COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. — Although there’s no evacuation orders in place in Southwest Florida yet, anything can change within the next few days.
Local emergency leaders say plan ahead, and as last resort, know where the nearest shelter is located. Collier County emergency services director dan summers says he’s hoping for the best. he’s also prepared for the worst when it comes to developing storms 13 and 14.
“We’re really hopeful that we don’t have to do shelters, that we can ride the storm out, that our power interruptions will be minimal,” he said. “But you know hope is not a good planning strategy.”
The National Hurricane Center shows Tropical Depression 13 developing into a storm and possibly affecting Southwest Florida as soon as Monday morning.
Summers urges people in the area to have their hurricane kits locked and loaded, but it’s not time to leave just yet.
“In no stretch are we in a mandatory evacuation order yet. Folks can make those decisions on their own if they want to leave the area,” he said.
Lee Mayfield with Lee County Emergency Management says be prepared if that time does come.
“We really still need folks to evacuate if you’re in a storm surge zone, at risk to storm surge, or live in an unsafe structure for wind, like a mobile home, or a house boat,” he said.
If Lee County does order a mandatory evacuation for your area, you’ll see it on the Lee Prepares map. Active evacuation areas will be shaded blue. The other colors represent the county’s different zones, and shelters will be marked by bright green pins.
Summers says make them your last option.
“This is one of those situations where we really need folks to think twice before going to a public shelter,” he said.
If you live in Collier County, you can sign up for emergency alerts here
If you live in Charlotte County, you can find emergency management information here.
