CAPE CORAL, Fla. -- Southwest Florida is still working to get things cleaned up after Hurricane Irma blew through on Sunday. Here's a status update from the City of Cape Coral as of Tuesday afternoon.
BOIL WATER NOTICE:
THERE IS NO CITY-WIDE BOIL-WATER NOTICE at this time. There MAY be localized notices due to water main breaks. To see if you are affected by a localized notice, look for the temporary street signs in your neighborhood or visit HERE[capegis.maps.arcgis.com].
CURFEW:
With the onset of Hurricane Irma, Lee County (Including the City of Cape Coral) enacted a curfew from 8:00 PM to 7:00 AM daily. The curfew remains in effect until further notice.
The curfew aids in the maintenance of public order by reducing the number of people out on public roadways after dark. This decreases the likelihood of traffic crashes and other accidents that might require emergency response and tax first responder resources. The curfew also reduces the likelihood of criminal activity, helping to preserve life-safety and protect property. The curfew prohibits all non-essential pedestrian and vehicle traffic. Only those providing essential services like as police, fire, EMS and utility emergency repairs should be on the roadways after 8:00 PM.
Officers are not looking to lock people up for no good reason. If you aren't looting and you explain your situation, you should be fine. That said, the curfew gives them the ability to detain and investigate anyone out on the road after the proscribed time.
OPEN BUSINESSES:
Cape Coral's Economic Development Office is compiling a list of open businesses. If your business is open, please post it to the Cape Coral Economic Development Office[facebook.com] Facebook Page.
TRASH COLLECTION:
Starting today, regular solid waste will be picked up according to the normal service day. No recycling or horticulture yet. If your regularly scheduled pickup day is Tuesday, household garbage will be picked up today. For the normal service schedule please visit: https://wasteprousa.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/trash-schedule.pdf
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.
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).
We are reiterating generator safety. One of the most significant risks from generator use is carbon monoxide, or CO, poisoning. CO is a colorless, odorless gas that is a byproduct of combustion. The exhaust from generators contains this gas, and keeping the exhaust away from the home and any ventilation in to the home is imperative. Never use a portable electric generator indoors or in an attached garage.
Residents should run generators in a well-ventilated, dry area away from intakes into the home and protected from rain; an ideal spot would be under a canopy away from the home or in an open, freestanding shed. Install carbon monoxide alarms inside your home as a protection against the gas emitted from generators. Lee County EMS has transported 21 patients with suspected CO poisoning since the storm has passed. If you would like to request a check of your generator exhaust, please call (239) 574-3223. If you are experiencing CO poisoning symptoms, call 9-1-1 immediately. Symptoms include:
· Dull headache
· Weakness
· Dizziness
· Nausea or vomiting
· Shortness of breath
· Confusion
· Blurred vision
· Loss of consciousness
·
Carbon monoxide poisoning can be especially dangerous for people who are sleeping or intoxicated. People may have irreversible brain damage or even be killed before anyone realizes there's a problem.
Also, don't refuel a hot generator (gas can ignite) and don't operate a generator in wet conditions to avoid electrocution.
TRAFFIC CONDITIONS/ROADWAYS:
Debris crews are actively clearing roadways. Give yourself extra time as your "usual" route may be blocked.
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. Tolls are still suspended at this time.
Due to flooding, Burnt Store Rd. is detoured to Old Burnt Store Rd. between Gulfstream and Durden.
POWER:
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.
As of 5:00 this morning, power has been restored to 82,216 Cape Coral customers. There are still 40,121 customers without power. Since then, more reports of power restoration have been received so those numbers will likely change (for the better) with this evening’s update.
Visit www.lcec.net/reliability/storm-center/hurricane-updates[lcec.net] for more information.
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.
WELFARE CHECKS/3-1-1 INFORMATION LINE:
We know that many people will want welfare check on friends and family. Please call (239) 574-3223 (the non-emergency dispatch line) 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.
3-1-1 is still available for residents who have general or Hurricane Irma related questions. Call takers will be available until 7:00pm this evening, and then will resume normal hours (7:30am – 4:30pm) beginning tomorrow.
CANCELLATIONS AND CLOSURES:
City Hall 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 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 today and Wednesday (9/13).
SHELTERS:
Lee County Emergency Management provided four shelter locations last night for people who remained in shelters post-Irma and for people who may have incurred Hurricane Irma damage to their homes and need a place to stay temporarily.
Open shelters 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) closed last night. 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.
