Sanibel officials: …’it is not time to try to stand against the storm surge that is coming’

The city of Sanibel has ordered a mandatory evacuation in advance of Hurricane Milton, which has strengthened into a Category 5 storm.

A category 5 hurricane which entails winds of 157 mph or higher.

At 9:45 a.m. today, Oct. 7, city officials held a news conference to provide storm information and updates. The mandatory evacuation will go into effect on Oct. 8 beginning at 10 p.m. Afterward, a 24-hour curfew will be enacted for the island, and the curfew will remain in place until further notice.

"Hurricane Milton is rapidly intensifying. It is headed our way. We will have some wind, we will have storm surge," Mayor Richard Johnson said. "We are going to formally declare a mandatory evacuation of the city of Sanibel."

The evacuation will be issued through a mayoral proclamation.

"Let me emphasize how important it is for each and every one of us to make sure that we have our plans in place and we activate those plans. It is not time to be a hero, it is not time to try to stand against the storm surge that is coming," he said. "Get yourself prepared, get everything you can out of the way of the water, especially yourself, your families and your pets."

"I cannot emphasize enough how important this is because with this storm surge and with the wind that's coming, we will not be a position to render aid once that happens," Johnson added.

City Manager Dana Souza provided an update from the National Hurricane Center.

"Hurricane Milton is now a major hurricane with winds of 120 mph, which is Category 3, and is expected to increase to a Category 4 hurricane, which packs winds of 130-156 mph," he said. "It is likely that it will maintain that intensity or near that intensity as it makes its landfall somewhere between Sanibel and Tampa."

Souza pointed out that the projected path puts the island on the dangerous side of the storm.

"Current National Hurricane Center predictions show that Sanibel could experience storm surge ranging between 6 feet and 10 feet. That's what I mean by the dangerous side of the storm," he said. "With the storm passing to our west, we are more subject to the storm surge that we experienced from Hurricane Ian, Tropical Storm Debby and Hurricane Helene."

"This is expected to make a major impact," Souza added.

The island received 1.74 inches of rain on Oct. 6.

"Which negates the draw down of water that we're accomplishing through our weir system by opening our weir system during low tide cycles, so everyone should anticipate flooding throughout the island," he said. "With the combination of the rains that we've had, the storm surge that's expected and the wind-driven waves, we can expect this island to be flooded."

Rainfall is expected to be in the range of 6-8 inches between now and Oct. 12.

"The predicted conditions that Hurricane Milton is likely to deliver to Sanibel poses a significant danger to the people of Sanibel. I encourage you not to wait until 10 p.m. on Tuesday to evacuate the island," Souza said. "Tropical storm winds are expected to arrive on Sanibel sometime Tuesday evening. Conditions on the causeway once tropical force winds arrive include waves that break over the seawalls. So we encourage you to leave the island before those tropical storm force winds arrive."

"It's time to leave the island -- please prepare your home, gather your belongings and any values that you need, and evacuate the island as soon as possible," he added. "We've experienced this before with Hurricane Ian. While we're giving you our very best projections for this storm that come from the official sites, this storm could change direction and we know what that's like on Sanibel when it does."

Souza also spoke on the curfew that will go info effect.

"Anyone on the island or attempting to get on the island after 10 p.m. on Tuesday either by vehicle or by boat will be subject to arrest," he said. "Until 10 p.m. Tuesday, you may travel on and off the island as you see fit."

Sanibel and Captiva residents and business owners should expect a checkpoint to be established on McGregor Boulevard, near the toll booths for the Sanibel Causeway, after Milton has passed.

"Only those with current 2024 Sanibel hurricane passes or government-issued IDs showing the person in the vehicle who matches that photo ID and has an address on Sanibel or Captiva," Souza said of those who will be allowed access to the islands "once the conditions are safe."

He explained that city and public safety officials first need to evaluate the island for damages.

"Once we can make that determination that it is safe to allow vehicles back on the island, that's when police will open the checkpoint and not until that point," Souza said.

Sanibel Fire and Rescue District Fire Chief Kevin Barbot echoed that the storm is coming.

"I want to emphasize the critical importance of following this evacuation order that has been issued. By now you should have a plan in place. If you don't, please take action to create one," he said. "When you evacuate, driving inland is the best option. You do not need to travel hundreds of miles, moving just 10 to 20 miles is sufficient to keeping you safe -- and being sheltered in a secure building. Our highways will most likely be congested. Don't become part of the problem, don't get stuck in traffic."

Barbot added that homes and personal belongings can be replaced

"Your life cannot," he said.

Barbot reported that the district will discontinue its 911 response operations once the storm reaches sustained winds of 45 mph. Officials are considering the evacuation of all staff and equipment to higher ground off-island for the duration of Milton.

"If you choose to stay on the island, you may be alone without first responder support for an unknown amount of time," he said. "Let me repeat that, you will be alone on the island. Let's not get to that point."

Sanibel Police Department Deputy Chief Anthony Thompson, who is serving as acting chief due to Police Chief Bill Dalton being unavailable after a recent surgery, reiterated leaving the island.

"With the mandatory evacuation order in place, I'm here to implore you to evacuate," he said. "The decision to order a mandatory evacuation is not made lightly. Our responsibility is to ensure your safety."

Those who decide to not follow the order by remaining on the island are asked to contact police@msanibel.com and use the subject line "Hurricane Milton - Stayed." In the email, include the names of all the individuals staying at the location and the Sanibel address of the location.

"I know the acting chief gave you an option of giving him a communication. Please don't utilize that option. Please get off the island," Johnson said. "Let's be safe. Let's get off the island."

Additional updates from city officials included:

- The fire district is expecting deliveries of more sand bags and sand. Updates will be provided.

- Remove electric vehicles and golf carts from the island as they pose a fire hazard. Anything with an attached lithium battery -- e-bikes, lawn equipment, power tools -- should be brought to higher ground, such as the second level of a home. If a second level is not available, take the items off island. Triple chargers on gas-powered vehicles also need to be disconnected and lifted higher or removed.

- Ensure boats and homes are properly secured.

- Turn off propane tanks by shutting off the values at the tank, not at the home. Lines from the tank to the home are the most susceptible to damage and creating a leak and hazard for the community.

- Consider shutting off electrical panels and breakers before evacuating the island.

- Do not put out any additional debris from Hurricane Helene. Crews are are attempting to pick up everything today and then they will stop. Regular trash pickup for Tuesday and Wednesday is canceled; do not put out any trash until further notice. Resumption of services will be decided later this week.

- The city's Recycling Center is open today, Oct. 7, until 3 p.m. It is open to residents only for household trash; proof of residency will be required. Contractors may not drop off debris.

- The city's offices will be open today, Oct. 7, until 5 p.m. They will be closed from Oct. 8-10.

- Hurricane re-entry passes are available today, Oct. 7, until 7 p.m. at the Sanibel Recreation Center and until 4 p.m. at the Sanibel Police Department. On Oct. 8, they will be available from 8 a.m. to noon at the SPD.

- The Sanibel Recreation Center is offering free childcare for grades K-8 today, Oct. 7, until 5 p.m. It is being provided to residents so they can prepare their homes, while their children are in a safe location.

- The Island Water Association will maintain staff on island as late as possible, then go to a low-pressure operation. At that point, there will be water available in the tanks until it runs out.

- Continue to monitor updates from the city and Lee County, along with the National Hurricane Center and local meteorologists. Register at https://www.alertlee.com/ to receive Alert Lee notifications.