Important Information For All Counties
August 19, 2004
Lee County Utilities customers are no longer under a boil water notice, except for customers of Waterway Estates or if you are notified through the media of a line cut in your area requiring a boil water notice.
The City of Cape Coral is NO Longer under a boil water alert.
Sanibel & Captiva are under boil water alerts.
- Lee County Emergency Management are cautioning all users of portable generators to exercise due care in order to prevent carbon monoxide poisoning. When operating a generator, be sure the generator remains outside the home or business. DO NOT operate a portable generator within a confined space such as a garage or in a home. Carbon Monoxide poisoning can be lethal.
- Sanibel CityRESIDENTS ONLY may return to the island beginningWednesday (August 18, 2004). In order to access the island, Sanibel residents must present a city issued Hurricane Pass or photo identification with a physical Sanibel address. Residents who do not have any identification must go to the Bell Tower Holiday Inn, where the City has set up a temporary office in order to obtain a Hurricane Pass. Business owners and employees will not be permitted on the island at this time.
Captiva Island Residents will also be able to return to the island with proper ID. The residents will meet at Ding Darling Bird Sanctuary and be shuttled to their homes or near their homes. They should just expect to look around their property and then be shuttledout again.
- The Red Cross and Salvation Army are accepting donations of money and specific items to assist the victims of Hurricane Charley. The Salvation Army has requested donations of the following items:
Non-perishable staples; Sun screen; Insect repellant; Baby supplies (i.e., formula, diapers); Hygiene items. If you would like to donate money or any of the above items, please call the Salvation Army at 239-334-3745.
The Red Cross has requested donations of money and is also requesting that people volunteer to provide assistance. If you would like to donate money, or wish to volunteer your services, please telephone 239-278-3401 or 866-438-4636.
-- Lee County has two citizen information hotlines activated: 477-1900 and 888-231-5320.
* FEMA is putting out the following information about DISASTER ASSISTANCE:
DISASTER ASSISTANCE IS AVAILABLE NOW
If you sustained losses or damage in one of the counties declared a federal disaster area, you may be eligible for federal and state disaster aid.
Apply by phone, 1-800-621-FEMA, TDD 1-800-462-7585
When you apply for disaster assistance please have the following available:
Social Security Number (including spouse)
Address and zip code of the damaged property
Directions to the damaged property
Telephone numbers where you can be reached during the day
CALL TODAY, YOU MAY BE ELIGIBLE BUT YOU MUST APPLY
Help may include: grants for temporary housing, repairs and personal property for individuals and households, low interest loans to homeowners, renters and businss owners
Animals
Suncoast Humane Society, 6781 San Casa Drive, Englewood, is coordinating animal services with Charlotte County. Call 941-474-7884 for information. The society has been established as a staging area for Charlotte County for companion animals found by the public, or for those who need to shelter their animals. Tents will be set up in adjacent ballfields for overflow as needed. An additional staging area is at Florida and Carmelita streets in Punta Gorda, being operated by the Humane Society of the U.S. Suncoast adoptable animals are being relocated to Tampa. Disaster Animal Relief Teams (DART) are also on scene and searching in concert with Animal Control officers. For any animals left behind during evacuation, call Suncoast. All found animals in Sarasota County should be taken to Sarasota County Animal Services, 8451 Bee Ridge Road, 941-861-9500.
Debris disposal
DeSoto County has created 7 drop-off sites where citizens can get rid of all household garbage. The locations are:
Airport Road at the County recycling center
Little Willie's RV Park on Highway 17 North
Fort Ogden on Highway 17 South
Wal-Mart Supercenter in DeSoto
Farm Store on the corner of Highway 70 & 72
Womack Sanitation in Nocatee
Lake Suzy at the intersection of Kings Highway and Peace River Street.
In Sarasota County, garbage collection has returned to regular schedule, including recycling and yard debris. For customers who may have missed collection this week, crews will pick up garbage on the next scheduled date. The landfill is fully operational.
Florida Power & Light advises:
Call 1-800-468-8243 to report power outages.
·Stay away from downed wires; they may be energized.
·Use caution with generators. Use generators only in well-ventilated areas. Do not connect generators to the main switch gear. Connect appliances directly to the generator. Contact a local electrician for direction/connection. Generators can cause a backfeed on FPL wires, causing a hazard.
·Contact a local electrician for repair of your customer-owned equipment (meter connection / meter can / wire from the meter connection to meter can and into your house.)
·Crews are trimming trees away from power lines as needed to restore electrical power. Sarasota County residents are requested to bundle yard debris according to normal procedure and place it curbside.
Emergency Operations Center Public Information
Charlotte County 540-542-7245
Sarasota County 941-861-4636
State of Florida 1-800-342-3557
Health information
Water
There are two general methods to disinfect small quantities of water: 1) Boiling water * bring water to a rolling boil for three minutes. This is the most positive method by which water can be made bacterially safe to drink. 2) Chemical treatment * if applied with care, chlorine bleach will make most waters free of harmful or pathogenic organisms. Mix ¼ teaspoon of unscented household bleach per one gallon of water, or two drops per quart of water. Shake the mixture and allow it to stand for 30 minutes to let the chlorine work.
Hospitals
Law enforcement contact information
Sarasota County Sheriff's OfficeNon-Emergency 941-861-1201
Non-Emergency South County 316-1201
Animal Issues 941-861-9500
Sarasota Police Department Non-Emergency 941-861-1201
Front Desk 954-7025
North Port Police Department Non-Emergency 941-426-3111
Arcadia Police Department Non-Emergency 863-993-4660
DeSoto County Sheriff's Office Non-Emergency 863-993-4700
Charlotte Exchange Non-Emergency 941-743-6777
Charlotte County Sheriff's OfficeNon-Emergency 941-639-0013
District 2 941-627-8898
District 3 941-575-5370
District 4 941-627-5977
Red Cross Shelters
Charlotte County
Vineland Elementary467 Boundary Blvd Rotonda West
DeSoto County
DeSoto Middle School420 E. Gibson StreetArcadia
Sarasota County
Englewood United Methodist Church E. Dearborn St., Englewood
The North Port High School shelter was relocated to:San Pedro Catholic Church14380 Tamiami Trail North Port
Red Cross Services
Food, shelter and disaster welfare information services, as well as donation information
American Red Cross,
Southwest Florida Chapter2001
Cantu Court, Sarasota FL
941-379-9300 FAX 941-377-7830
Volunteer contact information
Medical volunteers including licensed nurses, physicians, mental health counselors and respiratory therapists should contact the Sarasota County Health Department or call (941) 861-4636 (INFO).
-- Lee County has two citizen information hotlines activated: 477-1900 and 888-231-5320.