BARTOW, Fla. – This weekly report was prepared by the Florida Department of Transportation to inform the public about upcoming road work in Southwest Florida

Pine Island Road Causeway and Bridge Permanent Repairs:

Construction project: As part of the Emergency Restoration of the Pine Island Road Causeway and Bridge, crews will be working in the project boundaries along CR 78 Pine Island Road from west of Little Pine Island Bridge (Bridge No. 120111) to West of Shoreview Drive.

– Phase 1 of construction on Little Pine Island Bridge has begun. The bridge is reduced to one lane as part of the Phase 1 construction plan. The bridge will remain one lane through the duration of Phase 1. Temporary signals are placed on both ends of the bridge and variable message signs are in place to alert drivers.

– The Little Pine Island bridge has been reduced to a single lane width of twelve feet through the duration of Phase 1.

– Motorists can expect occasional lane closures on the causeway for delivery/removal of materials, transfer of equipment as crews perform work on the south side.

– Motorists are reminded not to block driveways or entrances and to follow all posted signage throughout the construction zone.

– Since the start of construction with the Little Pine Island Bridge, boaters are asked to be aware of construction equipment and erosion control measures that are in place.

– Please be alerted to construction equipment in the construction zone. To maintain safety, motorists should find alternate parking areas.

– Pedestrians and bicyclists are not permitted within the construction zone.

– Please use caution and watch for workers and construction vehicles entering and exiting the roadway.

– Noise from construction equipment in the area is to be expected.

Please be patient and plan for additional travel time as it may be slower than usual in the area.

Travelers can visit www.FL511.com or dial “511” from their phone to learn about traffic conditions on major roadways across the state.

For additional information about FDOT, please visit its website at https://www.fdot.gov/

Pine Island News

BARTOW, Fla. – This weekly report was prepared by the Florida Department of Transportation to inform the public ...

OLMM holiday bazaar Saturday

Pine Island Community Church is hosting a special fundraiser concert featuring Jason Bonham and Rudy Cox this ...

Hurricane Milton made landfall near Siesta Key in Sarasota County as a Category 3 hurricane Wednesday night, bringing devastating storm surge, flooding and high winds to Lee County.

Numerous tornado warnings were issued in Florida leading up to Milton's arrival. On Wednesday alone, there were at least nine confirmed tornadoes, with a record-breaking 126 tornado warnings issued across the state. These tornadoes caused extensive damage, particularly in North Fort Myers and Cape Coral. The number of tornadoes was attributed to Milton's wind shear and instability, which created favorable conditions for tornado formation.

Storm surge was a major concern, with forecasts predicting 8-12 feet of inundation in surge-prone areas of Lee County. Storm surge warnings for Lee County were discontinued Thursday.

Widespread power outages occurred in Lee County, with nearly 375,000 homes and businesses without power on Thursday. As of 10 a.m. Friday, 77,000 Lee County Electric Cooperative customers and 68,000 Florida Power & Light customers remained without power. Crews from LCEC and FPL, including additional crews from other states, worked to restore power. County officials reminded residents using generators to follow safety guidelines provided on the county's website.

Despite the widespread damage and power outages, there were no reported deaths in Lee County as a result of Hurricane Milton. Officials attributed this to the successful evacuations and residents heeding warnings to take shelter. Only 111 individuals remain in county shelters as of 11:30 a.m. Friday. Dunbar High School and Island Coast High School shelters closed, while the Estero Recreation Center remained open Friday afternoon. The County said it anticipates the Estero Recreation Center will close its shelter operations this weekend.

Fuel availability remains a concern, primarily due to power outages and internet connectivity issues for payment systems. Coordination with the Florida Division of Emergency Management is ongoing, the County shared in a press conference at noon Friday. Fuel is being delivered to Lee County, and crews are working to address obstacles in distribution.

