Tropical system may soon form in Gulf. Here's what Lee and Collier County residents should know

Samantha Neely and Cheryl McCloud, Fort Myers News-Press
Updated ·6 min read
1

Lee County and Collier County Emergency Management officials, along with federal, state and local partners, announced they are monitoring conditions as a tropical depression is expected to form late this weekend or early next week into the eastern Gulf of Mexico.

"Lee County recognizes that post-Hurricane Ian, some residents could be more susceptible to impacts than a typical tropical event. The county is planning to assist as necessary and is prepared to respond operationally, depending on conditions," Lee County officials said in an early Friday press release.

Collier County officials shared similar sentiments, asking residents to overall "be prepared, be patient, and help your neighbor, as that is what makes Collier County such a great place."

Here's what Southwest Florida residents need to know ahead of time.

More: National Hurricane Center tracking system moving toward Florida. See expected impacts

What information is known about this disturbance in the Caribbean Sea?

A broad area of low pressure over the northwestern Caribbean Sea is producing disorganized showers and thunderstorms.

Environmental conditions appear conducive for the gradual development of this system during the next several days, and the possible tropical depression is likely to form late this weekend or early next week while moving generally northward over the northwestern Caribbean Sea and eastern Gulf of Mexico.

Residents in the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, western Cuba, and Florida should monitor the progress of this system.

  • Formation chance through 48 hours: low, 40 percent.

  • Formation chance through 7 days: high, 80 percent.

What is Lee County doing to prepare?

Lee County Natural Resources and the Department of Transportation continue to maintain and monitor drainage canals, ditches, and swales.

County officials reminded residents that roadside ditches and swales are designed to drain. However, they may hold water for some time during significant rain events.

Lee County Natural Resources also reports the county’s water levels remain lower than average due to a lack of normal rainfall this season, which should help throughout the anticipated weather event.

Other departments that could be impacted operationally during hurricane season also are monitoring and planning and are prepared. They encourage all residents to take time now to prepare themselves and their families.

What is Collier County doing to prepare?

"Although this storm’s forecast is uncertain, exceptionally warm surface water in the Gulf of Mexico could allow any storm to intensify rapidly. The Emergency Operations Center and staff are ready for whatever threat this storm poses," Collier County officials said in a press release.

have recommended that residents take advantage of this current tax holiday to prepare for hurricane season. They encourage residents to stock a disaster supply kit that can last the entire household, including pets, for at least seven days.

The Division’s complete disaster supply kit checklist is available for download at www.FloridaDisaster.org/Kit.

When is the Atlantic hurricane season?

The Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 through Nov. 30.

Where can I find a list of hurricane supplies to get?

The second of two 14-day sales tax holidays to help residents purchase hurricane supplies began on Saturday, Aug. 26 and will run until Sept. 8.

House Bill 7063 makes the following items exempt from sales tax during the two 14-day periods:

  • Self-powered lights of $40 or less.

  • Portable self-powered radio, two-way radio or weather-band radio of $50 or less.

  • A tarpaulin or other flexible waterproof sheeting with a sales price of $100 or less.

  • An item normally sold as, or generally advertised as, a ground anchor system or tie-down kit with a sales price of $100 or less.

  • A gas or diesel fuel tank with a sales price of $50 or less.

  • A package of AA-cell, AAA-cell, C-cell, D-cell, 6-volt, or 9-volt batteries, excluding automobile and boat batteries, with a sales price of $50 or less.

  • A nonelectric food storage cooler with a sales price of $60 or less.

  • A portable generator used to provide light or communications or preserve food in the event of a power outage with a sales price of $3,000 or less.

  • Reusable ice with a sales price of $20 or less.

  • A portable power bank with a sales price of $60 or less.

  • A smoke detector or smoke alarm with a sales price of $70 or less.

  • A fire extinguisher with a sales price of $70 or less.

  • A carbon monoxide detector with a sales price of $70 or less.

The tax holidays also include a number of items related to the safe evacuation of household pets. Exempted items include:

  • Bags of dry dog food or cat food weighing 50 or fewer pounds with a sales price of $100 or less per bag.

  • Cans or pouches of wet dog food or cat food with a sales price of $10 or less per can or pouch or the equivalent if sold in a box or case.

  • Over-the-counter pet medications with a sales price of $100 or less per item.

  • Portable kennels or pet carriers with a sales price of $100 or less per item.

  • Manual can openers with a sales price of $15 or less per item.

  • Leashes, collars, and muzzles with a sales price of $20 or less per item.

  • Collapsible or travel-sized food bowls or water bowls with a sales price of $15 or less per item.

  • Cat litter weighing 25 or fewer pounds with a sales price of $25 or less per item.

  • Cat litter pans with a sales price of $15 or less per item.

  • Pet waste disposal bags with a sales price of $15 or less per package.

  • Pet pads with a sales price of $20 or less per box or package.

  • Hamster or rabbit substrate with a sales price of $15 or less per package.

  • Pet beds with a sales price of $40 or less per item.

Where can I receive updates from both Lee County and Collier County on the disturbance?

Lee County

County officials advise resident to download the LeePrepares App and sign up for Alert Lee.

They can also visit LeeEOC to read the All Hazards Guide and view refreshed, post-Hurricane Ian preparation videos, which cover everything from making your plan ahead of a storm to the recovery process that follows.

Collier County

As for Collier County, officials ask that residents sign up for Alert Collier, the County's mass notification system. When you sign up with Alert Collier, you can enter up to five addresses within the County boundaries where you would like to receive emergency alerts.

Register at AlertCollier or call 3-1-1 within Collier County.

What's next?

We will continue to update our tropical weather coverage daily. Download your local site's app to ensure you're always connected to the news. And look at our special subscription offers here.

This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Tropical system with storm potential monitored as it heads for SWFL