Hurricane Ian: 'Very difficult time' as it will take weeks to assess Bonita Springs damage

Debris and flooding are making it unsafe on Bonita Springs roadways, and first responders were assisting with rescue and recovery efforts, city leaders said.

Community residents “have help coming,” Fire Chief Greg DeWitt said. “We know we have five federal teams. (That) encompasses high water vehicles, swift water teams and structural collapse teams.

So rest assured the people, the citizens of Bonita Springs and Lee County are being well represented by the federal government, by local and state assets.”

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At the same time, the city of Bonita Springs joined Lee County in enacting a curfew until further notice. It was put in place at 6 p.m. Wednesday.

“The city has issued an executive order, implementing a mandatory curfew,” Bonita City Manager Arlen Hunter said. “We strongly urge to stay off the roadways and shelter in place."

Hunter said residents who left should stay away for now.

“Many areas of Bonita Springs have been saturated with water. Storm surge has covered many of our roadways,” Hunter said. “If you evacuated the area, we’re asking you to stay evacuated.”

Damage assessments are beginning during what “is a very difficult time,” Hunter said.

“This could take days, in fact, weeks,” Hunter said. “We will all strive together as a community. We will face these challenges together.”

Bonita may have fared better than other parts of Lee County

Residents and others shared their stories and thoughts in their mushy front yards, as they cleaned up their flooded cars.

“It looked impassable,” Rob Wolfe said of Hickory Boulevard, where his family has an older home. “There is a lot of mud and sand.”

Indeed, boats in the road also blocked vehicles from proceeding.

At least initially, the sense from a few so far was that Bonita may have fared better than other parts of Lee, but time will tell. 

“It looks like there is damage but that it is manageable,” a relieved Deborah Smith Thurman said of Bonita. “Not total devastation.”

Jenny Suzanne agreed.

“Terrible damage but the buildings are still standing,” she said. “The water that was there last night has receded.”

The mess won’t be cleaned up right away.

Lee County Solid Waste garbage collection is scheduled to resume Monday on the normally scheduled day for all routes in franchise areas that are accessible to collection trucks, officials said.

But the collection is for household garbage only: Everyday trash items and all spoiled food.

Storm debris is collected separately from household garbage, officials said, and collection of recycling will also resume on an undetermined date.

Another obstacle for residents: drinking water.

Boil water notice

Bonita Beach including Little Hickory and Black islands had already been under a boil water notice from Bonita Springs Utilities, but Lee County ended up expanding it to the entire area.

“Due to water system distribution pipeline damage in Lee County, a countywide boil water notice has been issued,” the county said in a statement. “While most residents do not have power to boil water, please use bottled water for drinking.”

That’s the latest utility hurdle to go with thousands who are without power.

And there are other challenges ahead.

“Relief supplies may take several days to arrive,” the city of Bonita Springs said in a statement. “Try to remain calm during this potentially emotional time.”

Based at the Naples Daily News, Columnist Phil Fernandez (pfernandez@gannett.com) writes In the Know as part of the USA TODAY NETWORK. Support Democracy and subscribe to a newspaper.