FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

LEE COUNTY COMMISSIONERS DECLARE A STATE OF LOCAL EMERGENCY

Fort Myers, FL (August 20, 2003) The Board of Lee County Commissioners declared a State of Local Emergency this afternoon because recent rains and sheet flow has caused flooding in the Suncoast Estates area of North Fort Myers.

In particular, Bartholomew Road is impassable to emergency vehicles. Crews will be sent to place sand and gravel on the road. The problems, so far, have been isolated to the Suncoast area. However, the State of Local Emergency was declared for seven days for the whole county in case problems arise in other areas.

The declaration allows the county to free up emergency funds, particularly to make repairs to private roads that have become impassable to emergency vehicles.