COLLIER COUNTY, Fla. — Authorities are advising Collier County residents to stay off the roads as emergency crews assess damage and work to restore essential services following Hurricane Milton. Officials reported that while no serious injuries have been documented, about 30% of the county remains without power, and many intersections are experiencing traffic signal outages.
The Collier County Sheriff’s Office emphasized the importance of treating non-functioning traffic signals as four-way stops and avoiding travel unless absolutely necessary. “Workers and deputies are out cleaning up roads and fixing power lines, traffic signals, and everything else that may have been affected by the storm,” the agency stated on Thursday morning.
Airport-Pulling Road has been closed at Vanderbilt Beach Road due to a downed power line, and residents are urged to avoid the area. Coastal flooding has been confirmed, with some homes sustaining damage, though officials have not reported catastrophic structural impacts countywide.
A view of Vanderbilt Beach showed significant water and sand accumulation, prompting authorities to advise the public to steer clear of the area. The sheriff’s office expressed appreciation for community members who assisted in clearing a path for emergency vehicles using a bobcat.
Officials continue to monitor conditions and are conducting thorough damage assessments to ensure public safety. Further updates will be provided as roadways are cleared and power restoration efforts progress.