Debris collection will begin Monday at sunrise, the county announced Friday. Residents should prepare their debris piles following county guidelines: separate yard waste, construction debris and household items. The county advised residents to not use plastic bags, as FEMA regulations prevent the county from collecting bagged debris. The county asked residents in gated communities to ensure a completed right-of-entry form is on file to facilitate debris removal.

Residents must obtain permits for any repairs in flood-prone areas or if their property experienced water intrusion. The County advised residents to contact the county for assistance with permits, particularly for unincorporated areas.

All county parks, rec centers and beach sites remain closed, but some may reopen over the weekend.

How is Sanibel Island doing?

As of 11:30 a.m. Friday, the Sanibel Causeway reopened to residents and business owners. No passes are required for access, but a curfew is in place from 9 p.m. Friday to 6 a.m. Saturday. Authorities urged those who do not need to be on the island to refrain from traveling there to allow crews to continue recovery efforts.

Damage to a section of Sanibel-Captiva Road near the Blind Pass Bridge has reduced traffic to one lane in both directions. The Lee County Transportation Department is assisting with repairs.

The island's infrastructure has sustained significant damage, including sewer systems and electrical grids. Officials urged residents to be mindful of sewage usage to avoid further complications. The island is currently without electricity, and utilities are working diligently to restore power, though there is no timeline for restoration.

The City of Sanibel is conducting a damage assessment and reminded residents to obtain permits before making repairs to their properties. A debris removal plan is still in progress.

How is Captiva doing?

The Blind Pass Bridge is open to residents only.

The Mucky Duck restaurant was damaged.

How is Fort Myers Beach doing?

The Matanzas Pass Bridge reopened to residents and owners Thursday, and water service was restored, although a boil water notice is in effect.

How is Boca Grande doing?

Gasparilla Road is undergoing emergency repairs, and the county is working to restore access.

Lee County Public Safety and DOT are coordinating with the bridge authority and Charlotte County Sheriff’s Office to get the bridge open to residents soon, the county said in a 1:39 p.m. update.

How is North Fort Myers doing?

There was widespread tornado damage in North Fort Myers, especially affecting mobile home communities like Lake Fairways and Pine Lakes. The tornado ripped off roofs, flipped homes and left debris scattered throughout the streets.

How is Matlacha doing?

Tornadoes damaged Matlacha, causing the Hooked Island Grill building, which suffered damage during Hurricane Helene, to collapse further. The storm also brought down power lines and left power poles leaning across the area.

As Hurricane Milton neared the western edge of Florida, where it would make landfall was uncertain. It wiggled and wobbled north, northeast, and east, slowly moving northwards of Southwest Florida, but leaving area residents on the dirty side of the storm.

For those on the barrier islands, those thin slices of sand that used to be home largely to mangroves that would protect mainland Florida from the worst of the winds and waves, now popular tourist destinations and home to thousands, this was bad news.

But on Pine Island, one popular Facebook group serves as a lifeline to many.

Kevin and Jen Russell, the unofficial mayors of Pine Island, are also the administrators of the Facebook group Things to Do on Pine Island, a vital line of communication with residents during storms. Ian gave them a crash-course in how to vet info, keep in touch with sources, and disseminate information during a major hurricane.

Now? They're pros.

Jen, a former radio news director, runs the operation similar to a newsroom or an emergency operations center alongside Kevin.

"I think Ian really got us trained up for this kind of stuff: information in, information out, how to verify," Jen said. "With the network of people we have providing information, we really know what we're doing now."

They've sourced information from friends, neighbors, and residents they initially connected with through their Facebook group, in addition to more official sources, such as the Pine Island / Matlacha Fire District.

As the years have gone by, and the hurricanes gotten more devastating, Things to do on Pine Island has become a go-to site for getting and sharing information.

'Fireflies' dance on electrical wires during Milton

By early Thursday, it was clear Pine Island and Matlacha did not emerge from Milton unscathed.

Forecasters had predicted Lee County would see 8-12 feet of storm surge as Hurricane Milton headed eastward, and nowhere is storm surge more precarious than on Florida’s barrier islands.

