Hurricane Irma: Fort Myers Evacuation Orders Expanded

FORT MYERS, FL — Hurricane Irma is barreling toward Florida, and local authorities are warning residents to be on alert, informing Floridians about potential impacts and what they need to do to prepare for the Category 4 storm.

In Fort Myers, evacuations have been ordered for Barrier islands, including Bonita Beach, Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel, Captiva and Pine Island. Evacuations are also in place for mobile and manufactured homes throughout Lee County.

On Saturday, the city said it was urging residents in Zone B to evacuate and head to an emergency shelter. Local authorities will be canvassing areas of Zone B, instructing residents to evacuate. (Click here to check your evacuation zone.) Zone B includes areas near the Caloosahatchee River.

(For the latest on Irma and up to date information for Fort Myers residents, subscribe to the Fort Myers Patch for real time alerts.)

The following shelters opened for evacuees at 9 a.m. Friday:

• East Lee County High School, 715 Thomas Sherwin Ave., Lehigh Acres
• Varsity Lakes Middle School, 801 Gunnery Road, Lehigh Acres (Full)
• Harns Marsh Middle School, 1820 Unice Ave. N., Lehigh Acres
• Oak Hammock Middle School, 5321 Tice St., Fort Myers
• Island Coast High School, 2125 De Navarra Pkwy., Cape Coral (Full)
• South Ft. Myers High School, 14020 Plantation Road, Fort Myers (Full)
• Estero Recreation Center, 9200 Corkscrew Palms Road, Estero (Full)

An additional shelter at Ray V. Pottorf Elementary School located at 4600 Challenger Blvd. opened to the public at 10 a.m. Saturday. The school is located within the city and the next closest shelter is Oak Hammock Middle School.

Those who are unable to evacuate are encouraged to seek shelter at either Oak Hammock Middle School or South Fort Myers High School.

>>>Click here for updated shelter information from the Lee County Office of Emergency Management.

The City of Fort Myers has partnered with LeeTran to provide an emergency neighborhood bus route for citizens who live in neighborhoods known to have transportation disadvantages. These neighborhoods include:

• Dunbar
• Edgewood
• Jefferson Park
• Manuel’s Branch
• Morningside
• Rainbow Grove
• Velasco Village

Until 3 p.m., LeeTran ParaTransit vehicle #213 will make hourly passes in these neighborhoods on the routes indicated in purple on the following map: View Map Here.

Analysis: Irma's 'Cone Of Uncertainty' Is Massive

Fort Myers has five locations where residents can obtain sandbags. At all locations, citizens are asked to provide their own bags and a shovel.

The locations are:

• Shady Oaks Park - 3300 Marion St. (Marion St. at Terry Ave., southwest of Terry Park)
• Alliance for the Arts - 10091 McGregor Blvd. (Between Colonial Blvd. and Royal Palm Square Blvd.)
• Fire Department Training Facility - 4540 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. (Between Arcadia Street and Ortiz Ave.). The fire training facility is open from 8:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m.
• Atlantic Coast Line train station/Fire Station No. 1 - 2300 Peck St. (Near the intersection of Central Avenue and Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.).
• Fire Station No. 5. - 9700 Treeline Ave. (Approximately 0.15 miles south of Pelican Preserve Blvd.)

Trash pickup was expedited due to Irma, and information about post-hurricane pickup will be provided later. The city has also asked residents to remove all temporary outdoor signs ahead of Irma. The primary election originally scheduled for Sept. 12 has been postponed to Sept. 26.

The city is also asking residents to sign up for Code Red for emergency notifications.

By 8 a.m. Saturday, Irma had downgraded to a Category 4 storm after making landfall in Cuba. Still packing maximum sustained winds of 130 mph, the storm had forced hurricane warnings to go up along much of Florida’s west coast, from the tip to Chassahowitzka in Citrus County. Storm surge warnings were also in place from Volusia and Brevard counties on the east side of the state around the peninsula to Chassahowitzka. Warnings mean that hurricane and storm surge conditions are expected within the warning area within 36 hours.

Image via City of Fort Myers