Lee County is gearing up for the peak of hurricane season with a focus on preparation and safety. The season historically heats up from August through October, and local leaders are ready to showcase their readiness.
Tuesday morning, the Lee County Emergency Operations Center in Fort Myers will hosted an expo where the community learned about new safety measures.
Attendees saw firsthand the new drones that provide crucial aerial views in inaccessible areas, a lesson learned from Hurricane Helene's aftermath.
The expo also featured Florida Power & Light's mobile command center, a tool that could have been invaluable when Hurricane Helene wreaked havoc on Captiva, leaving debris and damaged power lines.
FPL's executive director for emergency preparedness Jamie Molnar said that FPL's smart grid tech prevented more than 800,000 thousand power outages during hurricanes Debbie, Helene and Milton.
While all of this new tech is helpful, Molnar said it's what it takes to get a community back on its feet after a storm.
"It absolutely requires collaboration to bringing a sense of normalcy back to a community," she said.
As the peak of hurricane season approaches in mid-September, it's crucial for residents to stay informed. Downloading the WINK Weather App offers alerts, hurricane forecast cones, and essential safety information.