On Pine Island and Matlacha, Florida's largest barrier island, the surge hit worst in the early hours of Thursday morning, when the tide was at its peak. The waters flooded over roads, lifted boats from their moorings and even knocked down a three-story building: a restaurant initially damaged during Ian.

Residents also reported seeing what Kevin referred to as “fireflies” on the power lines and transformers, and flashes arcing off the same. The Russells shared a video one of their sources sent them of what looked like a transformer, red- and white-hot sparks dancing all over it.

Those pops of light and color were not necessarily transformers, she said.

"It could be a transformer or a fuse, a protective device," said LCEC Public Relations Manager Karen Ryan. "There could be sediment or salt contamination on the power lines. That will cause it to arc and what happens is whatever is on the lines, it will burn off. When it arcs like that, it looks like sparklers, a bright light, popping noises."

Also, she said, tree branches touching the lines can cause an arc.

Milton damages include fires, collapsed buildings

At least one fire took place overnight, said Jen, who had spoken with the Matlacha / Pine Island Fire District, though it is not clear what sparked it.

Ryan could not say for certain it wasn't an LCEC powerline, but, she said, she was doubtful.

"When a line is de-energized, it’s probably not going to create a fire because there’s no electricity in it," Ryan said.

Most of Pine Island lost power during the storm, according to electrical company LCEC. Their power outage map showed that 99% of the island was sans power before midnight Wednesday.

"That's when the dirty side of the storm was hitting us," Ryan said.

The district posted photos of a large fire, with flames reaching 20 feet high or more, to its Facebook page. According to Russell, the fire department said it took place around 2 a.m. Thursday. There were no reported injuries, she said.

There were downed power lines on Stringfellow Road, as well.

The fire district could not be reached for comment.

“Crews made access to the island a few hours ago and are responding to several calls including structure fires,” the district wrote on its Facebook post. “Please stay off the road.”

Too, the old Hooked Island Grill building collapsed further during Milton, blocking Pine Island Road overnight. While the road is now clear, the fire department has asked that only islanders return, in order to keep the roads clear for emergency responders as needed, Russell said.

The Hooked Island Grill on Matlacha was initially severely damaged in Hurricane Ian. The local chain, with outlets in Fort Myers and Cape Coral, had planned to repair the building and return.

A Facebook group turned lifeline

Through it all, reports came in to the Russells, who, in turn, verified the info and posted what was necessary to their Facebook group. They even set up a walkie-talkie app they used during Ian, too, to communicate with residents when cell service went down.

“People have no idea what is happening,” said Jen. So they turn to each other for answers.

So often, sharing information on the Things to do on Pine Island Facebook group during massive storms like Milton leads to an answer to questions, a solution to their problems.

Kate Cimini is the Florida Investigative Reporter for the USA TODAY-Network Florida, based at The News-Press and The Naples Daily News. Contact her at 239-207-9369 or kcimini@news-press.com.

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LEE COUNTY, Fla. —

DUE TO THE IMMINENT IMPACT OF HURRICANE MILTON, SANDBAG LOCATIONS ARE CLOSED.

THIS ARTICLE IS NO LONGER BEING UPDATED.

Southwest Florida faces the threat of flooding in low-lying and coastal areas from Hurricane Milton in the next several days.

Below is a list of locations with sand for sandbags to help protect your home. Supply is going quickly, and deliveries are being receved. Check with the local fire station or municipality in advance.

Also, it's important to ensure your vehicle can safely handle the weight of the sandbags you're taking.

RELATED: NBC2 First Alert Hurricane Guide | Latest weather information

Lee County

Matlacha

Matlacha/Pine Island Fire Control District

More sand just arrived at Station 1. We have NO sandbags left at this time. We are getting more and anticipate having them by noon today! Please follow us on Facebook for more information.

