Sanibel residents can now return to their homes on the island, Mayor Richard Johnson announced in a press conference shortly after 2 p.m. Thursday.
But there are some things residents should know first.
Only residents with a Sanibel reentry pass or with an ID that has a Sanibel address and business owners with a red ID pass can now return to the island.
A curfew will be in effect from 9 p.m. Thursday until 6 a.m. Friday for safety reasons.
LCEC is working to restore power to Sanibel, planning to fly in a critical part – though the expected time of arrival is unknown.
Without power, the island is not able to operate its wastewater system, Mayor Richard Johnson said in a Facebook Live news conference on Thursday.
“We have run into a snag this afternoon on one of our critical pieces of infrastructure,” Johnson said.
Officials strongly urge residents not to use water in their homes or businesses to prevent potential backups. If residents plan to leave, officials ask them to consider turning off water to avoid issues.