Milton strengthens to Category 5, winds at 165 mphSanibel evacuates as flooding and storm surge threaten island
SANIBEL Sanibel evacuates as flooding and storm surge threaten island Sanibel is already dealing with flooding from the heavy rain we’ve seen over the past few days, and Milton is expected to bring 10 feet of storm surge to the island.
ENGLEWOOD Manasota Key residents scramble ahead of Hurricane Milton Parts of Manasota Key are already unrecognizable from the damage Helene caused, and now, with Milton on the way, people are heartbroken and wondering what the future holds.
FORT MYERS SHORES ‘We’re getting the heck out of here’ 416,000 in mandatory evacuation zone in Lee Co. Around 416,000 residents in Lee County are under a mandatory evacuation order that went into effect Monday at noon because of Hurricane Milton.
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.
SANIBEL Sanibel evacuates as flooding and storm surge threaten island Sanibel is already dealing with flooding from the heavy rain we’ve seen over the past few days, and Milton is expected to bring 10 feet of storm surge to the island.
ENGLEWOOD Manasota Key residents scramble ahead of Hurricane Milton Parts of Manasota Key are already unrecognizable from the damage Helene caused, and now, with Milton on the way, people are heartbroken and wondering what the future holds.
FORT MYERS SHORES ‘We’re getting the heck out of here’ 416,000 in mandatory evacuation zone in Lee Co. Around 416,000 residents in Lee County are under a mandatory evacuation order that went into effect Monday at noon because of Hurricane Milton.
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.
Sanibel is already dealing with flooding from the heavy rain we’ve seen over the past few days, and Milton is expected to bring 10 feet of storm surge to the island. County leaders have advised people living on the Sanibel to leave. People are feeling nervous, thinking to themselves, “Not again,” but they told WINK News reporter Asha Patel they’re glad they got more than a day’s notice. During Ian, they had to just pick up and leave—but hearing the words evacuation doesn’t make anyone feel too good. “We need people to be off the island at 10 pm tomorrow Tuesday,” said Sanibel Public Information Officer Eric Jackson. Many people did just that on Monday afternoon, as it was bumper-to-bumper traffic with people getting off the island. “I am evacuating, I am going to Miami. I am getting out of that cone. We had that storm a few weeks ago, and the whole island got flooded,” said Sanibel resident Dean Drobnyk. People on Sanibel told us they are taking no chances, and the city isn’t taking any chances either. City leaders said to expect flooding and up to 10 feet of storm surge. On Blind Pass Beach, we saw mounds of sand in an attempt to stop the impending storm’s effects. By the causeway, the Florida Department of Transportation said they’re making sure the causeway stays safe and operational after the storm passes, so they added additional stone near the toll booth. Mike Ferrerio said he’s making sure he got everything his wife asked him to before he leaves the island Tuesday morning, “I’m well packed and well strapped–my wife’s clothes; she’s not in town, and she said to bring that home I said ‘don’t worry honey ill bring that home.'” The city wants people to evacuate by 10 p.m. Tuesday, so you still do have some time left, but city officials are encouraging people to go as soon as they can to avoid backups.