New Debris Drop-Off Locations in Cape Coral for Hurricane Clean Up

Cape Coral is stepping up to help people clean up after Hurricane Milton. According to NBC2, starting Wednesday, two new debris drop-off spots will be open daily from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. for the next month. They know you've got piles of junk sitting around, so these sites are taking construction debris, broken-down fences, tree limbs. Pretty much the aftermath of the storm. Just remember to bring your ID because this is for residents only. If you're a contractor or trying to get sneaky with commercial waste, you're out of luck.

Here’s where you can drop your stuff:

1821 SW 42nd St (Use the SW 19th Ave entrance)
1119 NW 31st Ave (Enter from NW 28th Pl)

Now, if you’ve got the big stuff, I'm talking old appliances, couches, or that tree that tried to claim your yard, there’s another drop-off site for bulk, horticulture, and white goods. This Debris Drop-Off spot is open Monday through Saturday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Cape Coral's trying to make it easy for you to get rid of the chaos. They don’t want the trash building up while you’re waiting for cleanup crews. This is your chance to haul it yourself and clear up your space. Just make sure you’re sticking to the rules… Residential only! Leave the professional mess to the pros and stay in your lane.

Whether you're clearing out drywall or dragging out storm-battered branches, these Debris Drop-Off sites are here to help. Just drop your junk, get back home, and keep working on rebuilding whatever the hurricane tore up. The city’s doing what it can to make the cleanup a little easier, so take advantage and get that mess out of the way!

With Tropical Storm Idalia heading our way, it's good to be ready and here are the best items to have on hand to prepare for a hurricane.

There's lots of talk about Tropical Storm Idalia. After last year, here in Fort Myers, we hear a storm starting with an "I" and it brings back thoughts of what we went through 11 months ago with Ian. According to NBC2, here in Southwest Florida, we are under a Tropical Storm Warning. Idalia is expected to become a major hurricane, possibly a Cat 3, in the Gulf by Wednesday with landfall up near the Panhandle. While we won't get the worst of it here, we are expecting wine and rain with 2-4 feet of storm surge expected.

Today is the literal calm before the storm. Tuesday and Wednesday are the days when we'll see the heaviest rain. With that, again the storm surge is possible. Flash flooding could also be a concern. There's also a chance for tornadoes Tuesday night through Wednesday morning.

Hurricane season here in Florida runs June 1-November 30. It's always good to be prepared. While the threats to us here in Southwest Florida aren't severe, it's better to have what you need and not need it than to not have it and wish you did. Right now is also a good time to stock up. There's a tax holiday here in Florida on hurricane supplies, so you can get what you need tax free. Here's a list of the best items to have on hand to prepare for a hurricane.

I was shopping this weekend and saw some people panic buying. There's no need for that. The recommended amount of water to have on hand is one gallon per person per day, for at least three days.

In case power goes out, you'll want things you can eat easily that won't spoil. You'll want a minimum of a three-day supply per person and a manual can opener.

This is so important because if power goes out and you no longer have access to TV or internet, this would be your only option for updates. We learned last year during Ian radio is #1 for hurricane info.

You can put candles on the list as well. Anything that will provide light if power goes out.

Gas was VERY hard to come by last year and many stations had a limited supply, so having gas in the tank, at least enough to get you out of town should you need to evacuate is important. Also, to have gas for a generator.

These can be extremely helpful for storing important documents like photos, social security card, insurance information, etc. A good place to keep cash as well. 

We're all so attached to our phones and tablets, but if power goes out and you can't charge them or don't have internet, you'll need other things to keep yourself occupied. Games, crossword puzzles, toys and drawing pads/crayons can keep you busy.

Make sure to have food, wipes, extra clothing and diapers for kiddos. Make sure you have food, water and pet bags for your four-legged family members too. 

After a hurricane, you can use plastic sheets or tarps to cover any holes or damage to your roof until it can be fixed. Also good to have supplies to hold them down if there are any other heavy winds that come through.