Marco Island under State of Emergency, issues mandatory evacuation

Marco Island has issued a mandatory evacuation order due to Ian. There is a predicted storm surge of 6 to 9 feet which means conditions warrant an evacuation. “Now is the time for residents to leave the Island,” Marco Island said in a news release. A state of emergency is also in place for Marco […]

Lee Health, SharePoint Health in Port Charlotte on lock down

Hospitals and healthcare systems from across Southwest Florida are preparing for Hurricane Ian. As of 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Lee Health hospitals and Lee Health Coconut Point are locked down. The entrances to the hospital have been locked for the safety of patients and staff. Lee Health is urging the public to shelter in place […]

Storm surge preps

The dangers of storm surge and how SWFL is preparing

A big concern for Southwest Florida from Hurricane Ian is storm surge. That means water from the gulf will be pushed toward the shore by the winds around the hurricane. Some people are thinking property first, filling up sandbags and hoping that will keep water out of their homes. Others are making plans to bolt. […]

Parked school buses. Photo via AP/Seth Perlman.

Southwest Florida school closures due to Hurricane Ian

The following Southwest Florida schools, colleges, and universities are closed due to Hurricane Ian. Florida SouthWestern State College – Tuesday through Thursday Florida Gulf Coast University – Tuesday through Friday Hodges University – Tuesday 10 a.m. through Thursday. The campus will reopen on Friday. Online classes continue as scheduled Keiser University – Tuesday and Wednesday […]

emergency management

Collier County has declared a State of Emergency

Collier County has declared a State of Emergency. Declaring an emergency allows the county to enforce emergency operations and act quickly if the course of the storm changes. This was declared early Sunday after the Board of County Commissioners held an emergency special meeting. Despite the declaration, there are no evacuation orders and the Bureau […]

Motorcyclist killed in crash on Immokalee Road in Orangetree

Florida Highway Patrol says a motorcyclist is dead after a crash on Immokalee Road in Collier County on Sunday morning. Troopers say an SUV and a motorcycle collided near the intersection of Immokalee Road and Oil Well Road just after 4 a.m. According to FHP, the SUV was traveling west on Immokalee Road when it […]

emergency management

Collier County Emergency Management held a press conference on storm preparedness

The Collier County Bureau of Emergency Management held a press conference on Saturday. WINK News spoke with Dan Summer who is the director of the Collier County Emergency Services and Emergency Management. Summers spoke at the press conference, he encouraged SWFL residents to get ready for the storm. “Don’t take anything for granted. We want […]

national merit scholarship

Naples student becomes national merit scholarship semifinalist

A Naples high school senior is a national merit scholarship semifinalist and the first ever for Village School of Naples. Joseph Weaver, 18, took the PSATs like thousands of other seniors. But, unlike thousands of others who took the standardized test, Joseph scored in the top one percent nationwide. “My PSAT score was a 1490,” […]

golden gate estates

Older homes face flooding concerns in Golden Gate Estates

People with older homes in Golden Gate Estates that are living in areas with newly constructed homes are blaming builders for their flooding concerns. Newer homes are being built higher, which means there is less of a chance they will flood, but it’s forcing all the water down to the lower homes. That’s exactly why […]