Southwest Florida counties are declaring a local state of emergency on Tuesday due to Tropical Storm Helene.
Lee and Charlotte counties are under a Tropical Storm Warning and Storm Surge Warning as of Tuesday afternoon.
Charlotte County
Evacuations have been ordered for barrier islands, low-lying and flood-prone areas, manufactured homes and any homes that may not withstand high winds such as those that may be compromised from previous storms.
Shelters will be open at 1 p.m. Wednesday at Harold Avenue Regional Park located at 23400 Harold Ave., in Port Charlotte.
Kingsway Elementary School located at 23300 Quasar Blvd., in Port Charlotte, will also be open as a shelter.
Tropical storm-force winds are forecast for parts of Charlotte County as early as late Wednesday evening.
Storm surge is forecast to be between three and five feet in coastal areas.
For Tropical Storm Helene information, call the Charlotte County Emergency Operations Center at 941-833-4000.
Lee County
The Lee Board of County Commissioners voted this afternoon to declare a State of Local Emergency, and commissioners announced that county offices will be closed Thursday.
Lee County continues to work with state and local partners to prepare for potential storm impacts. Residents are asked to take steps now to secure their homes and enact the safety plans they have developed for their families.
The Lee County Visitor & Convention Bureau announced that the Island Hopper Songwriter Fest events scheduled for Thursday and Friday are cancelled.
City of Sanibel
The Mayor of Sanibel has declared a Local State of Emergency due to Tropical Storm Helene.
Sanibel residents, business owners and visitors should closely monitor this storm. Sanibel residents who feel that their homes may not be safe from the storm should consider evacuating the island until the storm has left the area.
Hurricane Re-Entry Permits are available at the Sanibel Police Department at City Hall and the Sanibel Recreation Center.
Permits may be obtained from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Sanibel Police Department Monday through Thursday and 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Thursday at the Sanibel Rec Center. You may also pick up a permit from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Friday and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday at the rec center.
Collier County
City of Naples
The City of Naples has issued a Local State of Emergency in response to Tropical Storm Helene, following the emergency declarations by Governor Ron DeSantis and the Collier County Board of Commissioners.
At this time, there are no evacuation orders, and shelters have not opened. Residents should take proactive steps to prepare their homes and secure their outdoor areas.
In addition, the City of Naples will be closing the South Parking Garage, located at 6th Avenue S and 8th Street S, beginning at 8 a.m. on Wednesday.
DOWNLOAD the free NBC2 News app for your latest news and weather alerts.