The Sanibel City Council held an emergency meeting today to prepare for Hurricane Dennis. Sanibel Police Chief Bill Tomlinson
Says he’s hoping for the best but ready for action.

“Our biggest concern is whether the storm stays on its projected path. We hope it does and we hope that the worse we get is a little bit of wind and some rain. We’re preparing for that eventuality, but we’re also keeping in the back of our mind that the storm may change course and we’re prepared to take action if that occurs.”

Cranes are being moved away from the bridges on the Sanibel Causeway. If winds reach 45 miles and hour, the drawbridge will be closed to boat traffic and the bridge tender leaves. It’s not recommended people drive across the bridges once winds are sustained at that level. The city is stocking up on emergency supplies and making sure city employees are available to handle possible evacuation. Tomlinson says only people with special needs are being asked to think about leaving now.

“Our recommendation is that people who have special needs if they have family and friends that live inland that they move, just in case at the last moment the storm turns. So if people have a special need that they think they need to attend to our recommendation is that they take the opportunity now the opportunity is good to go inland further.”

Lee County Electrical Cooperative is moving some resources closer to the island so that they can respond quickly in the case of power outages.Hurricane passes are at the police station at Sanibel City Hall. Nine thousand residents have applied for hurricane passes this year – that compare to only 700 last year.