Hurricane Milton & Hurricane Helene Information

Updated on: 11/25/24 10:00 a.m.

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Residents with questions about non-urgent matters can call the Emergency Information Hotline. United Way activated the hotline earlier this week. Call United Way 211 by dialing 2-1-1 or (239) 433-3900 with questions related to closures and real-time updates, Call 9-1-1 for urgent or life-threatening matters.

HURRICANE DEBRIS CLEANUP

Learn more about Hurricane Debris Collection

View Lee County's Hurricane Milton Debris Dashboard

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Please note that condominiums, apartments complexes and trailer parks are considered commercial property and will only receive one pass for debris collection in unincorporated Lee County. County officials, in partnership with the Florida Division of Emergency Management (FDEM), recently received a waiver from FEMA that allows the county’s hauler to complete one pass for commercial debris placed at the right of way. Commercial collection has begun and may take up to several weeks to complete. Any additional debris placed in front of condominiums, apartments and trailer parks after the county’s hauler completes its single collection will not be picked up by the county. All gated communities must have a Right of Entry (ROE) and Indemnification form filed with the county to allow the county’s contractor to access their gated property.


Business Impact and Damage Assessment Survey

Following Hurricane Milton Impacts, please complete our Business Impact and Damage Assessment Survey

For business concerns, please email edo@leegov.com

FEMA Disaster Assistance

FEMA LogoHomeowners and renters who have uninsured damage or losses caused by Hurricane Milton or Hurricane Helene, visit www.DisasterAssistance.gov or call 1-800-621-3362 to determine eligibility for FEMA disaster assistance.

OPERATIONAL ADJUSTMENTS

Lee County Government offices are open for regular hours. 

Go to www.leegov.com/departments for specific office or operational information, as some may have slight adjustments in the wake of the storm.

Community Development

Any unincorporated Lee County Residents or Businesses within the Special Flood Hazard Area with any damage to their homes or businesses, including water intrusion, must obtain a permit for all repairs.  Please email FIRMinfo@leegov.com for assistance with permit requirements and resources, and be sure to include the following information:
• Contact Information
• Property Address
• Type of Damage
• Height of the water that entered the home

Residents also can find more information here.
  • If you’re in a municipality, contact the appropriate entity for permit assistance.

Solid Waste

Residential Collections

  • Residential garbage collection has resumed.
  • Recycling and yard waste collection will resume in all franchised service areas beginning Monday, October 21.

Storm Debris Collection

Library

  • Lee County Libraries have reopened for regular hours.
  • The Bonita Springs Public Library, Johann Fust Community Library (Boca Grande) and Captiva Memorial Library remain closed due to storm-related impacts.
  • Oct. 14. Material due dates and hold pick up dates have been extended.
  • Electronic resources are available online at www.leelibrary.net/online.

Parks & Recreation

  • Staff continues to evaluate sites. 
  • Many parks and recreational facilities have reopened.
  • A list of open sites is available on the Parks website
  • Four beach sites will open Saturday Oct. 19
    • Big Hickory Island Preserve
    • Bunch Beach - paddlecfact launch only, no beach access
    • Dog Beach - no restrrooms are available
    • Bowditch Point Park - no restrooms available
  • Due to heavy impacts to Lee County's coastal areas, the following sites remain closed:
  • - Beach Sites, some beach park locations remain closed
    - Boca Grande, all county facilities in Boca Grande remain closed
    - Pine Island, all county parks and boat ramps in the Matlacha-Pine Island area are closed.
  • The start of the popular Fall Festival at Lakes Park has been delayed. This includes the Halloween Express, Pumpkin Patch and Scarecrows in the Park. Monitor the parks website for updates on when it will begin.
  • The Fall Festival in Boca grande that was to be held Oct. 25. is canceled. Our Parks team looks forward to coming up with additional options for island families just as soon as possible.

Transportation

  • Crews are working to restore signals and clear roadways
  • Please use this traffic signal information after officials have indicated it is safe to drive.
    • Treat intersections without functioning signals or flashing signals wwith caution.
      • If a signal is dark: Come to a complete stop, proceed carefully through the interection
      • If flashing yellow: Proceed wiwth caution
      • If flashing red: Treat it a a stop sign
  • If law enforcement is on-scene, follow directions of deputies or officers
  • Tolls on Lee County bridges have resumed on the Cape Coral Parkway, Midpoint Bridge and the Sanibel Causeway.

Natural Resources

  • Water has receded as normal.
  • No anticipated sheet flow from the north in the coming days
  • Despite the surge, Milton was not a heavy rainfall event for Lee County. 

Utilities

  • All Lee County Utilities operations are back to normal.

Domestic Animal Services

  • Animal services has reopened for regular hours
  • Animal Services has resumed field operations.
  • Lost and Found has reopened and is available if you are missing your pet, or if you have found one for you to bring into the shelter so they may be reunited with their owners. 

LeeTran

  • LeeTran has resumed regular service on 10/12/24.
FOLLOW LEE COUNTY ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Follow Lee County Government on social media for up-to-date information. 

     
EMERGENCY ALERT TOOLS

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Sign up for
Emergency Alerts

AlertLee is Lee County's  Emergency Mass Notification System and is used to quickly communicate with the public, providing critical and time-sensitive information during emergencies.

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Download the LeePrepares App: 

iPhone | Android

LeePrepares is a free app to find your evacuation zone and sign up for evacuation text notifications. Shelter locations, preparedness information and local weather is provided.

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Find my Evacuation Zone

Click the link to view an interactive map highlighting Lee County's Evacuation Zones. Residents can type in their address to see what Evacuation Zone their homes are located. 


Lee County Preparation

Teams throughout Lee County Government worked to ensure the county was as prepared as possible for impacts from Hurricane Helene. Examples include: 

Department of Transportation

  • Staff scheduled extra on-call personnel within Operations and Traffic divisions to work overnight on Wednesday and into Thursday to monitor road conditions.  

  • DOT Operations inspected drainage structures in lower-lying areas to make sure they are flowing freely and coordinating with Department of Natural Resources on weir gate operations to provide space for water to stage, where appropriate. 

Natural Resources

  • Staff monitored and evaluated hydrologic conditions from the network of sensors and gauges including groundwater levels, stream level and rainfall to assist in determining areas most vulnerable to flooding;

  • Staff worked with South Florida Water Management District to clean creeks and streams of exotic and obstructing vegetation, recognizing in many cases they serve as the major watercourses for flood relief and documenting pre-storm conditions along our critically eroded beaches.

Human & Veteran Services

  • In partnership with Human & Veteran Services and law enforcement, the Salvation Army opened an additional 40 beds at the Center of Hope LIFNAV Center, 2400 Edison Ave., Fort Myers, FL  33901 for people experiencing homelessness.

  • The department’s HVS Reach app, which is available for free download on the Apple App Store and Google Play, was also updated. Persons experiencing homelessness can sign up to receive push alerts from the app.



Municipalities & Partners

Municipalities

Constitutionals

National Weather Service provides active weather alerts, current conditions, and weather forecasts.


STATE OF LOCAL EMERGENCY

A State of Local Emergency is something municipalities and counties declare to help them prepare for and respond to situations such as hurricanes. A SOLE helps with governmental procurement processes, helps the community receive funds for recovery, and enables the ability of government to make decisions in response to the emergency that can be subsequently ratified.

​Current State of Local Emergency Resolutions 
 Milton Emergency Resolution Repealing Suspension of Tolls
Evacuation Order Repealed​
Evacuation Order

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