Follow all of the latest news and developments in Collier County for Hurricane Milton, a powerful hurricane that is forecast to impact Southwest Florida in a variety of ways, including storm surge, flooding debris and widespread power outages.
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Our team of journalists, reporters, photographers, videographers and editors areproviding urgent updatesto help residents of the region prepare for the storm.Mandatory evacuations have been ordered in coastal communitieslike Fort Myers Beach, Marco Island, Everglades City, Naples and Sanibel Island. Shelters are open in Lee and Collier counties.
Update on Hurricane Milton recovery efforts
Hurricane Milton recovery efforts have been ongoing since daylight, with crews clearing sand and debris from streets and beach areas, the City of Naples shared in a 5:30 p.m. news release. Residents' cooperation is crucial as several roads remain hazardous, the City said.
Key updates:
- The southern portion of Gordon Drive is currently impassable or difficult to navigate. The City urges residents to avoid the area while emergency crews continue clearing debris.
- All beach ends, including Naples Pier and Lowdermilk Park, are closed until further notice. The City warns residents to not attempt to drive on sand at beach ends, as soft sand increases the risk of vehicles getting stuck.
- City offices and facilities will resume normal operations Friday.
- The Florida Department of Health issued a swim advisory for the area. The City told residents to avoid entering the water and wear footwear on the beach due to debris. For more details, the City told residents to refer to the FDOH press release.
Power outages remain widespread, with 42% of unincorporated Collier County and 28% of Naples still without power. Restoration efforts are underway, but intermittent outages may occur during the process. For the latest updates, visit FPLMaps.com.
Resident Cleanup and Debris Removal:
- The City told residents to avoid pressure washing or draining pools until streets are cleared. The stormwater system is overwhelmed and must be cleared before additional water is introduced.
Debris collection:
- Home damage: Residents can remove wet drywall, cabinets and carpet without a permit, but repairs will require permits. The City advised residents to document all damage with photographs for the inspection process.
- Residents can place horticultural debris at the curb starting Friday.
- Residents should not place construction and demolition debris in the City’s right-of-way until collection services resume on Monday.
Residents with electric vehicles should take extreme caution if the vehicle has been exposed to water or saltwater, the City said in the release. Lithium-ion batteries can overheat and catch fire without warning. The City warned residents to not charge or drive the vehicle and to avoid storing it indoors. Residents should consult an electrician before using any chargers in garages, the City added.
Collier County tourism updates on coastal resorts
In an email to business journalist Laura Layden, Sandra Rios ― the public relations and communications manager for Collier County's tourism division ― shared there are a few coastal resorts waiting for power to be restored, and a few with rooms offline for cleaning, but the majority are "open for business and taking reservations."
"Many of the accommodations are currently housing first responders and emergency personnel, which is critical to facilitate a quick recovery from the storm," Rios said.
"The tourism industry is one of the top employers in our destination, generating almost 29,000 jobs that support our local economy, so we are looking forward to all the resorts reopening and getting people back to work."
RSW in Fort Myers resume operations
Southwest Florida International Airport (RSW) in Fort Myers will reopen tomorrow morning. The airport was closed due to Hurricane Milton.
Read more HERE.
What restaurants are opening up?
Here’s the list of restaurants we know are open in Naples or will be opening for dinner. Restaurants will be added to the list when we get confirmation from owners or management and those with outposts in Bonita Springs and Marco are noted.
All four Collier Senior Meal sites will remain closed Friday
Collier County Community and Human Services plans on reopening the program on Monday. If any seniors are in need of food assistance, call (239) 252-2233 or (239) 633-1411.
Workers removing sand on North Naples roads
Sand was piled over at Vanderbilt Beach Road and Gulf Shore Drive completely covering the road this morning, health journalist Liz Freeman reports.
By noon, workers with small bulldozers had the job half done. The road should be cleared later in the afternoon.
Update on household garbage, recycling collection in unincorporated Collier County
Garbage and recycling collection services will resume Friday, Oct. 11, in unincorporated Collier County, the City of Marco Island, and Everglades City.
