CCFD: Monday evening update
The most recent Cape Coral Fire Department/Emergency Management update on Hurricane Irma will be posted throughout the event.
UPDATE #14 – Evening Update, Monday, Sept. 11, 6 p.m.
There is NO city-wide boil water notice for Cape Coral.
Please see below message to the community from Unified Command.
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CURFEW:
A county-wide curfew (Cape Coral included) is still in effect from 8pm – 7am, until further notice. The curfew is meant to protect you from dangers that may not be evident during the daylight.
TRASH COLLECTION:
Waste Pro trash collection will begin tomorrow. If your regularly scheduled collection day is Tuesday, you can put your trash bin out for pick up. They will ONLY be collecting trash. Do not put out horticulture or recycling for collection. They are still short-staffed as they wait for their employees who evacuated to return. They will do their best to make the entire route tomorrow, but if they don’t, please bring your bin back up, off the curb. An update on collection for the rest of the week will be provided tomorrow.
POST STORM SAFETY INFORMATION:
Don’t return to your neighborhoods immediately after the storm. There will be many dangers that first responders, public works, and debris management workers will have to assess and clear. We understand the urge to rush back and check the damage to your homes, but please have patience. Damage assessment and repair has already begun, and we will keep you updated on the safety and status of our roadways and bridges.
As with the flood a couple of weeks ago, there will be standing water. Please don’t play in it! This water can contain sewage, human waste, yard chemicals, dead animals, sharp debris from the storm…all things you don’t want to wade in or get cut by.
We are reiterating generator safety. Run your generator OUTSIDE, away from windows, NOT under an overhang or in the garage where deadly fumes can reach you. Don’t refuel a hot generator (gas can ignite) and don’t operate a generator in wet conditions to avoid electrocution.
If you’ve lost power (most of us have) and have no A/C, please stay hydrated. It’s hot and sticky out there…it comes with the Florida living (like hurricanes).
TRAFFIC CONDITIONS/ROADWAYS:
Debris crews are actively clearing roadways. Give yourself extra time as your “usual” route may be blocked.
Don’t drive through standing water, as even only a small amount can sweep your car away. Initial reports have our flooding much, much better than had been anticipated, but there’s still a lot of water out there.
Generators are being placed at some key intersections throughout the city to power traffic lights. Other intersections are being modified to not allow for left-turns. If there is no signal or officer at the intersection and the light is out, PLEASE TREAT THE INTERSECTION AS A 4-WAY STOP.
Midpoint Bridge and Cape Coral Bridge are cleared for traffic.
Due to flooding, Burnt Store Rd. is detoured to Old Burnt Store Rd. between Gulfstream and Durden.
POWER:
About half of the city remains without power, including traffic signals.
Treat all downed powerlines as live! Call these in to LCEC at (239) 656-2300. Please only call 911 to report a downed powerline if it is threatening life safety.
Damage assessment has begun and crews are compiling the list of infrastructure that needs repair. LCEC begins by restoring power to essential services such as hospitals, traffic signals, shelters, communication centers and law enforcement. Next, power is restored to the greatest number of customers in the least amount of time by repairing main circuits. Then feeders will be repaired to power up neighborhoods. Finally, individual services or services that need to be reconnected after repair to the customer’s damaged electrical system are restored.
Visit www.lcec.net/reliability/storm-center/hurricane-updates for more information.
WELFARE CHECK:
We know that many people will want welfare check on friends and family. Please call (239) 573-3000 for welfare check requests. Please DO NOT call 9-1-1 as they need to be available for emergency calls. We have initiated welfare checks, but please be aware that it may take 24-48 hours for us to complete all of the requests.
CANCELLATIONS AND CLOSURES:
Today’s special and regular City Council meetings have been canceled.
City Hall is closed tomorrow (9/12). It will reopen for regular business on Wednesday (9/13).
Lee County and Cape Coral Municipal Charter Schools are closed through the week. Classes will resume on Monday, September 18.
The Primary Election scheduled for tomorrow has been canceled. Early Voting has been rescheduled to September 21, 22, and 23, and the Primary Election has been rescheduled for Tuesday, September 26.
The Chief Judge of the 20th Circuit has extended the closure of all courthouses through Friday, September 15. The courthouses are expected to reopen on Monday, September 18, subject to a further assessment of damages. This includes Lee County, Collier County, Charlotte County, Hendry County, and Glades counties.
Lee County government offices are closed tomorrow and Wednesday (9/13).
SHELTERS:
Lee County Emergency Management is providing shelter at four locations tonight (Monday) for people who remained in shelters today post-Irma and for people who may have incurred Hurricane Irma damage to their homes and need a place to stay temporarily.
Open shelters tonight include:
Germain Arena, 11000 Everblades Parkway, Estero
Alico Arena, Florida Gulf Coast University campus
North Fort Myers Rec Center (new), 2000 N. Recreation Way, North Fort Myers
Dunbar Middle School (new), 4750 Winkler Ave. Extension, Fort Myers
Previously opened shelters (except for Germain and Alico) will close tonight. The four shelters open now will take evacuees beginning at 6 p.m.
People who are in one of the existing shelters that are now closing and need transportation to a new shelter will not have to find their own rides; LeeTran will provide them. Those who can drive to shelters are encouraged to do so.
All people staying at one of these four shelters Monday night will have to register at the door, even if they stayed in a Lee County shelter during the weekend. (The people who have remained in Alico and Germain today will simply complete another registration form.)
Decisions about how long the shelters will remain open will be made in tandem with Emergency Management recovery efforts this week.
All shelters are pet friendly. Please bring a crate for your animal or a leash.
For the latest information visit www.capecoral.net/hurricane.
Updated safety information and tips can be found under the “Preparedness and Safety Tips” menu tab.
The EOC Emergency Information Center is available for residents who may have questions or are looking for information. Please dial 3-1-1.
If you have not already done so, please download the free Ping4alerts! App. This is the official application used by the City of Cape Coral for real-time, location-based, emergency alerts. You can learn more and download it at www.capecops.com/ping4.
Source: City of Cape Coral Fire Department