City Hall back to business one day after Wilma

Moss: Power restored to half of island residents by noon Oct. 25

By MARCI ELLIOTT, Staff Writer
October 26, 2005

One of the first places back in business on Marco Island on Oct. 25 — the day after Hurricane Wilma — was City Hall.

Lights were on, elevators were working, office machines were humming.

"If people had known we were open, we could have carried on as usual," City Manager Bill Moss said. "But the only calls we got were hurricane-related."

Power was restored to the building by Lee County Electric Cooperative. LCEC provides power to the island instead of Florida Power & Light, which serves other areas of Naples and Collier County.

"Prior to the storm, we established close contact with LCEC," Moss said. "Repair crews were able to identify downed lines pretty quickly. They started (the night of Oct. 24), and I'd say they had 50 percent of their customers on Marco Island back on by noon (Oct. 25).

Hurricane Willma made landfall at Cape Romano, just south of Marco Island, around 6 a.m. Oct. 24. Most of Marco Island's population had already evacuated, but some stuck it out and stayed through the Category 3 storm.

Moss was one of them.

"We put our employees up at the hotels last night (Oct. 24)," he said. "That way they could be at City Hall within an hour to respond with city services. Sunday (Oct. 23) I called the employees back in because of the timetable. They were able to clear roads and restore water, sewer and whatever else was needed."

Firefighters and police officers were back at work, too, Moss said. No major calls were reported to either department.

Moss said the hurricane sounded "windy — and very loud" as it hit the area.

City Clerk Laura Litzan said one of the problems, not city-related, was a long line of cars waiting for help from the Federal Emergency Management Agency the morning of Oct. 25.

"I heard they were supposed to be in the parking lot at Beall's (off Collier Boulevard at Bald Eagle Drive) at 9 a.m., but they're still not here," Litzan said around 12:30 p.m. "The line of cars was backed up all the way to the Snook (Inn)."

Moss, who made comments regarding Marco's condition after Wilma on CNN on Oct. 24, said the island got by with much less damage than he expected.

"I've been through hurricanes before," Moss said. "I'm glad this one didn't hang around."

Post-hurricane update

City officials issued a post-Hurricane Wilma update Oct. 25.

The restrictions on re-entry to the island were lifted, but extreme caution was urged to avoid power lines and debris on the roads.

LCEC is working on power restoration.

Traffic signals were not operating at several intersections, and temporary stop signs were put up to manage traffic. Drivers were advised to stop and yield with extreme caution at all intersections.

A precautionary notice to boil water has been issued because of loss of pressure in the water system. Bottled water is recommended. City officials will notify residents by a "code red" telephone message when the advisory is no longer in effect.

Residents should disconnect lawn irrigation systems until Saturday, Oct. 29.

No flooding was reported, but about 75 percent of homes sustained some minor damage, primarily roof tiles, screened pool enclosures and landscaping.

When clearing storm debris, residents are advised to separate it into piles, one for yard waste and one for construction debris. It does not have to be bundled or cut to a certain size. Place the debris in swales immediately, away from the driveway and mailbox. Debris left on private property will not be picked up. Construction debris should be placed on the swale next to the road, but not mixed in with yard waste.

Waste Management will begin normal garbage pickup Thursday, Oct. 27.

For more information, call Marco Island City Hall at 389-5000 or visit www.cityofmarcoisland.com.