Collier County opens central logistics center and urges 96‑hour hurricane preparedness

Dan Summers, director of emergency management for Collier County, on June 1 described a new county logistics center and urged residents and businesses to prepare for the upcoming hurricane season, including assembling a 96‑hour disaster kit.

Summers said the county’s Board of County Commissioners used surtax revenue to help create “a central receiving, storage, and distribution capability, for disaster supplies, and equipment to support our community.” He said the facility lets the county move supplies to neighborhoods faster while state and federal commodities are still inbound.

The logistics center has already handled large movements of equipment, Summers said: “During previous hurricanes, such as Irma, we moved 63 tractor trailer loads of supplies and equipment through this location.” He also noted the warehouse routed 1,800,000 pieces of personal protective equipment during the COVID‑19 response.

Summers listed items kept at the warehouse, saying they include bottled water with a 10‑year shelf life, cots for special‑needs shelters, tarps for temporary protection of infrastructure and generators…