The Fort Myers Beach Fire Control District maintains a comprehensive hurricane preparedness guide on its website at https://www.fmbfirefl.gov/files/e5d1e86a7/FMBFD-Hurricane-Preparedness-Guide+-+2023.pdf.

The guide is currently being updated for 2024.

“As with every year, preparation and planning are equally important,” Fort Myers Beach Fire Control District Fire Official Jennifer Campbell said.

Campbell offers these top five pointers for preparing for a future hurricane.

1.Stay Informed: Local agencies will flood social media platforms with updates. In the days leading up to a possible event, agencies will coordinate unified messages that are pushed out through Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

2.Download the alertLee application. This is the platform used for Emergency Notifications within Lee County. Also, Lee County encourages residents to download the Everbridge Public Safety app, which allows you to see all public notifications issued through the Everbridge system across the County, State, and Country. https://www.alertlee.com/

3. Start preparing now. Supply chain shortages could create an issue with obtaining the items you need.

4. Decide early if you will be evacuating. If you need to go to a shelter and have a pet or any type of special needs, register early. There are limited locations that can take residents with special needs, or pets.

5.Download the Town’s Hurricane Preparedness Guide. This provides for contact information, information on planning, and a guide on what to do after a storm. This is available on the website throughout the year.

“I would also encourage visiting our social media platforms, we will be posting various information planning and preparation information over the upcoming weeks that will be helpful,” Campbell said.

The devastating toll from Hurricane Ian in 2022 included 16 people dead and hundreds of homes and buildings destroyed.

The Fort Myers Beach Fire Control District Hurricane Preparedness Guide includes

a disaster supply/preparation kit checklist for food and water and other items, including non-perishable food, manual can openers, grills, lighters, waterproof matches, pots, pans, cups, plates, eating utensils, ziplock bags and coolers.  

Other items on the preparation kit checklist in the event of an evacuation include a tool kit, plastic tarps, nails, duct tape, work gloves, batteries, radio, flashlights and a whistle (to signal for help if needed). 

Sanitation/clean Up supplies include unscented bleach (for clean-up/disinfect water), water for cleaning assorted cleaners, sanitizers, and disinfectantsl; rubber gloves, brushes, brooms, mops, towels, buckets, emergency toilet paper and rags.  

Other important items on the checklist that are recommended to be in the preparation kit include medications, spare keys, pens, important papers (put in a watertight container), keepsakes/photos (put in a watertight container), coins, cash, credit cards and/or travelers checks, prepaid telephone cards, maps, games and water for pets. 

Before leaving before a hurricane, the department recommends homeowners clean gutters of debris, inspect the roof, storm shutters and garage doors.  

Prior to evacuating, property owners should shut off all utilities and inspect all tree limbs that could fall on the home. 

Creating a family hurricane plan 

The fire department recommends that families form a hurricane plan. Residents should know the evacuation zone they are located in. Information on zones can be found in Lee County’s All Hazards Guide or visit the Lee County Emergency Management website at https://www.leegov.com/publicsafety/emergencymanagement.  

Lee County Emergency Management has identified four options in for residents to follow in developing a hurricane plan: 

• Option A: Stay at home. If your home can withstand the expected winds, and you are away from the coast and not in a flood prone area, consider staying home. Never stay in your home if your area is under an evacuation order.  

• Option B: Stay with a relative, friend, or at a hotel outside the evacuation area. If you plan to do this, make arrangements in advance, and make sure you leave early. Always have an alternate plan.  

• Option C: Relocate out of the area. Local officials will tell you which evacuation routes to use. Plan your route ahead of time, and make sure to plan alternate routes. Include maps and directions in your hurricane kit. Leave early to avoid high winds, flooding, and traffic.  

• Option D: Go to a public shelter if you have no safe place to go. Local media will announce which shelters are open. Do not wait until the last minute to learn the route to the shelter. This includes the shelters that accept pets and the shelters that are equipped for special needs.  

When preparing for whether to evacuate before a future hurricane, the department recommends that residents consider whether their home has a hurricane-rated garage doors. “If your home was built prior to 2003, is two or more stories, constructed of wood, or you are in a flood zone you may want to consider evacuating,” the department’s hurricane guide states. 

72 hours before a storm review  

In the three-day window before a hurricane, the department recommends that residents stay informed about the weather through local media coverage, make sure prescriptions are up-to-date, enough cash is on hand to last a lengthy time, bills are paid, sunscreen and insect repellant are at hand in the event one is stuck outside after a hurricane.  

One’s car should be filled with gas before planning an evacuation, with a cell phone charger in place, tires and fluids should be checked on the vehicle. Emergency phone numbers should be gathered and readily available. The department recommends freezing Water in containers or bags in a freezer for 48 hours before a storm, 

After the storm 

During the days and hours after a storm, the department recommends listening to the local media for updates, staying calm and patient. Be prepared for days of no power or limited power, meaning no air conditioning, lights, refrigerator or access to electrical appliances. Cell phone usage may be affected, water may be unsafe to drink, toilets may not flush and showers may not work. If you smell gas, do not stay in your home and call for help immediately. Be careful of downed electrical wires and report them to the power company and/or fire and police departments.  

Be on the lookout for fire ants, bees, wasps, snakes, rodents and anything else that may be seeking higher ground. 

Do not connect generators to your house wiring. Generators are to be used outside in a well-ventilated area and remember to shut down generators during re-fueling and always have a fire extinguisher nearby. 

Contractors  

Beware of unlicensed contractor activity. Do not sign a repair contract until you are able to verify the contractor is licensed. Remember to ask for a copy of their state license. 3. Is the quote reasonable? If they are putting a lot of pressure on you to sign the quote then this is reason to question. Do not pay for any services in full up front. Make sure the contractor has acquired any required permits before starting work. For permit related questions on residential properties, contact the Town’s Building and Permitting Services, at 239-765-0202, extension 1306. For permit related questions for commercial and multi-family residences, contact Life Safety at 239-590-4210 or the Town’s Building and Permitting Services. 

Small businesses 

Business owners should ensure critical operations employees know the plan for when to make contact and when to return to work. Ensure that critical data and business records are backed up electronically. Pre-plan key vendors that are necessary in reopening your businesses as quickly as possible. Review your businesses liability insurance coverage annually. Identify essential employees to help close up the business, and to begin restoring operations as soon as possible. Conduct an annual facility safety inspection with key staff members. Ensure key members of the team know how to shut down, secure power utilities, and preserve critical data. Ensure key members of the team know how to shut off the domestic water supply to the building. Form an employee support network to aid employees and their families in preparing, responding, and recovering after the storm has passed.