After Ian: Updates for Saturday, Oct. 1

Information we receive about power and utility restoration, food and other important recovery efforts will be posted here.

Reconnect with loved ones: Call 1-800-733-2767 and provide as much detail as you can. Alternatively, you can submit your information via forms found at COADFL.org or https://missing.fl.gov/es

Scripps Howard Fund Hurricane Ian relief drive: Text STORM to 50155 to make a contribution.

EVACUATIONS
Pine Island: Evacuees who arrive by private boat on the east side of Matlacha can go to D&D Matlacha Bait & Tackle, 3922 Pine Island Road NW to get a ride to a shelter.

Sanibel: The U.S. Coast Guard has organized a water-borne operation to help Sanibel residents evacuate from the island to the mainland to assist efforts of the Sanibel Police and Fire & Rescue. The boat departs from Sanibel Boat Ramp, near the Causeway, approximately every 90 minutes to two hours today. A bus will transport passengers to Lee County shelters.

OUTAGES - Click here for information on interactive outage maps. Utility companies are aware of the widespread outages and ask you do not make new outage reports. FPL outages are sourced from the online map reports; LCEC's outages are compiled by the company and posted to their social media channels at regular intervals.

• FPL has opened Outage Relief sites where customers can get more detailed information on outages, plus some amenities including ice, water, and/or mobile charging stations, where available:
  
  • 19100 Murdock Circle (Punta Gorda)
  • 8099 College Parkway (Fort Myers)
  • 3000 Orange Blossom Drive (Naples)

In a statement offered late Friday, the City of Cape Coral said damage assessment of the electric grid is expected to continue Saturday before the next phase of the restoration process, which will focus on major facilities that supply power to main circuits. "After that, crews will focus on restoration of the largest number of customers in one area," the statement said. "LCEC crews will be deployed to all parts of Cape Coral, and the six-county service territory. More than 1,000 resources are dedicated to restoration and additional resources are on the way."

The Collier County 911 telephone system is back in order after having been out most of the morning.

WATER SAFETY
The City of Naples remains under a Precautionary Boil Water Notice for its entire drinking water service area, which includes all of the City of Naples and a portion of Collier County. The City’s drinking water service area extends south from Pine Ridge Road / Seagate Drive, and west of Livingston Road. See map below for service area. It is advised that all water used for drinking and cooking be brought to a rolling boil for one minute.

Boil Water Notice Lifted for Isles of Capri, Goodland and all areas West of US 41 from North of Seagate Drive to South of Bonita Beach Road with the following exceptions: Still In Effect for Gulf Shore Drive and The Strand at Bay Colony

Some customers of Lee County Utilities who have been without water will begin seeing service resume today and over the next few days. Water pressure likely will drop off periodically as repairs are made and generators are serviced. A Boil Water Notice remains in effect for all customers of Lee County Utilities as well as other utilities serving Lee County. Customers of some utilities – such as FGUA in Lehigh and Bonita Springs Utilities – no longer have to boil water. Check with your utility to determine your status – but if you do not know, continue to boil as a precaution.

FOOD AND WATER
Salvation Army holding distribution in Everglades City (607 Collier Ave). Shelf stable items all day, hot meals beginning 3 p.m.

Wesley Memorial United Methodist Church is providing hot meals, air conditioning and access to electrical outlets from 3-7 p.m. (4141 Deleon St.)

Charlotte County has two food and water distribution centers opened:

• Muscle Car City Museum, 10175 Tamiami Trail, Punta Gorda, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
• Charlotte Sports Park, 2300 El Jobean Rd., Port Charlotte, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Cape Coral – along with state and federal partners – will begin opening distribution points for residents impacted by Hurricane Ian who need food and water. The announcement of their locations and opening times is forthcoming.

St. Matthew's House is running two community food assistance centers on Saturday; from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at First Baptist Church of Naples, and from 1-3 p.m. at East Naples Baptist Church. Text SMHFOOD to 51555 to receive updates on future food distribution and response sites.

• Future dates announced:
  
  • Monday October 3rd: Ocean Church of Cape Coral 11:00 AM-1:00 PM
  • Wednesday October 5th: Paradise Sports Complex in Naples 10:00 AM-Noon
    

Publix will distribute nearly 8,000 gallons of water and 75,000 pounds of ice at Next Level Church (12400 Plantation Rd., Fort Myers) beginning at 11 a.m.
First Naples Church, in conjunction with Hearts with Hands, will hold a food distribution from 9-11 a.m. at the church (3000 Orange Blossom Dr.)

American Legion Post 110 in Port Charlotte will have hot food available for the community beginning at 11 a.m. Saturday. They are looking for veteran-owned businesses that may want to contribute to the endeavor. Call 239-289-6569.

Sarasota County has created a Twitter thread listing points of distribution, which you can access here.

Lee County released a list of distribution points, which will open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

• Old Bonita Library, 26876 Pine Ave., Bonita Springs
• Kelly Road Soccer Complex, 10750 Kelly Road, Fort Myers
• Cape Coral Sports Complex, 1410 Sports Blvd., Cape Coral
• Cape Coral Leonard Street, 4820 Leonard St., Cape Coral
• Estero High School Ballfield Park, 9100 Williams Road, Estero
• North Fort Myers Recreation Center, 2000 N. Recreation Park Way, North Fort Myers
• Fleamasters Fleamarket, 4135 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., Fort Myers
• Veterans Park Recreation Center, 55 Homestead Road S., Lehigh Acres

TRANSPORTATION
Naples Airport reopens to the public today, but on a reduced schedule from 7 a.m. to 7:30 p.m.

Southwest Florida International Airport says normal operations will resume once power and water outages can be restored. An estimated date, according to a Twitter post responding to a question about the timeframe, is October 7.

In addition, RSW reminds drone pilots: Drones are not permitted at/around RSW or FMY for the safety of all emergency and humanitarian efforts.

In an advisory posted late Friday night, FHP said the following: "The Myakka River under Interstate 75 (I-75) has risen and impacted the interstate, no longer making it safely passable for motorists." I-75 in both directions was closed from mile marker 179 (North Port / Toledo Blade Blvd) to mile marker 191 (Englewood / Jacaranda Blvd). Overnight troopers consolidated the closure to southbound lanes at Exit 193 (Jacaranda Blvd) and northbound at Exit 179 (North Port / Toledo Blade Blvd).

MEDICAL
Lee Health Convenient Care at Page Field will open from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Wound Care & Hyperbaric Medicine will reopen on Monday. Other Lee Physician Group offices will open "as quickly as safely possible."

Millennium Physician Group is open. Call 844-225-5674 for appointments. Real-time office status at millenniumphysician.com/hurricane

SCHOOLS
All Lee County Schools campuses will remain closed next week.

Charlotte County Schools campuses will remain closed until further notice.