The Collier County Landfill, the Immokalee Transfer Station, and the Recycling Drop-off Centers will also open on Friday. Recycling Drop-off Centers accept household chemicals, batteries, electronics, and paint; however, household waste is not accepted.
Curbside Collection ― Residents may place garbage, recycling, small piles of yard waste, and bulky items curbside on their regularly scheduled collection day. Place garbage and recycling in carts only ― no loose bags will be collected. Keep curbside collection separated from hurricane debris by at least three feet.
Yard waste bundles, yard waste paper bags, and personal containers are limited to 10 per collection. Bundles must weigh less than 50 pounds, be secured with twine, and be no longer than 4 feet. Branches may not be larger than 4 inches in diameter. Use ONLY paper yard waste bags or paper grocery bags. Plastic bags will not be accepted. Place all leaves, grass, and other trimmings in bags.You may use 45-gallon personal containers that weigh less than 50 pounds when filled. The yard waste may not extend more than 12 inches over the top of the container.
Hurricane Debris ― Place debris generated by Hurricane Milton curbside, at least three feet apart, in separate piles of yard waste, construction and demolition (furniture, carpet), household hazardous waste, electronic waste, and appliances. Do not mix waste piles. Debris will be collected by a separate hauler than the usual garbage hauler. When placing curbside, avoid blocking the road, driveways, sidewalks, mailboxes, and fire hydrants.
Visit colliercountyfl.gov/hurricaneprep for instructions on setting out yard waste and hurricane debris at the curb. For more information and to request debris removal, call Customer Service at 239-252-2380.
Immokalee businesses reopen Thursday
In Immokalee, many businesses are open today, according to the Facebook page What's Going on Immokalee:
Current places open for business
Stores: Ranchito Mart, Ace Hardware, In n Out Drive Thru, Mr. 99 Cent, CVS (excludes pharmacy), Winn-Dixie (to open at TBD), O’Reilly’s Auto, Primo’s Supermarket, Ortegas Tire Shop.
Gas stations: 7-Eleven (across the casino), Seminole Trading Post, Circle K, Handy Stores, Seminole Trading Post
Restaurants: Anthony’s, Brenda’s Mexican Restaurant, Dunkin Donuts, Kountry Kitchen, Little Caesar’s Pizza, Lozanos, McDonalds, Mi Ranchito Restaurant, Popeyes, Rib City (currently closed but will re-open soon), Zacatecas Restaurante, Lali’s Bakery (To open at 5 a.m. Friday)
LCEC sends crews out to affected areas
LCEC has close to 1,000 crew members out, working to restore power to customers in Lee and Collier counties, public relations manager Karen Ryan said early Thursday afternoon. They have more crew on the way from other states, including Idaho, and ultimately expect to see about 2,000 crew members working 'round the clock.
"We normally get crews from Alabama, Georgia, North Carolina," said Ryan, "but they were hit hard (by Helene) and we had to go outside our normal coverage area."
Also, LCEC asks all members to remain calm, be safe and rest assured that power restoration has begun. Keep tuned to the Storm Center at https://www.lcec.net/my-reliability/storm-center/, social channels, and SmartHub for updates.
Naples recovery efforts as of 12:30 Thursday
Naples police shortly after 12:30 p.m. confirmed the city experienced approximately 6 feet of storm surge Wednesday night, adding that as of Thursday afternoon several roads remained covered in up to 5 feet of sand.
Emergency Crews at work: Our first responders and emergency teams are hard at work assessing damage, clearing streets, and unclogging storm drains. Please be alert for workers on the roadways.
Traffic intersections and road conditions: Police said that while traffic lights are operational, many areas are impassable or difficult to navigate.
"We urge drivers to avoid the following roads to allow emergency crews to work safely:"
Police ask that motorists avoid the areas of Gordon Drive south of 18th Avenue South and Gulf Shore Boulevard south of Banyan Boulevard, in the area of Lowdermilk Park.Much of Crayton Road also remained underwater and Leeward Lane is impassable. Old Naples, west of Second Street, is also affected.
Closures: All beach ends, including the Naples Pier and Lowdermilk Park, remain closed.
