Idalia: Here is the latest news for Lee County and what to know

Mark H. Bickel, Fort Myers News-Press

Updated August 29, 2023 at 9:01 AM·9 min read

CLICK HERE FOR LATEST TUESDAY UPDATES ON HURRICANE IDALIA'S IMPACT ON LEE COUNTY

Note to readers: As a public service, The News-Press is tracking Idalia and its potential impact on Lee County and surrounding areas. Check here for the latest news from Lee County officials, including the Emergency Operations Center, cancellations, school information and more.

LEE COUNTY: Go here for the county website

LEE COUNTY: Flooding, surge forecast

LEE COUNTY: See photos of people getting supplies

7:10 p.m. | United Way ready to help how it can

For questions regarding preparation for Tropical Storm Idalia, contact United Way 211.

211 is a United Way program that provides free information and referral to human/social service agencies within Lee, Hendry, and Glades Counties.

To use the 211 services, just dial 2-1-1 or search our database of providers online. United Way 211 is for non-emergency assistance only. In these cases, 211 can be reached in Lee, Hendry, and Glades Counties at (239) 433-3900.

If you have not signed up for AlertLee, we encourage you to do so. This is a great way to stay up to date with critical and time-sensitive information. You can sign-up by going here: https://alertlee.com/

Visit: https://www.leegov.com/storm for county updates.

7:04 p.m. | Lee County's EOC on 24-hour operations; no evacuation orders in place

The Lee County Emergency Operations Center is now operating 24-hours a day as the County and its partners monitor and respond to Tropical Storm Idalia.

No evacuation orders are in place, and the county does not anticipate issuing any based on the forecast.

T.S. Idalia is paralleling the Lee County coast and will create tropical storm conditions for coastal communities, many of which continue to recover from Hurricane Ian. That is why Lee County announced the opening of two Safe Havens at 7 p.m. today. These are not shelters. They are a safe place for anyone who does not feel secure in their housing situation and who perhaps does not have a friend’s home or a family member’s home to go to.

The two Safe Havens will remain open tomorrow as Lee County monitors the conditions.

They will be located at two county sites:

North Fort Myers Recreation Center, 2000 North Recreation Park Way, North Fort Myers, FL, 22903
Estero Recreation Center, 9200 Corkscrew Palms Blvd., Estero, FL, 33928

If you need transportation to one of these sites but don’t have a vehicle, you can still get there.

LeeTran will activate emergencytransportation service 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. tonight from Pine Island and Fort Myers Beach to the Safe Haven locations ahead of Hurricane Idalia.

Visit www.leegov.com/storm to link to that LeeTran info and see maps for pickup, or call United Way’s 211 line. You can dial 2-1-1 or call 239-433-3900.

All LeeTran bus fares were temporarily waived until further notice beginning at 5 p.m. today. Those with special transportation needs should call 211 for additional assistance.

The storm forecast has forced the cancellation of the meeting planned for 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 29, at Big Arts Sanibel, 900 Dunlop Road, to receive public comment and input on the Draft Action Plan for the $1.1 billion Community Development Block Grant – Disaster Recovery (CDBG-DR) funds.

The public still has an opportunity to provide comment and input. The Draft Action Plan is published at www.leegov.com/recovery/cdbg-dr through Thursday, Aug. 31, 2023. Comments can be emailed to recovery@leegov.com, mailed to Lee County Administration in care of the Office of Strategic Resources, 2115 Second St., Fort Myers, Fl, 33901.

Lee County Government will be closed Tuesday to ensure as few people as possible need to travel during the tropical conditions. Links are available at www.leegov.com/storm to other sites such as city halls and constitutional offices. Residents should check there before driving to offices, as some are open and some will be closed.

Employees in county departments that are necessary for tropical events as well as employees at the Emergency Operations Center will be working Tuesday.

Lee County’s Board workshop for Tuesday has been canceled.

Lee County Solid Waste will continue its Tuesday curbside collections as scheduled.

Solid Waste’s haulers do not have regularly scheduled routes on barrier islands tomorrow. If Tuesday is your trash day, put out bins tonight. If you are able to bring them back in after the hauler collects trash on Tuesday, do so as soon as possible.

Follow Lee County Government on Facebook, www.facebook.com/leecountyflbocc and visit the storm website at www.leegov.com/storm.

5:09 p.m. | FGCU opts for remote classes

Florida Gulf Coast University posted in an email on Monday afternoon "with your safety in mind, we have decided to shift to remote operations on Tuesday. FGCU will announce our operational plans for Wednesday by 3 p.m. tomorrow."

4:46 p.m. | Florida SouthWestern State calls off classes

All Florida SouthWestern State College campuses and locations will be closed Tuesday, Aug. 29. All classes, services, and activities are canceled.

