FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:    John Wilson or David Santer, Lee County Emergency Management
                (941) 477-3600

FORT MYERS, Fla. (September 12, 2001) – The Lee County Emergency Operations Center held a 2 p.m. conference call today with local fire districts, cities and emergency operations agencies to discuss Tropical Depression #8. Below is a summary of the conference call:

• Local conference calls will be held daily at 2 p.m. to discuss the threat and response of the storm.

• The weather service indicates that the Tropical Depression still is unorganized and being kept off the coast by a weather system from the east. However, it could produce up to 3 inches of rain daily for the next two days, primarily in the afternoons. While this system currently is tracking more northerly and westerly, it could produce local rainfall through Saturday.

• This could produce localized flooding and coastal flooding. High tides could run from a half-foot to foot higher.

• The fire departments are being asked to monitor potential flooding and flooding in their areas if significant rainfall is experienced.

• The EOC will continue to monitor the situation.

• Lee County remains under a flood watch.

• At Tuesday’s Board of County Commissioners meeting, the Board gave Chairman Doug St. Cerny the power to declare a State of Local Emergency if or when conditions warrant it.

• In regards to the terrorist attacks on New York City and Washington, D.C., local response today has been to give out information on organizations residents can contact if they want to help the victims of this tragedy.

Another update will be released after 2 p.m. Thursday unless conditions change.