City offices: Offices and facilities will resume normal operations tomorrow, October 11th.
Drinking water: City drinking water utilities are fully operational.
Swim advisory: The Florida Department of Health (FDOH) has issued a swim advisory for our area.
Need storm-related repairs? Be cautious when hiring contractors
In a noon press release, Collier County urged residents to be cautious when hiring contractors for storm-related repairs.
“They should make sure they hire a reputable, licensed contractor and are urged to hire the correct type of contractor specific to the type of work that they wish to have performed," the release said. Licenses for work are specific to each type of job. For example, tile and shingle roof repairs each require different licenses.
To verify a contractor’s credentials, the County suggests residents contact Collier County Contractor Licensing at 239-252-2431 or visit the county’s website.
Emergency repair work, such as securing doors, windows or roofs, does not require a permit at this time. However, all other repairs must have the necessary permits, and only licensed roofing contractors can perform roof repairs.
Starting at noon today, emergency permitting is available at the following locations:
- Growth Management Community Development Office, 2800 N. Horseshoe Drive, Naples
- Heritage Bay Government Services Center, 15450 Collier Blvd., Naples
- Immokalee Permitting Office, 310 Alachua St., Immokalee
Regular permitting services will resume 8 a.m. Friday. For general inquiries, residents can contact the Growth Management Community Development Department at 239-252-2400.
The County reminds residents that under Florida law, unlicensed individuals performing work during a State of Emergency commit a third-degree felony. Residents should report unlicensed activity to Collier County Contractor Licensing at 239-252-2431.
Naples Airport undergoing cleaning, inspections after Milton debris
Naples Daily News reached out to Naples Airport on Thursday morning to see if it was operational. Here's what the director of communications Robin King told us.
"Here at the airport, we are cleaning debris off the airfield and completing our inspections. We are thankful only a limited area of the airfield was affected by the surge – primarily the western edge. We are urging tenants to wait until we complete our inspections, remove debris, and open the airport before they visit their hangars. When we can open the airport, we’ll notify tenants directly and post the status on social media and our website banner."
Zero reported deaths from Milton in Collier County
Michelle Batten, spokesperson for the Collier County Sheriff’s Office, said they have had zero reported fatalities stemming from Hurricane Milton, as of noon Thursday.
Collier County Sheriff's Office shares scenes from Everglades City/Chokoloskee area
Cut back on toilet flushing, wait to run dishwasher and washing machine
Collier County Public Utilities is asking customers to reduce water use in their homes.
"Due to the power outage, our wastewater system has been affected. Please cut back on toilet flushing and wait to run the dishwasher and washing machine. This helps our teams as they work hard to restore everything."
FloridaCommerce has activated the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan
FloridaCommerce has activated the Florida Small Business Emergency Bridge Loan, making $50 million available to Florida businesses impacted by Hurricane Milton.
- Up to $50,000 for small businesses with up to 100 employees, including sole proprietors.
- Up to $100,000 for agriculture and aquaculture businesses.
- Up to $150,000 for cattle and citrus operations.
Apply here: http://FloridaJobs.org/EBL
Some traffic lights still down in Collier County
Collier County still has many nonfunctioning traffic signals due to the storm.
On social media, the Sheriff's Office continues to remind drivers that they need to treat these intersections as a four-way stop. It is receiving many reports of drivers failing to stop at these intersections.
"This is a matter of public safety," said Karie Partington, the agency's media relations bureau manager, in an email.
Milton floods Sunrise Motel in East Naples
Sunrise Motel on U.S. 41 in East Naples, Florida, on Oct. 10, 2024, flooded from Hurricane Milton (video below).
Hurricane Ian also flooded the motel in 2022.
Most Publix grocery stores in SW FL will open at noon today
Good news.Publix grocery storesare going to be open again, post-Hurricane Milton.
In Southwest Florida, all Publix with modified hours in Lee, Collier and Charlotte will open at noon today.
Read the full story:Most Publix grocery stores in SW FL will open at noon today. What to know
Naples police officers continue to assess damage
Naples police officers are assessing the neighborhoods, roadways and businesses in the area in the wake of Hurricane Milton, according to a Facebook post from Chief Ciro Dominguez.
