Wind probability as of 4 p.m. Sunday. NOAA

Town of Fort Myers Beach Manager Andy Hyatt has issued a mandatory evacuation order ahead of Hurricane Milton which is threatening to hit the Gulf Coast late Tuesday or Wednesday.

The evacuation order will take effect at 3 p.m.

“Mandatory evacuations are only as good as the people who listen to them,” Hyatt said.

Town residents should have their hurricane passes with them to return to the island. Town staff also be stationed at Target after the hurricane in case residents forget to bring their hurricane passes.

Lee County officials said Sunday afternoon they expect to issue evacuation orders Monday or Tuesday as Gov. Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for Lee County and 50 other counties ahead of Milton, which formed in the Gulf of Mexico late last week.

Five-day cone as of 4 p.m. Sunday.NOAA

Town of Fort Myers Beach Vice Mayor Jim Atterholt questioned town staff as to the pace of the pickup of debris from Hurricane Helene, which just started on Friday. Town of Fort Myers Beach Operations Manager Frankie Kropacek said the town is “piggybacking” on a Lee County contract for debris pickup. Kropacek said the debris pickup will resume Monday morning.

Some Beach residents have expressed concern that a lot of debris, particularly on the north end of town, has not been picked up yet with the latest hurricane looming. There is worry that the debris sitting in front of homes right now could become additional hazards during Hurricane Milton if not picked up in time.

The National Hurricane Center has issued flood warnings for Lee County through Thursday. Peak winds are expected to reach Fort Myers Beach Tuesday with the possibility of a major hurricane depending on how the storm shifts in the next 48 hours.

In a statement announcing the state of emergency, DeSantis warned of life-threatening storm surge for the Gulf Coast.

The National Weather Service is predicting Milton could turn into a Category 2 or 3 hurricane.

Tropical Storm Milton is currently in the southwest Gulf of Mexico and is forecast by the National Hurricane Center to gradually move off to the northeast while steadily intensifying. Areas of locally heavy rain are expected to arrive though across the Florida Peninsula and Keys well ahead of the intensifying storm.

“The track is a bit uncertain as to where it will make landfall,” National Weather Service meteorologist Christianne Pearce said.

“Everything along the coast will see impacts. You will definitely see storm surge,” Pearce said.

The hurricane is expected to make landfall in Florida late Tuesday night or early Wednesday morning.

The exact estimate of how much storm surge has not yet been determined by the National Hurricane Center, Pearce said. An estimated four to six inches of rain is expected through Thursday.

Depending on which way the storm lands, Lee County could see tropical storm winds between 40 to 70 miles per hour or Category 2 hurricane winds of up to 110 miles per hour. More information is expected from the National Weather Service in the next 24 hours.

Lee County schools will close Monday through Thursday with some government offices also closing or closing early.

“We are well within the forecast cone and even if the storm shifts north or south we will have big impacts along our coastline,” Lee County Public Safety Director Ben Abes said.

County offices will be open Monday at 8 a.m. and will close at noon. They will remain closed through Thursday. No other evacuation orders are in place as of late Sunday afternoon but expects to issue evacuation orders Monday but no later than Tuesday.

“Lee County anticipates announcing at noon Monday, Oct. 7, information about evacuation orders and shelter openings, as well as LeeTran service to those shelters,” county officials said in a release issued late Sunday afternoon.

“Residents who live in coastal areas or flood-prone inland areas do not need to wait for evacuation orders to mobilize. Go to friend or family members’ homes or make arrangements to relocate inland.”

County updates may be viewed on local media, including The Breeze website, capecoralbreeze.com, as well as via the county’s Facebook Live at www.facebook.com/leecountyflbocc. Updates can also be viewed on LeeTV and on the Lee County Government YouTube channel.

The county expects to open some emergency shelters Monday.

Abes said sandbags are available through local fire departments.

He also said residents should stop putting out debris from Hurricane Helene.

The Town of Fort Myers Beach is offering sand and sandbags at town hall on Oak Street. Sandbags are being limited to 10 per person.

The Town of Fort Myers Beach Council voted to postpone its Oct. 7 meeting to Oct. 15.

Atterholt suggested residents take photos of their homes inside and outside to use for insurance purposes.

“We all know how challenging some of our insurance partners have been,” Atterholt said.

U.S. Senator Rick Scott, who visited Fort Myers Beach last week, said “Everyone along Florida’s Gulf Coast needs to be ready. I know that barely one week out from Hurricane Helene’s catastrophic landfall, it is unimaginable to have another major storm barreling toward our state – but you have to get prepared now because your life depends on it.”