Lee County Public Safety is advising residents to stay put and off roads until storm passes

UPDATE ON Idalia: streets prone to flooding and other key messages

Tuesday, August 29, at 10:30 a.m.

As preparations continue today (Tuesday, Aug. 29) for what currently looks like possible wind, rain and two to four feet of storm surge from Tropical Storm/Hurricane Idalia, the Town has these messages to share.

Please do not try to ride out this storm in a recreational vehicle in the Town. Prepare now to ride this storm out off-island. Lee County has “safe havens” open in two locations and transportation by Lee Tran is in place until 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, August 29.
The Town urges everyone to be vigilant and stay up to date on storm alerts. Stay connected to the Town’s social media and website (www.fmbgov.com) as well as the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, the FMB Fire District, and Lee County Government.
FREE sand and bags are available until supplies last, weather permitting, behind the former Town Hall property. Please bring your own shovel to fill your own bags Each household will receive 10 bags each.
Please be aware of these streets that are prone to flooding in the Town. The storm system cleaning vendor is working on these streets today to clear as much as possible: Crescent, First, Second, Third, Bahia Via, Anchorage, Andrew Mar, Dakota, Oak Ridge, Fairweather, Lazy Way, Estrellita.

Emergency preparedness

Lee County providing "Safe Havens"

as alternative places to ride out the storm

At today's press conference, Mayor Dan Allers and FMB Fire District Chief Scott Wirth urged residents who are living in trailers post Ian to make alternative arrangements to move off-island for the duration of the approaching Tropical Storm/Hurricane Idalia. These safe havens provided by Lee County could be a good alternative.

The locations are the North Fort Myers Rec Center and the Estero Rec Center. They are pet friendly. You should bring blankets and portable chairs to be comfortable. Visit www.leegov.com/hurricane/idalia for more information.

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FREE sand bags at Town Hall complex until 7 tonight and all day tomorrow

FREE SAND BAGS AT TOWN HALL UNTIL 7 P.M. TONIGHT AND 8 A.M. TO 7 P.M. TOMORROW, TUESDAY, AUGUST 29

To assist residents and property owners on Fort Myers Beach in their preparations for a possible impact from Tropical Storm/Hurrricane IDALIA, the Town is providing a limited number of FREE sand bags. 

The bags will be available from the Town’s Beach and Street Enforcement (BASE) Team in the modular trailer marked Administrative Offices on the Town Hall Complex, 2545 Estero Boulevard. The BASE office is the corner office on the left when you enter the trailer. 

Each household or property will be given 10 sand bags to fill on their own, while supplies last. The sand pile is behind the former Town Hall property at 2525 Estero Boulevard. Sand bags can be filled until 7 p.m. tonight and 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, August 29, 2023. 

Please bring your own shovel!

Town and first responders prepare for Tropical Storm Idalia

We are taking precautions to prepare for Tropical Storm Idalia that is in the Gulf and could impact FMB this week. Lee County is under a tropical storm watch with storm surge possible of two to four feet.

On Saturday, August 25, 2023, Governor Ron DeSantis declared an emergency for Idalia in 33 counties in Florida, including Lee County. Though Idalia currently appears to be headed north of Tampa and along the Panhandle, the Governor continues to caution all counties along the Southwest Coast of Florida to be ready for outer bands of wind, rain, storm surge and a last-minute shift in direction.

The Town has enacted its emergency plan which includes coordination with the Fort Myers Beach Fire District, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, and the Lee County Emergency Operations Center. This plan includes securing all Town facilities and communicating key messages with the public. Current key messages regarding Idalia are:

Prepare an emergency plan and make sure everyone in your family is briefed;

If you are living in an RV or have a mobile food truck, the Town is requesting that you move the trailer off island as a precaution. Please do not plan to ride out this storm in a trailer.
Stock non-perishable food and water for your family and your pets that will sustain everyone for at least a week in case power and water utilities are down;
Secure any loose items in your yard or around the outside of your house, including garbage cans, lawn furniture and decorations, to make sure they don’t become flying objects.
Move furniture and belongings from your first floor to your second floor to protect in the event of flooding;
Fill your vehicles with gas;
Have cash in case credit and debit card machines go down;
Charge all electronic devices including cell phones, and keep them charged;
Connect to the Town’s social media, website, text and email, and CODE RED alert systems as well as local media, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, the FMB Fire District, Lee County Public Safety, and Lee County Government to stay up on weather and other emergency alerts.
We will have a public information board off-island, in the parking lot of Wal-Mart on Summerlin, with current messages. Staff will be there to answer questions.
Hurricane re-entry passes are available at Town Hall Monday through Friday 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Please see the attached instructions about hurricane re-entry passes.
Mooring Field is open for safe harborage for boaters who need to ride out the storm on their vessels. See the attached information about that service.
We are working to provide sand and sand bags. Watch our social media and website for details. Plan to bring your own shovel.

Lee County Public Safety is advising residents to stay put and off roads until storm passes

UPDATE ON Idalia: streets prone to flooding and other key messages

Tuesday, August 29, at 10:30 a.m.

As preparations continue today (Tuesday, Aug. 29) for what currently looks like possible wind, rain and two to four feet of storm surge from Tropical Storm/Hurricane Idalia, the Town has these messages to share.

Please do not try to ride out this storm in a recreational vehicle in the Town. Prepare now to ride this storm out off-island. Lee County has “safe havens” open in two locations and transportation by Lee Tran is in place until 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, August 29.

The Town urges everyone to be vigilant and stay up to date on storm alerts. Stay connected to the Town’s social media and website (www.fmbgov.com) as well as the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, the FMB Fire District, and Lee County Government.

FREE sand and bags are available until supplies last, weather permitting, behind the former Town Hall property. Please bring your own shovel to fill your own bags Each household will receive 10 bags each.

Please be aware of these streets that are prone to flooding in the Town. The storm system cleaning vendor is working on these streets today to clear as much as possible: Crescent, First, Second, Third, Bahia Via, Anchorage, Andrew Mar, Dakota, Oak Ridge, Fairweather, Lazy Way, Estrellita.