Decisions about college operations for Wednesday, Aug. 30 will be communicated by 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, Aug. 29 via FSW's official communication channels and www.FSW.edu.

4:45 p.m. | All Lee tax office locations closed on Tuesday

In an abundance of caution and for the safety of our team and customers, the Lee County Tax Collector will close all locations on Tuesday, August 29, 2023, due to the forecasted impacts of Tropical Storm Idalia.

Customers with appointments are being notified individually and are invited to reschedule or come to any service center for assistance when we re-open. If visiting a service center without an appointment, please check to ensure the office you visit offers the service you need. In addition, many services can be completed online at www.leetc.com/pay-online.

Updates and information can be found on our social media channels as well as our website, LeeTC.com.

4:20 p.m. | Lee County holding virtual public meeting at 5:30 p.m.

Lee County has announced a virtual public update for Tropical Storm Idalia for 5:30 p.m. today (Aug. 28). Idalia is expected to become a hurricane at some point today.

This is the link the public can use to participate:

www.youtube.com/@LeeCountyFLBOCC

According to a Lee County press release, information will be shared by the Lee Board of County Commissioners and officials from Lee County Sheriff’s Office and Lee County School District.

4:01 p.m. | No school on Tuesday in Lee

It's official. Schools will be closed in Lee County on Tuesday (Aug. 29) as Idalia will be closer and officials are making sure to play things staff with a storm that could bring significant rains and wind. Maybe surge. Here is education reporter Nikki Ross' story:

More: Lee County schools closed Tuesday for Tropical Storm Idalia

3:49 p.m. | Fort Myers Beach news: Council plans to declare state of emergency

The Town Council of Fort Myers Beach will meet Tuesday, August 29, at 10 a.m., at the Town Hall Complex, 2545 Estero Boulevard. The purpose of this meeting is to declare a state of local emergency due to the approach of Tropical Storm/Hurricane Idalia.

3:43 p.m. | RSW posts 'closely monitoring' any impacts to flights

The Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) posted on its Facebook page earlier today that officials there are closely watching Idalia. The recommendation is for travelers to check with their specific airlines on the status of flights coming and going from Fort Myers.

LINK: Airport website

3:47 p.m. | Will rainfall deficits this summer help with Idalia?

June Sandoe loads water into her car at Costco in Fort Myers on Monday, Aug. 28, 2023.

It has been a relatively dry summer in Lee County when it comes to rainfall. Things have been picking up in August. As of Aug.27, 7.98 inches of rain has been recorded in the Fort Myers area, according to the National Weather Service. That's below the normal amount (9.03).

What about July?

Actual: 4.25 inches

Historic norm: 9.38 inches

What about June?

Actual: 6.14 inches

Historic norm: 9.66 inches

3:30 p.m. | Lee County Elections Office news

The Lee County Elections Office announced that it has postponed until Thursday, August 31 the mailing of approximately 150,000 Vote-by-Mail Request Expired Notices to registered voters who had previously requested a Vote-by-Mail Ballot for the 2022 General Election but have not yet submitted a request for the upcoming election cycle.

3:15 p.m. | SCCF cancels meeting on proposed land-use changes on Captiva

In advance of Tropical Storm Idalia, the Lee County Board of County Commissioners has canceled its public workshop tomorrow at 1:30 p.m. The meeting, during which county commissioners were to be briefed on public input gathered over the summer on proposed land-use changes on Captiva, has not been rescheduled.

The changes at stake include increased building heights on Captiva Island and allowing South Seas Island Resort to request increased density, both of which would threaten the character and resilience of Captiva and Sanibel.

Public hearings on Sept. 5 and Sept. 6 are still scheduled to take place at 9:30 a.m. at the Old Lee County Courthouse Commission Chambers (2120 Main St., Fort Myers). SCCF strongly urges the public to attend, as these hearings will be the last opportunity to weigh in on the proposed changes.

3:09 p.m. | Re-opening for Fort Myers Beach Little League field postponed

Due to the approach of Tropical Storm/Hurricane IDALIA and a pending afternoon thunderstorm, the grand re-opening celebration that was scheduled for this evening of the Bay Oaks Little League Ball Field has been cancelled. Please watch the Town’s social media and website for a reschedule date.

2:45 p.m. | In case you missed it: Storm surge forecast for SWFL

Environment reporter Chad Gillis filed this story earlier today about the expected storm surge from Idalia expected in Southwest Florida:

More: Idalia expected to intensify, become hurricane and bring 2 to 4 feet of surge in Lee, Collier

12:30 p.m. | Did you know?

Florida has had an extensive hurricane history. But not every hurricane that has impacted Florida has made landfall in Florida. Here is a list of historic Florida hurricanes and where they made landfall in the Sunshine State, including nearby in Punta Gorda (Charley), Naples (Donna) and Cayo Costa (Ian):