
  • Island Park Rd has approximately 3+ feet of water - Not Passable
  • Briarcliff Road (East of Michael G Rippe) - Passable with 6-12"" of water over the roadway.
  • Mullock Creek Area - approximately 3+ feet of water - Not Passable
  • Park Road - has 3 feet of water.- Not Passable
  • Coconut Road (Spring Creek Area) has 1 to 2 feet - Not Passable
  • W Terry (South) has 3+ feet of water - Not Passable
  • Riverside Park has 3+ feet of water
  • Imperial River Corridor (Pennsylvania - North) has 3+ feet of water - Not Passable
  • Bonita Beach Park has 1 to 2 feet of water.
  • Imperial Shores Area (Tarpon Avenue - Big Bend
  • Road) has 3 feet of water - Not Passable
  • Hickory Island - Kings Kew not Passable due to sand on roadway.
  • Hickory Island - Mclaughlin Blvd not Passable due to sand on roadway.
  • Hickory Island -Bay Road not Passable due to sand on roadway.
  • Imperial Shores/ Bonita Beach Rd has 1+ feet of water. - Passable with truck
  • Hyatt Regency entrance has 2.5 feet of water.
  • Palmacea & Ponce De Leon - Trees and Powerlines in the roadway.
  • Ben Hill Griffin and Alico Rd. - Tree down in southbound lanes
  • Imperial Parkway and McKenna Ave. -Trees down in roadway

Traffic Lights Out:

  • 41 / S. Airport Rd
  • BAY LANDING AND S TAMIAMI
  • COLONIAL AND VERNOICA SHOEMAKER
  • Penzance & Six Mile
  • Daniels & American Colony

Edison Bridge impassable

Edison Bridge is impassable in both directions, Fort Myers Police Department posted on X, formerly Twitter, and warned drivers to stay off roadways.

"Edison Bridge both North and Southbound are impassable," the post reads.

"We are still several hours away from high tide. Avoid the roadways until they are deemed safe."

Lee County watches and warning in effect

As of 11 p.m., a storm surge warning is in effect for Cape Coral, Captiva and Sanibel.

Lee County remains under a hurricane warning and a flood watch is in effect until Thursday evening.

There is a potential for 8-12 feet of inundation above ground somewhere within surge prone areas.

Winds in Lee County were at 45-55 mph with gusts to 70 mph and the window for tropical-storm-force winds remains until Thursday evening.

Florida power outage map

Live radar: Hurricane Milton

Helpful links for Hurricane Milton

WEATHER:GoHEREfor Lee County weather watches, warnings and advisories.

POWER OUTAGES:LCEC power map isHERE

POWER OUTAGES:FPL's tracker isHERE

Hurricane Milton headlines from Wednesday as storm arrived

Here is a link to the live blog that was being fed on Oct. 9 when Hurricane Milton's impacts started being felt in Lee County.

More coverage

Photos: Fort Myers Beach resembles 'ghost town'

Hurricane Milton Thursday recap: Impact reports on Lee County, beaches and inland (2024)
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