South Fort Myers

South Trail Fire officials said they do NOT have sand or sandbags. One final truckload of sand was dumped at an empty lot located at Independence Circle and Banner Drive. According to South Trail Fire, no other sand will be delivered.

Town Hall2731 Oak Street, Fort Myers Beach

San Carlos Park

San Carlos Park Fire and Rescue District

16900 Oriole Road

Sanibel

Sanibel Fire and Rescue District

2401 Library Way.

Iona McGregor Fire District

Collier County

Sand will be available at 7 a.m. Tuesday in Immokalee. Officials said once sand is gone, all sand operations are completed. Here are the locations:

Ten tons of sand will be available. Residents are encouraged to bring bags due to supplies being limited.

The following locations are officially out of sand and have ended operations:

This content is imported from Facebook. You may be able to find the same content in another format, or you may be able to find more information, at their web site.

Charlotte County

3130 Cooper St, Punta Gorda

Ann & Chuck Dever Regional Park

6961 San Casa Dr., Englewood

Franz Ross Park

19333 Quesada Ave., Port Charlotte

Carmalita Park

2605 Carmalita St., Punta Gorda

Hendry County

Sandbagging will be available beginning at 3 p.m. until dark on Sunday, October 6.

Sandbags will be available at the following locations:

Sandbags will be available at both locations daily from 9am - 5pm beginning Monday, October 7.

There will not be anyone available to help fill the sandbags, however there are sand funnels that will assist in making the job easier. Residents must bring their own shovel.

Central County Water Control District (CCWCD) will have sandbagging available at the Montura Clubhouse - 255 N. Hacienda St, Clewiston, FL 33440 beginning Monday, October 7.

Residents should contact CCWCD for information on availability and times.

DOWNLOAD the free NBC2 News app for your latest news and weather alerts.

Forecasters have predicted Lee County would see 8-12 feet of storm surge as Hurricane Milton headed eastward. True to form, the water is rising. And nowhere is that more precarious than on Florida’s barrier islands.

On Pine Island, a barrier island largely inhabited by blue-collar residents, many of them elderly, the storm surge has already reached levels higher than Hurricane Helene.

Helene slapped at the area just two weeks earlier on its way to devastate the Big Bend area and decimating more rural, mountainous parts of North Carolina. In Lee County, estimates put Helene’s storm surge at two to four feet high.

But Kevin and Jen Russell, the unofficial mayors of Pine Island and the administrators of popular Facebook group Things to do on Pine Island, which is a vital line of communication with residents during storms, have reports coming in from residents that the water is already at least a foot and a half higher than it was during Helene.

And it’s still rising.

“This isn’t even on the bay,” said Jen. “This is inland, off a canal. The water is coming over the road and into another neighborhood.”

Residents have also reported seeing what Kevin referred to as “fireflies” on the power lines and transformers, and flashes arcing off the same. The Russells shared a video, shot just minutes ago, of a transformer, red- and white-hot sparks dancing all over it.

“We all know water and electricity don’t mix,” Kevin said. “There’s (rain) hitting but there’s really no wind, so why are power poles going out and the transformers blowing up?”

Most of Pine Island has lost power, according to electrical company LCEC. Data shows more than 136,000 are without power in Lee County.

And LCEC's storm power outage map shows that 99% of Pine Island is out of power as of 11 p.m. Wednesday.

“People have no idea what is happening,” said Jen, speaking of the sparks showing up on powerlines and transformers.

They’re turning to each other for answers. So often, sharing information on the Things to do on Pine Island Facebook group during massive storms like Milton leads to an answer to questions, a solution to their problems. Right now, though, the “fireflies” are a mystery — and a concern.

The Russells plan to keep a close eye on Pine Island through the rest of the night, and the storm. Soon, the wind direction is going to change. What that means for Pine Islanders, they don’t know.

Kate Cimini is the Florida Investigative Reporter for the USA TODAY-Network Florida, based at The News-Press and The Naples Daily News. Contact her at 239-207-9369 or kcimini@news-press.com.