While the aftermath of Hurricane Helene saw more than 50 cars stranded in high water, which became hazards in the roadway, there were no stranded vehicles causing obstructions on Thursday.
"Chief Dominguez is very appreciative for the men and women of the Naples Police Department who largely worked over 20 hours straight, serving and protecting the community of Naples during this event," the post stated. "Their dedication is unmatched."
Jim Cantore covers Hurricane Milton from parking garage
Where did Cantore end up specifically? He was stationed with his crew in a parking garage at theSunseeker Resort along Charlotte Harbor.During his time in the parking garage, Cantore was showing viewers how the storm surge was steadily rising and taking over the first level of the garage.
Read the full story:How do you cover a raging hurricane from a garage? Weather Wizard Jim Cantore shows you how
Curfew lifted, but police still trying to clear streets
Naples police said that although they lifted the citywide curfew at 7:30 a.m., crews continue to clear debris, fix traffic lights and unclog drains.
Naples Pier has no surfers, but crowd begins to arrive at the beach
Naples Pier remains blocked off near the restrooms with two Naples Police officers on the deck. No surfers around even though the waves are six feet or so. Crowd is beginning to come to the beach. The sun is out and the air is devoid of humidity.
Hurricane Milton spurred tornadoes in Florida, including Collier County
A tornado touched down in Collier County in Lee County around 1:42 p.m. Wednesday, which crossed I-75 near the Miccosukee Service Station and moved north to the Brighton Reservation.
Marco Island city facilities to open Friday
Mackle Park in Marco Island opened at 10 a.m. for residents to charge devices and get an A/C break, according to the police department's Facebook page.
City facilities will open for normal operations on Friday at 8 a.m.
Hurricane Milton: By the numbers
Hurricane Milton storm surge levels:
- Naples (Naples North Bay) Tidal Gauge reached a Mean Higher High Water (MHHW) of 5.08 feet Wednesday night (Oct. 9) during the peak of Hurricane Milton's surge.
Hurricane Milton rainfall amounts:
- Less than 2" during the duration of Milton's passage.
- 6-8" widespread over the last seven days with isolated locally higher amounts, much of which fell during the heavy rainfall event ahead of Milton.
Hurricane Milton wind gusts:
- According to the NWS-Miami website, some of the highest wind gusts recorded in Collier County from 8 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 8 though Thursday, Oct. 10 were 59 mph at the Collier County Emergency Operations Center, 58 mph in Immokalee, and 56 mph at the Naples Zoo.
Read the full story here: Hurricane Milton by the numbers
Marco Island: 77% of island without power
Just before 9:15 a.m., Marco Island police announced that 77% of the island was out of power.
RSW is closed today, flights to resume Friday
Airlines, car rental agencies and parking facilities are not operating at Southwest Florida International Airport today. The plan is to resume flight operations on Friday, the airport said Thursday morning, but that will depend on damage assessments and staffing.
"We will be working with our airlines, federal agency partners (FAA, TSA and CBP), concessions, parking and more to determine when operations will begin tomorrow. As soon as we know, we will post on all social media channels and our website.
"Please be patient as everyone at RSW works to get you back in the air again."
When operations resume at RSW you can check flight statusHERE.
Read the full story: RSW in Fort Myers remains closed today. What to know about operations
Naples Police share photos from assessment
"A few more pictures from NPD team members that are out assessing roads and damage. These were taken in the last hour."
Airport-Pulling Road is closed
Airport-Pulling Road is closed to all traffic at Vanderbilt Beach Road due to a downed power line. Deputies are on scene.
NPD morning update: Driving curfew to be lifted, traffic light outages, roadway hazards
Naples received about 6 feet of storm surge on Wednesday night, according to the Naples Police Department.
The city's driving curfew will be lifted at 7:30 a.m., but residents are encouraged to stay off roads west and south of US 41 until noon.
Many traffic lights are not working, and crews are working to fix them.
