Cape Coral mobilizes rapid response after Hurricane Milton

In a recent government meeting, officials provided updates on the response and recovery efforts following Hurricane Milton, which impacted the Cape Coral area. The meeting highlighted the city's proactive measures and the collaborative efforts of various departments in managing the storm's aftermath.

City officials reported that preparations for Hurricane Milton began well in advance, with the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) activated to Level 1 as the storm approached. Lee County declared a local state of emergency, and evacuations were ordered for vulnerable zones. Fortunately, the storm's impact was less severe than initially feared, with significant wind and surge effects but no catastrophic damage reported.

Chief Lamb detailed the coordinated response, noting that approximately 800 city employees were mobilized to assist in recovery efforts. The police department implemented a comprehensive traffic management plan, addressing widespread power outages that affected traffic signals. Public Works crews worked diligently to clear roads and restore essential services, with 411 miles inspected and cleared shortly after the storm passed.

The meeting also emphasized the importance of communication during the crisis. The city's communications team issued 17 press releases and maintained an active social media presence, garnering positive feedback from residents for their timely updates. A dedicated webpage was created to centralize information related to the storm, which received nearly 350,000 views.

Additionally, the city conducted an extensive impact survey, inspecting over 104,000 structures to assess damage. The results indicated that only a small number of properties were significantly affected, with two properties reported as destroyed due to post-storm incidents.

Looking ahead, city officials discussed the need for improved flood preparedness, suggesting the adoption of commercially available flood barriers over traditional sandbags. They also highlighted the importance of ensuring that local retailers have backup power to minimize food waste during emergencies.

As recovery efforts continue, city leaders expressed gratitude for the dedication of city staff and the community's resilience. They emphasized the importance of learning from past experiences to enhance future disaster response strategies. The meeting concluded with a commitment to ongoing collaboration with state and federal agencies to secure necessary resources for recovery and rebuilding efforts.