Emergency responders at risk from lithium-ion battery fires in electric vehicles

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigated three electric vehicle crashes resulting in postcrash fires and one non-crash fire involving an electric vehicle, all of which illustrate the risks to emergency responders posed by the vehicles’ high-voltage lithium-ion batteries. The NTSB also examined national and international standards established to maximize the safety of electric vehicles. […]

Naples Zoo

Naples Zoo cleans up after workers, animals rode out Ian in zoo hospital

The Naples Zoo remains closed on Thursday afternoon, with workers continuing to clean up after Hurricane Ian. But those who remained during the storm were able to make it through safely thanks to one of the zoo’s newer additions. According to staff, the Naples Zoo has never experienced a storm with the level of flooding […]

Health department: Avoid swimming at public beaches and private pools

The Florida Department of Health in Lee County (DOH-Lee) has issued a countywide precautionary swim advisory for all public beaches and swimming pools. DOH-Lee is advising the public not to enter the water due to the possible increase of waterborne illnesses. The water quality has been affected by Hurricane Ian and at this time, swimming […]

Airnb offering temporary housing to SWFL residents displaced by Hurricane Ian

Airbnb.org announced it has committed $5 million to offer free, temporary housing to people displaced by Hurricane Ian. These stays will be funded by Airbnb and other donors to Airbnb.org. To be eligible for an Airbnb.org stay as part of this hurricane response, individuals must be connected to Airbnb.org by one of its official referral […]

Naples continues post-Ian recovery

The City of Naples updated residents on the progress of its post-Hurricane Ian recovery in a press release. Naples confirmed one storm-related death: According to the medical examiner, a 73-year-old woman died of drowning and myocardial infarction. While the city’s boil water notice was lifted, water pressure fluctuations are expected due to higher-than-normal use. Officials […]

Refurnishing Your Home After Hurricane Ian

These local design professionals we know are offering furnishings that can be picked up in store or quickly delivered.  FORT MYERS:  City Mattress: (4 locations through Fort Myers) Discounted floor models are available throughout the store: chests, dressers, sleeper sofas, mattresses, bed frames and headboards. There is also a high inventory of items in stock currently at the […]

Large wooden dock covering water main on Isles of Capri

Isles of Capri in Collier County was quite a ways away from the eye of Hurricane Ian, but that does not mean it was spared from the wrath of the large storm as it made its way across Southwest Florida. On the island, debris lines the streets as people clean out their homes of furniture […]

Naples lifts boil water notice, begins collection of hurricane debris

The City of Naples lifted its precautionary boil water notice for all customers located within its drinking water service area, including all of Naples and a portion of Collier County. The drinking water service area extends south of Pine Ridge Road/Seagate Drive and west of Livingston Road. This comes after the city’s utilities department completed […]

How to sort debris from Hurricane Ian

Florida residents with storm-generated debris from Hurricane Ian should follow instructions from local officials about sorting materials and placing them on the curb for collection. Debris Separation Localities frequently ask residents to sort debris into various categories. Hazardous Waste. Examples: oil, batteries, pesticides, cleaning supplies, compressed gas, and paints. (Note: If you suspect that materials […]

Hurricane Ian intensifies mental health crisis in SWFL

Hurricane Ian’s destruction is intensifying the need for mental health services in Southwest Florida. NAMI Collier County is reporting that calls to the Warm Line Center skyrocketed during the storm and continue to go up. The agency, with help from programs across Southwest Florida, staffs the statewide Warm Line, a peer-run hotline that offers callers […]