November 4, 2005

FOR ALL THOSE CONCERNED ABOUT HURRICANE WILMA AND WHAT KIND OF DAMAGE SHE DID TO THE TRADEWINDS

I’M GLAD TO SAY WE HAD MINIMAL DAMAGE AND ALL UNITS ARE SAFE AND SOUND INCLUDING THE BEACH.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS AND CONCERNS.

WE AWAIT YOUR ARRIVAL.

TRADEWINDS ASSOCIATION

10/30/2005 8:04:38 AM

Harry:

We had electric back but yesterday it was off again at the Tradewinds because they had to put a new transformer in on the telephone pole. It came back on around 2 PM and all is well now. The Island has been cleaned up real well, the City did a fine job on that. Our pool is not open yet, using the pool next door.

Dave

NBC2.com update 10/28/2005 8:16 PM

MARCO ISLAND — Power for the entire city will go out at some point today, leaving up to 18,000 LCEC customers without electricity for an undetermined period of time.

Salt pushed in by the storm has affected transformers and substations, causing sparks and transformer fires around the city.

Three fire agencies are helping, with extra water trucks are being driven in to wash down the city's transformers and substation.

Check back to this site for updates on the situation.

City Wide Power Outages October 28, 2005

PLEASE BE ADVISED:

There will be wide spread power outages on Marco Island due to the build up of salts on electric substations and transformers.  The salt has mixed in with moisture from the dew, resulting in failures of the electrical system.

There will be a city wide power outage with in hour or so.  Please alert friends and neighbors.

LCEC and the city Fire Department are currently washing the electric substations and transformers.  Power will be restored in increments as the salt is washed off.

The phone service to City Hall will be disrupted until power is restored.

City of Marco Island
URGENT NOTICE - POST HURRICANE WILMA UPDATE
October 26, 2005

City Council appreciates your cooperation during the past few difficult days, and anticipates your continued help in the coming weeks, as we work to restore our beautiful island.  We ask that you follow debris removal guidelines carefully in order that cleanup be facilitated as efficiently as possible.

STORM DEBRIS REMOVAL
·Separate debris into two piles – yard waste and construction debris.
·Debris on private property will not be picked up – it should be placed in the swale only (notobstructing sidewalk or in roadway).
·Piles of debris should be of reasonable height, particularly at

intersections – do not block view of drivers and pedestrians.

·Avoid placing debris near mailbox and driveway to prevent damage of your property.
·Please place storm debris in swale immediately for pick-up by debris removal contractors.

YARD WASTE:
·       Place between sidewalk and edge of pavement – in swale only.
·       Yard vegetation/debris does not have to be bundled or cut to size.

CONSTRUCTION DEBRIS:
·       Construction debris, including pool enclosures, may be placed on the swale, beside the road –  do not mix with yard waste.
·       Place between sidewalk and edge of pavement – in swale only.

If you are without electrical power as of Noon on Friday, October 28 please call City Hall at 389-5000 to report your address.

The precautionary boil water notice has been rescinded.

Property Owners are responsible for all repairs on their private property including irrigation systems, pool enclosures, and tree removal.

Waste Management has resumed normal garbage and recycling schedule.

Residents are advised to exercise caution when choosing a contractor.  To verify that the contractor is licensed with the State of Florida, call (850) 487-1395 (you will have to press 1, then press 2, then press 1, then press 1 again) or on the State’s website at www.myfloridalicense.com.

All City Parks and Mackle Park are closed until further notice.

10/25/2005
Power was restored to Tradewinds at about 4:30 PM..  Water is still not restored. 

10/25/2005 4:57:14 PM

Restrictions on re-entry to Marco Island have been lifted.  A few power lines may still be down and there may be debris on the roads.  All are advised to USE EXTREME CAUTION.

LCEC is working on power restoration.  Power has been restored to 50% of the Island.  The locations of all outages are known and power will be restored as quickly as possible.

Traffic signals are NOT operating and many traffic signs are down.  STOP / YIELD AT ALL INTERSECTION AND USE EXTREME CAUTION.

A precautionary boil water notice has been issued due to lose of pressure in the water system.  The use of bottled water is recommended for consumption and cooking.  After electrical power is restored, boiling of water is recommended: Run water for several seconds to flush lines; boil water for minimum of one minute at a rolling boil before consumption or use in cooking; do not add bleach or other disinfectants to your water.  This is a precautionary boil water notice.  Residents will be notified by a Code Red telephone message when the precautionary boil water advisory is no longer in effect.