The department shared the following roadway hazards, asking drivers to avoid these areas:
- Gordon Dr. south of 18th Ave S is impassable for even larger trucks
- Gulf Shore Blvd S of Banyan Blvd (Lowdermilk Park) is mostly impassable
- Much of Crayton Rd is still underwater
- Leeward Ln is impassable
- Old Naples, west of 2nd Street is mostly impassable
"Please do not begin pressure washing driveways and/or draining swimming pools until street clearing has been completed. Our stormwater system was overwhelmed last night, so we need your help keeping additional water out of the system for now," the NPD said in a Facebook post.
"Another update will be provided later this morning. In the meantime, please exercise extreme caution as you begin your clean-up and remain safe."
Tin City closed until further notice
Waterfront mall Tin City will be closed until further notice due to the impact of Hurricane Milton, a social media post says.
Marco Island roads are passable
The vehicle curfew on Marco Island has been lifted, the Marco Island Police Department posted on Facebook. However, 68% of the island has no power, the post said.
Collier County Sheriff's Office making assessments, asks residents to stay off roads
There were no reports of serious injuries from Milton as of 6 a.m. Thursday, according to the Collier County Sheriff's Office. About 30 percent of the county is without power, and several intersections are without traffic signals.
The office is making early assessments and is advising people to stay off the roads "for at least a few hours after daylight."
Update: The post has been edited to add that coastal flooding has damaged homes and they have not seen "catastrophic" damage.
NPD: No injuries after shots fired at 'hurricane party'
Naples police officers responded to a report of domestic violence with shots fired at a "hurricane party." No one was hurt, and a suspect is in custody, according to police.
More than 68,000 without power in Collier County
FPL reports that 67,340 customers out of 236,400 customers in Collier County are without power as of 4 a.m.
FPL reports that 68,050 customers out of 236,400 customers in Collier County are without power as of 5 a.m.
Collier County power outage map:
Live radar: Hurricane Milton
Helpful links for Hurricane Milton
EVACUATION ZONES IN COLLIER COUNTY:Find out where your evacuation zone isHERE.
FLOOD ZONES IN COLLIER COUNTY:Know where your flood zone isHERE.
WEATHER:GoHEREfor Collier County weather watches, warnings and advisories.
POWER OUTAGES:FPL's tracker isHERE
Hurricane Milton headlines from Wednesday as storm arrived
Here is a link to the live blog that was being fed on Oct. 9 when Hurricane Milton's impacts started being felt in Collier County.
A tornado watch was on until 9 p.m. Oct. 9 for much of Southwest Florida.Two already crossed Interstate 75in Collier County along Alligator Alley, the National Weather Service confirmed, and more were expected to spin off the tropical storm force winds stretching in front of Category 4 Hurricane Milton.
The storm wasprojected to make landfallsomewhere in the Tampa Bay area, but Southwest Florida was still feeling the impact in the form of anticipated storm surge, winds, and tornadoes.
According to the weather service,Milton is likely to spin off more tornadoesthan many Category 4 hurricanes, given two things: Milton’s wind sheer and instability.
The National Weather Service had not confirmed the touchdown of any tornados in Lee County as of 12:40 p.m. Meteorologists there say tornados have shown up on radar but that they didn't have any confirmations yet of a touchdown in Lee.
Still, residents of Herons Glen in Lee County have reported seeing a tornado early Wednesday afternoon. Cameras caught more footage of possible tornadoes in Matlacha and North Fort Myers.
The perfect conditions to create a tornado
In order to spin off from a hurricane, tornadoes must have instability. That can come in the form of increased temperature, a peek of sun, decreases in cloud cover, or dry air.
“With Milton, we’re seeing space between rain bands which is favorable for tornadoes,” said Tampa National Weather Service Meteorologist Matt Sonderson. With Milton ingesting dry air during these breaks in rain, “these tornadoes have been developing in those areas.”
Sonderson said hurricanes can spin off over 40 tornadoes, as Hurricane Beryl did, or none. He placed Milton on the higher side.
More coverage of Hurricane Milton
Photos: Hurricane Milton's early impacts in Collier County
This story was updated to add a video.
