Downtown Fort Myers businesses prepare for Hurricane MiltonMilton strengthens to Category 5, winds at 180 mph
FORT MYERS Downtown Fort Myers businesses prepare for Hurricane Milton Business owners in downtown Fort Myers are getting their businesses ready for whatever Hurricane Milton will bring.
CAPE CORAL City of Cape Coral isn’t offering sandbags, but one Cape Coral local is One Cape Coral resident saw a need during Hurricane Milton and decided to do something about it.
FORT MYERS BEACH Fort Myers Beach braces for Hurricane Milton after Helene WINK News’ team coverage brings us to Fort Myers Beach, an area prone to storm surge and still recovering from Helene.
CAPE CORAL City of Cape Coral holds press conference; here are 10 takeaways Cape Coral held a press conference Monday morning to discuss Hurricane Milton. Cape Coral Mayor John Gunter says storm surge is the biggest threat of Hurricane Milton to the city. His message to his neighbors Monday morning is to make a plan and execute it now.
NORTH FORT MYERS Charlotte County man prepares what he can ahead of Milton Hurricane Helene ravaged many homes in Charlotte County, and now locals are getting ready for a potentially stronger Hurricane Milton.
SWFL Florida evacuation orders ahead of Milton There are now mandatory evacuation orders for some barrier islands in Southwest Florida ahead of Hurricane Milton.
What’s open and closed as Hurricane Milton looms As Hurricane Milton strengthens in the Gulf of Mexico, services and businesses in Southwest Florida are adjusting their hours or closing temporarily.
Punta Gorda residents, businesses brace for Hurricane Milton With Hurricane Milton expected to make landfall somewhere along Florida’s Gulf Coast on Oct. 9, some Punta Gorda hotels stopped taking reservations, flight disruptions are expected and residents and business owners spent Oct. 7 prepping.
Lee County coastal businesses evacuate merchandise as Hurricane Milton approaches As Hurricane Milton began making its way across the Gulf of Mexico to a precise destination yet unknown on Florida’s Gulf Coast, Lee County business owners on Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel Island and other coastal areas weren’t waiting around to find out.
WINK NEWS List of shelters in SWFL ahead of Milton As Hurricane Milton approaches, shelters are opening across Southwest Florida to provide safety and refuge for residents.
Know your zone: Evacuation zones ahead of Milton As Hurricane Milton approaches, get familiar with your evacuation zone.
SWFL schools affected due to Milton Southwest Florida schools are responding ahead of Hurricane Milton’s arrival.
NAPLES Collier County Board of Commissioners provide updates for Milton Collier County Board of County Commissioners is holding a meeting for Hurricane Milton.
FORT MYERS BEACH Bus routes onto Fort Myers Beach to stop, water to be cut off ahead of Milton The Lee County government announced that LeeTran will stop running routes onto Fort Myers Beach and cut off water to the island as Hurricane Milton approaches.
FORT MYERS Downtown Fort Myers businesses prepare for Hurricane Milton Business owners in downtown Fort Myers are getting their businesses ready for whatever Hurricane Milton will bring.
CAPE CORAL City of Cape Coral isn’t offering sandbags, but one Cape Coral local is One Cape Coral resident saw a need during Hurricane Milton and decided to do something about it.
FORT MYERS BEACH Fort Myers Beach braces for Hurricane Milton after Helene WINK News’ team coverage brings us to Fort Myers Beach, an area prone to storm surge and still recovering from Helene.
CAPE CORAL City of Cape Coral holds press conference; here are 10 takeaways Cape Coral held a press conference Monday morning to discuss Hurricane Milton. Cape Coral Mayor John Gunter says storm surge is the biggest threat of Hurricane Milton to the city. His message to his neighbors Monday morning is to make a plan and execute it now.
NORTH FORT MYERS Charlotte County man prepares what he can ahead of Milton Hurricane Helene ravaged many homes in Charlotte County, and now locals are getting ready for a potentially stronger Hurricane Milton.
SWFL Florida evacuation orders ahead of Milton There are now mandatory evacuation orders for some barrier islands in Southwest Florida ahead of Hurricane Milton.
What’s open and closed as Hurricane Milton looms As Hurricane Milton strengthens in the Gulf of Mexico, services and businesses in Southwest Florida are adjusting their hours or closing temporarily.
Punta Gorda residents, businesses brace for Hurricane Milton With Hurricane Milton expected to make landfall somewhere along Florida’s Gulf Coast on Oct. 9, some Punta Gorda hotels stopped taking reservations, flight disruptions are expected and residents and business owners spent Oct. 7 prepping.
Lee County coastal businesses evacuate merchandise as Hurricane Milton approaches As Hurricane Milton began making its way across the Gulf of Mexico to a precise destination yet unknown on Florida’s Gulf Coast, Lee County business owners on Fort Myers Beach, Sanibel Island and other coastal areas weren’t waiting around to find out.
WINK NEWS List of shelters in SWFL ahead of Milton As Hurricane Milton approaches, shelters are opening across Southwest Florida to provide safety and refuge for residents.
Know your zone: Evacuation zones ahead of Milton As Hurricane Milton approaches, get familiar with your evacuation zone.
SWFL schools affected due to Milton Southwest Florida schools are responding ahead of Hurricane Milton’s arrival.
NAPLES Collier County Board of Commissioners provide updates for Milton Collier County Board of County Commissioners is holding a meeting for Hurricane Milton.
FORT MYERS BEACH Bus routes onto Fort Myers Beach to stop, water to be cut off ahead of Milton The Lee County government announced that LeeTran will stop running routes onto Fort Myers Beach and cut off water to the island as Hurricane Milton approaches.
WINK News’ team coverage brings us to Fort Myers Beach, an area prone to storm surge and still recovering from Hurricane Helene. WINK News reporter Annalise Iraola went to the Town of Fort Myers Beach to figure out what the main things people on the island are focused on. Some people are focused on preparing their homes—loading and piling sandbags, while others we spoke with said there’s no point. One concern is the piles of debris still left over from Helene. WINK caught up with Ramona Kaiser, the wife of Frank Kaiser, who said after dealing with 2.5 feet of storm surge from Helene, they’re done dealing with these storms. We spoke with Frank Kaiser after Helene came through, and on Monday, he was busy ripping out drywall while preparing for yet another storm. His wife spoke for both of them, saying, “Same old, same old, it’s getting pretty, really hard. I mean, I don’t know what to do anymore. We prepared. We prepared. That didn’t work.” They sandbagged and tried to prepare, but 2.5 feet of storm surge damaged their Fort Myers Beach home. Now, staring Hurricane Milton down as it strengthens in the Gulf, they said there’s no point in the sandbags for them. “I’m ready to cry, and I haven’t cried in, I don’t know how long, so it’s just like, you know, you don’t even know what to do anymore,” said Ramona. But she knows one thing for certain: she’s heeding the evacuation order. “This time, the very first time in the 30 years that I lived here, I will actually leave the island to stay with some friends inland. And I just wished it was over already, no matter what it does, so we can come back and do something,” she explained, “and, hey, if anybody wants to buy a waterfront home, it’s for sale.” She plans to leave the island, but as for Frank, he’s still undecided. They both know they can’t keep living like this. “It just feels like you can’t go forward with your life. You know, you do one step forward and two steps back and start all over, so I have been researching good places to live. I haven’t found one yet,” she said. So many people are worried and stressed but keep a brave composure. We spoke with a woman just before she left the island who said she’s so worried for her home, her community and also by this debris that could become hazardous in a surge.