Preparing your home
Waiting until Southwest Florida is within the forecast’s “cone of concern” is risky. Supplies may be limited, and lines may be long. Early preparation is the best way to guarantee your home and family will be prepared for the next storm or hurricane.
• Cordless drill and drill bits. Hanging hurricane shutters with a screwdriver or hand tools is hard work and time consuming. Use a cordless drill to speed up the process. Remember to recharge batteries so your drill is ready to remove shutters once the storm passes.
• Wingnuts. Newer homes typically have hurricane shutter fasteners built into the structure. However, it’s easy to misplace the wingnuts used to lock shutters into place.
• Saw. Chainsaws made quick work of post-storm landscaping debris. Those not comfortable with such a powerful tool, though, can use a handsaw to cut fallen limbs into manageable pieces and a rake to corral twigs and leaves.
• Generator. Most generators provide enough power for a portable A/C unit, refrigerator, and light, allowing a family to feel comfortable inside of a room when the power is out.
• Fuel. Purchase and fill multiple 5-gallon gas cans. You’ll need an ample supply of fuel to power a generator. If you have a gas grill, make sure the propane tank is full. Download the GasBuddy app to look for gas stations with fuel.
• Tarps. Roofs are built to withstand nature’s fury, but the combination of wind and rain during hurricanes can expose vulnerable areas of a roof structure. Duct tape and heavy items like bricks or tiles can keep tarps in place until a roofer arrives.
• Cleaning supplies. Wind-driven rain can push water through doors and windows that are not sealed and air-tight. Towels or paper towels, cleaning solutions, and a mop can expedite cleanup.
Preparing your family
• Grill. Use a gas or charcoal grill to cook meat and vegetables before they spoil. Make sure you have enough propane or charcoal in reserve.
• Food. Pack food with substance, like beef jerky, tuna, and granola bars, into sealable plastic containers. Make sure you have access to a traditional hand-cranked can opener. Restaurants and grocery stores might have limited service after a storm.
• Water. Buy a case or two of bottled water, along with gallon jugs. Fill up empty water bottles and containers with potable water.
• Cooler. Freezers and refrigerators will keep food cold only for a few hours after the power goes out. Invest in a premium brand of cooler, like Yeti, to protect your food supply.
• Light source. Lanterns can light up a room, while flashlights and candles offer enough light to see your way around the house. Have a wide selection of each.
• Power bank. Portable cell phone chargers are critical to keep you connected when the power fails. High-capacity chargers can power multiple devices at once.
• Battery-operated fan. Once the power fails, room temperatures heat quickly with no A/C. A portable fan keeps the breeze blowing and the body cool.
• Pet food. Keep at least a seven-day food supply for pets, and enough treats and toys to occupy and stave off boredom. Fallen debris and standing water might interrupt their normal exercise routine.
• Entertainment for kids (of all ages!) Gather toys and games that don’t require electricity.
• Back up Computer to cloud. Be prepared to evacuate with your desk top hard drive or other devices. Put insurance policies and other important documents in a waterproof/fireproof container.
For more information, visit www.sunshineace.com.
It’s bad enough if mildly inclement weather keeps kids inside, but the effect is magnified when the weather turns nasty and treacherous, something that Floridians may witness during hurricane season. How can you keep your children occupied and calm if you find yourself riding one out? Experts and some seasoned parents weigh in with calming advice for your family.
Download a disaster supply kit checklist
Evacuation
Link to find your evacuation zone and how far you should go.
Emergency Shelters
The Florida Division of Emergency Management has partnered with Uber to provide Floridians free rides to shelters in counties under a state of emergency for Helene. Get a ride: Open the Uber app Tap Account on the bottom right & tap Wallet, add promo code MILTONRELIEF for up to $35 each way, to & from a state-approved shelter
Collier County
General Population Shelters– Opening 4:00 p.m. Tuesday, October 8, 2025
Only the Special Needs Shelter and the middle schools listed are pet-friendly. Owners are responsible for the care of their pets. Please bring appropriate supplies. The pets must remain crated. The pets will not be permitted in the shelter area but will be housed in another location in the school.
- Gulf Coast H.S. 7878 Shark Way
- Immokalee H.S. 701 Immokalee Drive
- Golden Gate H.S. 2925 Titan Way
- Corkscrew M.S. (Pet-Friendly) 1165 Oil Well Road
- Cypress Palm M.S. (Pet-Friendly) 4255 18th Ave N.E.
- Golden Gate M.S. (Pet-Friendly) 2701 48th Terrace S.W.
- Immokalee M.S. (Pet-Friendly) 401 9th Street
- Oakridge M.S. (Pet-Friendly) 14975 Collier Blvd
Special Needs Shelter – Opening time 2:00 p.m. Tuesday, October 8
Special Needs Shelter for electrically dependent or bedridden pre-registered clients who require nursing care. A family member or caregiver is asked to accompany the special needs person to the shelter.
Palmetto Ridge H.S. – Registered Special Needs Clients and their caregiver. (Pet-Friendly) 1655 Victory Lane.
Lee County
- Island Coast High School – 2125 DeNavarra Pkwy, Cape Coral Estero Recreation Center – 9200 Corkscrew Palms Blvd, Estero
- Dunbar High School – 30 Edison Ave, Fort Myers
- Hertz Arena – 11000 Everblades Parkway, Estero
- Gateway Highschool – 13820 Griffin Dr, Fort Myers
- Oak Hammock Middle School – 5321 Tice St, Fort Myers
- Tortuga Elementary – 1711 Gunnery Rd. N, Lehigh Acre
- Treeline Elementary – 10900 Treeline Ave, Fort Myers
- Varsity Lakes Middle School – 801 Gunnery Rd. N, Lehigh Acres
- Alico Arena (FGCU) – 12181 FGCU Lake Pkwy E, Fort Myers
- Harns Marsh Elementary – 1800 Unice Ave, Lehigh Acres
- Harns Marsh Middle – 1820 Unice Ave, Lehigh Acres
- East Lee County High School – 715 Thomas Sherwin Ave, Lehigh Acres
USEFUL RESOURCES
Sign up for AlertLee, Lee County’s emergency mass notification system
Download the Everbridge Public Safety app