Council members engaged with the Town Manager, seeking clarification on the evacuation logistics, including the timeline and re-entry process. It was confirmed that residents should plan to evacuate before the 3:00 PM deadline, with re-entry procedures to be managed by staff stationed at various entry points. These locations would include a designated area at Target for residents who might misplace their hurricane re-entry passes.

Communication challenges experienced during Hurricane Ian were also addressed. A council member recalled issues with coordination with Bonita Springs, highlighting the necessity for improved communication this time around. The Town Manager assured that continuous meetings with city and county officials would be held to ensure seamless coordination during the evacuation and re-entry phases.

Debris collection and preparation for the storm were also topics of discussion. Crowder Gulf, a contracted company for debris removal, was working on the island, focusing on “white debris” like drywall and sheeting. The importance of residents securing construction materials and trailers was emphasized, particularly in vulnerable areas. Additionally, sandbag distribution was underway, with residents limited to ten bags each to manage supply. Identification checks were being conducted to ensure that only residents received these sandbags, with approximately 10,000 made available through cooperation with county management.

A formal declaration of a local state of emergency was made via Resolution 24-214, empowering the town manager to implement necessary actions in response to Tropical Storm Milton. This resolution, similar to those enacted during previous storms, was approved unanimously. The Town Manager explained that this measure would facilitate prompt action when required.

In light of the evacuation, the council discussed rescheduling upcoming meetings initially planned for early October. A proposal was made to cancel these meetings due to the expected absence of constituents. After deliberation, the council agreed to reschedule the Town meeting to October 15, the Local Planning Agency meeting to October 16, and the management planning session to October 17. Advisory committee meetings for October were canceled due to the storm.

Residents were advised on property documentation for insurance purposes, with a recommendation to photograph or video their property before the storm. This guidance aims to aid in any insurance claims resulting from storm damage. The Public Information Officer was tasked with disseminating this advice to ensure community preparedness.

Concerns about property security during evacuation were addressed, with suggestions including posting signs indicating unoccupied properties and boarding windows with plywood. However, officials emphasized that these measures, while potentially deterring casual thieves, were not foolproof.