Safety message from city of fort myers emergency manager, kristy mathews

www.cityftmyers.com

While Tropical Depression 9 is forecasted to turn into Tropical Storm Hermine and later a hurricane in the coming days. The City of Fort Myers DOES NOT expect storm/rain conditions until late Sunday, September 25th, with rain expected on Monday.

Saturday, September 24th is expected to be sunshine and flip flops!

We are watching the trajectory and will continue to provide updates through all city-owned platform.

In the interim, here are some protective measures you can take now:

• Make a Plan- Every household should have a disaster plan specific to the needs of their household. Every individual in the household should assist in developing the emergency plan and understand the plan.
• Build a Kit - https://www.leegov.com/publicsafety/emergencymanagement/prepare/disabilities/emergency-supply-kit
• Know Your Zone, Know Your Home -It's important for residents to know if they live in an evacuation zone, a low-lying, flood-prone area, a mobile home or an unsafe structure during hurricane season. It is also very important for residents to know their home and its ability to withstand strong winds and heavy rain. This information will help residents better understand orders from local officials during a storm.
• Keep Gas Tanks Half Full - Residents should keep their vehicle's gas tanks at least half full during hurricane season to ensure they have enough fuel to evacuate as soon as possible without worrying about long lines at gas stations and to avoid gas shortages prior to a storm. For Floridians with electric vehicles, it's recommended that the battery be maintained between 50% - 80% capacity at all times, depending.
• Documentation - Know where your insurance policy is and take photos of the interior and exterior of your home.
• Sandbags: The City of Fort Myers and Lee County in general are not supporting sandbag operations.

Overview/Recent Changes:

Tropical Depression Nine:

• At 5:00 AM Friday, Invest 98L strengthened into Tropical Depression Nine. The system is located 615 miles east-southeast of Kingston, Jamaica and moving west-northwestward at 13 mph.

• A turn more westward is forecast over the next day or so followed by a turn back to the west-northwestward and northwest by this weekend.

• Maximum sustained winds are near 35 mph, with higher gusts. Only slow intensification is forecast over the next day or so, followed by a more significant intensification over the weekend and early next week.

Major Hurricane Fiona:

• At 8:00 AM Friday, Fiona is located about 125 miles north of Bermuda and moving north-northeastward at 25 mph.

• A north-northeastward or northeastward motion with an additional increase in forward speed is expected today.

• Some reduction in forward speed with a turn toward the north is forecast tonight through Sunday.

• Some slight weakening is forecast today, however Fiona is forecast to be a large and powerful post-tropical cyclone with hurricane-force winds when it approaches and moves over Nova Scotia.

Tropical Storm Gaston:

• At 8:00 AM Friday, Gaston is located about 135 miles north-northwest of the central Azores and moving east-southeastward at 7 mph.

• A slower southeastward motion is forecast today followed by a southward, and then southwestward motion tonight and early Saturday.

• Gradual weakening is expected over the next few days.

Invest 90L:

• Shower and thunderstorm activity associated with an area of low pressure off the west coast of Africa is showing increased signs of organization.

• Environmental conditions are forecast to be generally conducive for further development during the next day or so, and a tropical depression is likely to form while the system moves northward at about 10 mph.

Invest 99L:

• A broad area of low pressure located several hundred miles west-southwest of Cabo Verde Islands continues to produce some disorganized shower and thunderstorm activity.

• Despite marginal environmental conditions, some slow development of this system is possible over the next several days while it drifts northwestward or northward over the central tropical Atlantic.

Florida Outlook:

• Fiona and Gaston pose no direct threat to Florida and there are no wind or surge watches in effect for Florida.

• However, ocean swells and persistent easterly flow from Hurricane Fiona will continue dangerous beach and boating conditions along Florida's East Coast into the weekend.

• Tropical Depression Nine poses no direct threat to Florida over the next 3 days. Outer rain bands from the system could make their way to southern Florida throughout the day Monday, with tropical storm-force winds beginning along the Florida Keys and the southern Florida Peninsula as early asMonday afternoon and evening. There are no wind or surge watches in effect for Florida at this time.

• The next names on the list are Hermine (her-MEEN) and Ian.

Public link

Please use the above public link if you want to share this noodl on another website.