Affordable housing worsens after Ian

For months in east Naples, people have been struggling to find somewhere to live that’s not going to break the bank. The devastation left by Hurricane Ian makes it nearly impossible now. Wet, soggy piles of destruction line the streets of the neighborhoods off Shadowlawn Drive in east Naples. Alex Montoya’s home is unlivable, many […]

Damage costs in Collier County from Hurricane Ian

Collier County has given initial estimates for the impact of Hurricane Ian, with billions of dollars in losses and thousands of homes damaged. WINK News discovered Hurricane Ian created approximately $2.2 billion in damages across Collier County, and most of that damage was in homes that were ripped apart. Ian also left 7,000 homes that need […]

Swim advisories not stopping beachgoers in Collier County

The Florida Department of Health warns everyone to stay out of the water. In Collier County, there is a swim advisory for all of its beaches because of bacteria in the water. Walking along the beach isn’t safe either as debris covers the sand. Blake Kriz was surfing on Wednesday. “We never get surf in […]

In East Naples, a 10-hour wait for rescue after Ian

An East Naples couple is feeling happy to be alive after escaping into their attic to avoid 3-feet of storm surge in their Collier County house during hurricane Ian. They were in the attic for 10 hours with their bunny and cat before finally being rescued on a swamp buggy. The two left their home […]

Florida CFO Patronis warning hurricane victims about unlicensed and unscrupulous contractors

We all know we’re supposed to read every document before we sign it, and Florida’s Chief Financial Officer Jimmy Patronis warns that unlicensed or unscrupulous contractors are trying to get you into a contract with them. You could unintentionally be signing away the money from your insurance company without knowing it. Patronis says more than […]

Fire breaks out at Naples condo tower

Some units at Vistas in Naples had to be evacuated on Wednesday after a fire broke out. Units were called to the condos at 4651 Gulf Shore Blvd N. No injuries were reported. Firefighters from Naples Fire Rescue and North Collier Fire arrived to find smoke in the area. Collier County EMS was also at […]

City of Naples continues to struggle with flooding after Hurricane Ian

With cleanup and recovery from Hurricane Ian in full force, The City of Naples is dealing with more flooding. The city’s stormwater system is having trouble keeping up with rainwater, so now there are talks to fix the issue, but could be a long process. There’s a lot of work to be done. After Ian’s […]

Whose responsibility is it to get boats back where they belong after Hurricane Ian?

All of the hurricane storm surges pushed a lot of boats to places they previously were not. So, Florida Fish and Wildlife are working to find out who owns which boats and get them back to their proper place. Interestingly enough, if a boat is pushed into the Caloosahatchee it would be FWC’s responsibility. However, […]

Naples boy gives birthday money to families impacted by Hurricane Ian

When Hurricane Ian hit weeks before one Naples boy’s 12th birthday party, he decided to ensure that people in need got an even bigger gift than he did. Easton Hicks’ parents debated whether or not to have a party, but they decided their boys needed something to enjoy, so they went to Sky Zone Trampoline […]

Hurricane shelters provide services to the displaced, but some have complaints

Shelters are a place to eat, sleep and find emotional support for those who lost their homes after Hurricane Ian. The Red Cross provides hurricane shelters in Lee and Collier counties. WINK News reporter Emma Heaton spoke to people staying at the Estero shelter, run by the Red Cross, and a nurse working there. The […]