Collier residents clean up damage left from severe storms

NAPLES, Fla.- Wind gusts of up to 80 mph left behind a trail of damage and debris scattered across Collier County from the beaches further inland to Golden Gate Estates.

Palm fronds and tree limbs littered roads, bike paths and front yards.

“We’ve never seen that here,” said Phil Oxley, “come down for four or five years now and never seen that.”

The storm caused a local running group to cancel a half-marathon
and forced the Naples Zoo to close its doors.

“It kind of looked like green snow all over the paths because you’ve got palm fronds and all the leaves all over the place,” said Douglas Rickenbach, with the Naples Zoo.

On Monday, the zoo reopened but three exhibits were still closed as crews removed downed tree limbs and made repairs. The zoo says all of the animals were safe during the storm.

Down the road in Olde Naples, waste management workers were called in on their day off to help clean up debris.

The high winds also sent catamarans flying on the beach near 18th Avenue South and heavy surf on the Gulf caused some beach erosion. Collier County will find out just how bad the erosion is during its annual survey.

At one point on Sunday, more than 7,000 customers lost power in the county.

Collier County sent out a reminder to all residents to pile storm-related yard debris curbside, and to keep it separate from structural debris and household trash or recycle.

The county says:

• Limbs and large branches need to be removed by the property owner or landscape contractor and taken to the landfill or area recycling center.
• Branches no larger than 4 inches in diameter may be cut to lengths no longer than 4 foot and bundled with spring or similar into bundles weighing no more than 50 pounds.
• Leaves and smaller items of landscape debris should be placed into paper sacks or 45 gallon personal containers.

If you have any questions, call Public Utilities and Customer Service at 239-252-2380.