Collier County has issued a mandatory evacuation for two of its most flood-prone zones.
At an emergency meeting Monday, county commissioners approved the evacuation orders for zones A and B unanimously, effective Tuesday at 6 a.m.
Generally, Zone A is the coastal area south and west of U.S. 41, encompassing Naples.
Zone B is a vulnerable area to winds and storm surge flooding, as well. It’s a smaller area, stretching from Immokalee Road to Golden Gate Parkway, from U.S. 41 to Airport-Pulling Road.
“We hide from the wind and we run from the water,” said Dan Summers, the county’s emergency management director.
The county announced shelter openings on Monday night, but Summers continued to emphasize they should be seen as a “refuge of last resort.”
“We are mobilizing to get our teams, supplies and equipment in place,” he said.
The “relatively historic” angle of the approach makes the hurricane particularly concerning for the county, and Southwest Florida, Summers said.
“You are going to see the storm grow in size,” he said. “So, while we have a tendency to focus on the track, we are going to be on the periphery, regardless.”