Please disconnect lawn irrigation systems until Saturday, October 29, 2005.

No flooding was reported.  About 75% of the homes experienced minor damage, primarily roof tiles, screened pool enclosures and landscaping.

Debris Removal - Separate debris into two piles, one for yard waste, one for construction debris.  You do not have to bundle yard waste or cut to specific size.  Place materials between sidewalk and edge of pavement (in swale).  Please place your storm debris in the swales immediately.  Because debris will be picked up by contractors with heavy equipment, place your debris away from you driveway and mailbox to avoid damage.  Debris on private property will not be picked up.

Construction debris (including pool enclosures) may be placed on the swale, next to the road, but must not be mixed in with the yard waste.

Waste Management will begin normal garbage pick-up on Thursday.

A curfew is in effect for October 25 from 10:00 pm to 6:00 am.

City Parks and the Mackle Park Recreation Center are closed.

10/24/2005 10:45 AM

The City of Marco Island has recently experienced damage due to Hurricane Wilma.  The damage includes downed power lines and trees, localized street flooding and road blockage, debris on the roadway and some damage to structures.  Some neighborhoods may not be accessible.

Power is out throughout the Island and we do not have an estimated time that it will be restored.

Traffic lights are out and other signage may be down.  Due care must be used when driving.  Stop or yield at all intersections.

The water and wastewater system may be functioning at a reduced capacity or not functioning at all.

Businesses are closed and services are not available.

Travel in the City may be dangerous.  ANY TRAVEL IN THE CITY IS DONE AT YOUR OWN RISK.  Re-entry is being restricted to city residents, business owners and approved contractors.

FOR THOSE WHO CHOOSE TO RE-ENTER THE CITY, YOU MUST ACCEPT PERSONAL RESPONSIBLILTY FOR YOUR SAFETY AND THE SAFETY OF YOUR FAMILY.

A CURFEW WILL BE IN EFFECT ON MONDAY, OCTOBER 24, 2005 FROM 10:00 PM UNTIL 6:00 AM ON TUESDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2005.  PERSONS FOUND ON THE PUBLIC WAYS ARE SUBJECT TO ARREST.

10/25/2005 11:00:39 AM

Here is what we know now from Fran and Suzanne Winslow.  The building is standing and did well all things considered.  There is some roof damage and some units had window damage.  The island is a mess with lots of damage, trees down, and is generally a mess.  There is no power at Tradewinds, no water or sewer, but phone service.   The grounds are a mess and one of the royal palms near the entrance is down.  So the entrance is blocked.  The carwash building and new fountain are gone as are potted plants.  George Moore is there with some staff and board member Fran Winslow is there.  David Johns road out the storm and is helping with the clean up.  The tiki huts made it through the storm, as did much of the landscaping on the gulf side.  The water never made it over the sand dune.  Winn Dixie is open with power.  Dry ice is available at $13 for 13lbs. Those that are there are doing well but there is a lot of work ahead.  There was some water in the front entry foyer. 

Keep everyone down there in your prayers as it is not the best situation and stressful. 

10/25/2005 12:18 PM

Here is an update from Celeste Johns:

Tell everyone we have a very well built condo.  The windows rattled but we felt safe in the condo.  Dave was out on the balcony taking some pictures after the eye went over.

The water went up to the Sand Dune but never came over.  We did not get any flooding.  The beach looks good, very normal.  I heard that there were sea birds that did not leave and were found (dead) on the south end of the beach. 

How is your landscaping?

It looks sad, but it will come back, we may be able to save the large palm if we can get it back up quickly.  The large fountain is broken.  We also lost a palm on the south side of the building.    The bushes are beat up and chewed up but if pruned up in time they will come back with no problem.

How is the weather now?

The temperature is cool which is wonderful since we don’t have power.  We never lost phone service.  Tell everyone to “ Keep on old fashion phone for emergencies”.

The old princess type phone worked well. 

Most of the damage on the island is bigger trees; homeowners are out cleaning up the yards.  Many of the pool enclosures are down. 

Sorry ladies the Beall’s store was severely damaged…