September 27, 2024

We wanted to provide a final update before the weekend. Crews have been out since daybreak assessing damages and debris from Hurricane Helene. Crews will continue working through the weekend, so please use extra caution if you are traveling through the City. Another post-storm update will be provided on Monday, with a full impact report presented to the City Council at the Wednesday, October 2nd meeting. Please see the details below regarding road conditions, closures, and notifications.

Impassable Roads Due to Sand, Debris, and Water:

• Several beach accesses are covered with sand
• Lowdermilk Park is closed until further notice
• Gordon Drive is currently passable. Crews are actively pushing and loading sand from the south end of Gordon Drive, and traffic south of 33rd Avenue South should be limited to local vehicles during this sand-hauling operation. There are still pockets of sand and water at the intersections of 15th Avenue South and 17th Avenue South on Gulf Shore Boulevard South. While crews are working to remove the sand, this process will take several days to complete and will continue through the weekend.

The City strongly urges anyone who does not need to be in the area, particularly near the beach and the locations mentioned above, to stay away during Hurricane Helene cleanup efforts. Non-local traffic should avoid the area entirely. If you must drive in the City, please use extra caution, as crews are actively working to clear debris from the roads.

Horticultural Debris:

Crews are working to remove horticultural debris from the streets, a process that will take several days. If you are using a private contractor for yard cleanup, please ensure they haul away the debris and do not pile it in the City’s right-of-way. For those without a private contractor, you may place your horticultural debris in the right-of-way for collection.

City Utilities:

The City's drinking water plant and wastewater treatment plants are in 100% operation. There are no boil water notices issued.

Solid Waste collection is underway. Normal Thursday scheduled collection occurred today. Friday collection will occur on Saturday. Normal operations and schedules will resume on Monday, September 30th.

Parks & Recreation:

The following Parks & Recreation facilities opened today from 1-6 PM and will resume normal operations moving forward.

• Norris Center
• Tennis Center
• City Dock
• Fleischmann Park
• River Park
• River Park Aquatic 

The Naples Pier is currently closed beyond the stairs. Due to anticipated structural damage exceeding what was sustained during Hurricane Ian, access is restricted to the bathrooms and stairs out of an abundance of caution.

City of Naples: South Parking Garage Closure

Following a car fire in the South Parking Garage last evening, the City of Naples has temporarily closed the garage located at 6th Avenue South and 8th Street South to ensure public safety. After a preliminary review and recommendation by the City Building Official, structural engineers have been engaged to assess the garage for potential damage. Out of an abundance of caution, the garage will remain closed until the full assessment is complete. We are prioritizing safety and will provide updates as soon as possible.

Thank you for your understanding.

Guidelines for Removal and Replacement of Damaged Materials

Removal of wet drywall up to 4 feet, along with damaged cabinets, carpeting, and baseboards, is permissible without a permit; however, replacing any of these items will require a building permit and a review for Substantial Damage according to FEMA NFIP standards, even for items typically not needing permits. Please document the damage with photographs to facilitate a potentially minimal inspection process upon completion. If damage extends beyond the stipulated limits—affecting insulation, drywall, or cabinetry—additional inspections may be required.

For more information, visit our Building Department webpage.

The Florida Department of Health in Collier County (DOH-Collier) is advising the public not to enter the water due to the possible increased risk of water-borne illness. Swimming is not recommended.

The City strongly urges everyone to stay out of the water due to storm debris both in the water and on the beaches. Please exercise caution when walking on the beaches and wear appropriate foot protection.

Public Beaches

Heavy winds and rain can negatively impact coastal waters. Excessive amounts of rain and storm surge can increase the levels of harmful bacteria in these waters. The sources of the bacteria can vary and include failing septic systems, sewer line breaks, overflowing manholes, and wildlife.

Storm surge and floodwaters may have also brought debris onto the beaches. This debris is hazardous and has also been subjected to harmful bacteria. Under no circumstance should any person handle debris who is not wearing proper safety equipment.

Residents and visitors should avoid swimming in coastal waters until bacterial testing indicates sample results within the state and Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) standards. Testing will begin as soon as conditions are safe, and areas are accessible. Test results can be accessed at the Florida Department of Healthy Beaches website.

Floodwaters

Residents are urged to avoid contact with floodwaters which come from an overflow of any body of water including rivers, lakes, or the Gulf of Mexico. Floodwater may contain fecal matter from sewage systems, septic overflow, agricultural waste, and industrial waste. Floodwaters also mask debris, downed powerlines, animals, and other hazards.

Click here for the full Press Release

City of Naples

735 8th Street South

Naples, Florida 34102

(239) 213-1030

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