Hurricane Preparation

Hurricane Erin has been downgraded to a Category 3 hurricane. A tropical storm warning is in effect for the Turks and Caicos Islands as winds and heavy rains continue to lash the Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. Erin, the first Atlantic hurricane of 2025, reached Category 5 before weakening. The National Hurricane Center in Miami reported Sunday that Erin had maximum sustained winds of 125 mph. The storm's center is about 200 miles north-northwest of San Juan, Puerto Rico. While the wind speeds have decreased, Erin has grown in size. Forecasters say the storm will move well away from the U.S. East Coast, but rip tides are possible.

High winds and rising waters can be dangerous for any structure during a hurricane, like a construction site. A site under development can go from a safety hazard to a storm assisted combat zone.

Southwest Florida’s growing population and rapid development means there’s always a construction project happening. But due to our coastal location, we’re also one of the hurricane capitals of the world.

Lee County is encouraging residents to prepare their yards for potential storms while hurricane season is still young. Trimming trees and branches, thinning foliage and removing items that can be picked up by the wind are recommended by the county.

Hurricane Season is here. Experts are predicting an above-average storm season. Punta Gorda, still recovering from previous storms, is learning from past lessons.

One year after three hurricanes passed near and through Southwest Florida, Lee County is doing its parts to protect itself before another storm makes landfall.

The Lee County Public Safety Center, formerly the Lee Emergency Operations Center, opened Thursday following a ribbon cutting ceremony. The Public Safety Center features a second building attached to the existing Emergency Operations Center building.

Attendees to the 2025 General Session of the Governor’s Hurricane Conference held at the Palm Beach County Convention Center heard insights from emergency management leaders across Florida and beyond.

Noticeably absent from the 39th annual hurricane conference for emergency management leaders are federal workers

Southwest Floridians are getting time Tuesday to make final preparations for Hurricane Milton. But some people are frustrated by lack of gas, and by lack of knowledge over what to bring to an emergency shelter.