Lee County preparing for impacts from Nicole, opens new shelters

Caution and safety, that’s the message from Lee County as Southwest Florida braces for Tropical Storm Nicole.

Lee County officials assured the community that the storm would be nothing like Hurricane Ian. Because of that, the county is not planning to activate most of the emergency protocols we saw just six weeks ago.

“We encourage you to monitor the forecasts, as they can change,” said Lee County commissioner Cecil Pendergrass.

A relatively gentle warning from Lee County officials just one day before Nicole is expected to impact Southwest Florida.

The county expects stormy conditions and strong winds, but nothing like the triple-digit wind and double-digit feet of storm surge some areas saw during Ian.

“It should be fairly short-lived. We think it’s a Wednesday-Thursday event. It is a tropical storm,” said County Manager Roger Desjarlais.

The county is not expecting a call for evacuation ahead of Nicole and does not predict law enforcement or first responders’ response time to be affected.

“So, the protocol on that is any winds over 45 mph, they take vehicles off the road and close bridges. I don’t think we’re going to see winds over 45, but we’ll have to watch the forecast,” said Pendergrass.

With so many Lee County families still recovering from Ian, the county will open two shelters.

“We’re cognizant that a lot of residents are living in damaged properties. Some people are living in tents, some are living in homes that require a lot of repair,” said Desjarlais.

Just hours after the county announced a shelter at Alico Arena on FGCU’s campus, plans changed.

The two county shelters will be at the Estero Recreation Center and the North Fort Myers Recreation Center.

As Southwest Florida saw during Ian, weather can change quickly. Officials hope families will use caution above all else.

“Do what you believe to be in your best interests. If you are uncomfortable staying on your property, by all means, go to one of our shelters,” said Desjarlais.

Lee County has already collected two million cubic yards of debris after Hurricane Ian. Two million down, but still at least eight million left to go.

“There’s never been a storm like Ian that’s created this much debris,” said Desjarlais,

Tropical Storm Nicole isn’t expected to reach wind speeds similar to Ian, but with wind gusts above 60 miles per hour expected, debris can turn into a projectile.

The easiest step to safety is staying indoors until the storm passes.

If your home or property has debris nearby, officials recommend taking before and after pictures as a precaution.

“Just document the condition of that pile. For the sake of FEMA reimbursements, these storms have to be documented separately one from the other,” said Desjarlais.

Just six weeks after Ian made landfall and ripped through Southwest Florida, officials acknowledge there is no perfect response to a natural disaster. They ask families to stay informed and prioritize safety.

“We remain vigilant, and we’ll continue to monitor this storm and make sure you continue to have all the information necessary to make good decisions and keep yourself safe,” said Desjarlais.