Collier County (Naples - Marco Island - Immokalee - Golden Gate area update):
No fatalities in Collier County have yet been reported as emergency and rescue crews continue to sift through debris and move fallen power lines.
Emergency vehicles are still out in Immokalee, East Naples, Marco Island, Golden Gate Estates and other areas of the county trying to get into buildings and homes that didn’t survive the storm.
Trailers and RVs have been wrenched apart, broken water mains sprayed into the air like 12-foot fountains. Trees and power poles barricaded driveways and neighborhoods.
Residents were not allowed to return to Marco Island as of 9 a.m. because of flooding of the roads and potential damage to bridges.
Crews are still tallying and surveying the damage in Marco Island, Immokalee and other parts of the county that fared the worst to either flooding or wind,.
“It’s very difficult to say what the damage is,” he said. “We know we’ve lost structures. We know we’ve lost roofs. It may take us two, three, four days to scout the county the county to get a good handle.”
The county is still urging, begging, residents to stay off roads and in shelters while crews open the streets.
Phone system failures have been common throughout the county. The 911 system is and has been operating throughout the storm.
Extensive damage was done to the county's sprawling sewage and drinking water system. Broken water mains caused the system to lose water pressure, which put the quality of the water at risk. The county has issued a boil water notice to all of the 300,000-plus residents who are connected to the water system throughout the unincorporated county.
There was still very little gas in Collier County, and almost no retailers had opened their doors.
http://www.naplesnews.com/story/new...unty-reports-miracle-no-fatalities/652962001/
