Island closures in advance of storm
Due to Hurricane Helene, the following closures on Sanibel and Captiva have been announced to date:
BAILEY-MATTHEWS NATIONAL SHELL MUSEUM & AQUARIUM
Due to tropical storm preparations and conditions, the Bailey-Matthews National Shell Museum & Aquarium will closed today, Sept. 25, beginning at noon and will reopen as soon as possible. Check its social media for updates.
CAPTIVA CIVIC ASSOCIATION
The Captiva Civic Association office will be closed on Sept. 26. It will reopen on Sept. 27.
CAPTIVA MEMORIAL LIBRARY
Due to a declared State of Local Emergency, all Lee County libraries — including the Captiva Memorial Library — will be closed on Sept. 26. Officials expected to reopen on Sept. 27. Due dates for checked out materials have been extended. Check social media for further updates. The public can still access the online library during the closure at leelibrary.net/online.
CLINIC FOR THE REHABILITATION OF WILDLIFE
The Clinic for the Rehabilitation of Wildlife’s Visitor Education Center will be closed on Sept. 26 due to Helene. The hospital will remain open for patient admissions and emergency calls. If you find sick, injured or orphaned wildlife, call 239-322-5068. Please only take injured animals to the Blue Pearl Pet Hospital drop-off location today, Sept. 25, and Sept. 26. If you find injured raccoons or bats, contact CROW before dropping the animals off.
COMMUNITY HOUSING & RESOURCES
The Community Housing & Resources office will be closed today, Sept. 25, and on Sept. 26. It will reopen on Sept. 27. For questions or concerns, call or email CHR.
F.I.S.H. OF SANIBEL-CAPTIVA
F.I.S.H. of Sanibel-Captiva will remain open today, Sept. 25, to provide preparedness items. The office will be closed on Sept. 26, but the phone lines will remain open for assistance. The office will reopen on Sept. 27. For assistance, call 239-472-4775.
J.N. ‘DING’ DARLING NATIONAL WILDLIFE REFUGE
Due to preparations for Helene, the J.N. “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge will be closed today, Sept. 25, and will remain closed until further notice. A safety assessment will be conducted post-storm. The refuge will reopen as soon as it is practically possible. Further announcements will be made at that time. To confirm refuge hours, call 239-472-1100 or check the refuge’s Facebook page for the most current information.
THE COMMUNITY HOUSE
In anticipation of stormy weather, The Community House will be closed on Sept. 26. The plan is to reopen on Sept. 27.
SANIBEL-CAPTIVA CONSERVATION FOUNDATION/SANIBEL SEA SCHOOL
Due to Hurricane Helene, the Sanibel-Captiva Conservation Foundation will close its facilities on Sept. 26 and staff will operate remotely. The SCCF Native Landscapes & Garden Center and Sanibel Sea School will be closed for the rest of the week. The SCCF will continue to closely monitor the system, including through its River, Estuary, and Coastal Observing Network (RECON).
SANIBEL PUBLIC LIBRARY
Due to Helene and its potential severe weather conditions, the Sanibel Public Library will be closed — at a minimum — on Sept. 26-27. It is currently undetermined if it will be open on Sept. 28. After the storm passes, the library will announce its date of reopening. All user fees will be waived during the closure, there will be no overdue fines assessed, and items placed on hold will remain on hold. Check the SPL’s social media for updates.
WASTE MANAGEMENT
Due to the potential impacts of Helene and at the direction of Lee County officials, Waste Management (WM) will suspend all commercial and residential trash, yard waste and recycling collection services on Sept. 26. Residential collection will be delayed one day the rest of the week; Thursday on Friday, and Friday on Saturday. Regular operations will resume on Sept. 30. For updated information and resumption of service details, visit www.wmfloridastorm.com.
To reach STAFF REPORT / trepecki@breezenewspapers.com, please email