HURRICANES

Hurricane Irma: Gulf Coast High School auditorium the only shelter space left in Collier

Naples

People seeking shelter were turned away from Laurel Oak Elementary School, which reached max capacity shortly after it opened its doors at Noon in North Naples on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017, less than 24 hours from the arrival of Hurricane Irma.

Update, 10 p.m.

First Baptist Church is now at capacity, leaving the Gulf Coast High auditorium the only open shelter in Collier County.

Update, 9:05 p.m.

Only one shelter is now open that accepts evacuees with pets, at Gulf Coast High School, 7878 Shark Way off Immokalee Road. Pets must be in containers and have their own food and water; they will be stored in a room separate from evacuees, who will be in the gym. Evacuees must bring food, water, flashlights and bedding.

The number of evacuees seeking shelter at Gulf Coast High School has slowed to a trickle, said Collier County spokeswoman Kate Albers.

“There are still a few hundred seats available, but those are seats,” Albers said.

Gulf Coast has opened up its auditorium to fit more evacuees. There’s no room for cots, sleeping bags, but there is space for 400 to 450 more people to sit in the auditorium, Albers said.

First Baptist Church of Naples, 3000 Orange Blossom Drive, also still has room available for about 100 people, but no pets are allowed. Evacuees must bring food, water, flashlights and bedding.

Temple Shalom is full and is no longer accepting new evacuees.

Update, 6:30 p.m.

First Baptist Church of Naples, 3000 Orange Blossom Drive, has opened as a shelter for Hurricane Irma evacuees.

Evacuees are expected to bring everything they will need: food, water, bedding and other comforts. Pets are not allowed.

Church employees will staff the shelter. Evacuees should enter at the Family Life entrance near the football field

Earlier:

Temple Shalom in North Naples is opening its doors to Hurricane Irma evacuees after Collier County ran out of shelter space Saturday afternoon, county spokeswoman Kate Albers said.

More than 15,000 evacuees are housed in more than 20 shelters around the county, Albers said.

Evacuees to Temple Shalom, 4630 Pine Ridge Road, should bring their own food, water and bedding. Pets are not allowed, Albers said.

Earlier:

The following additional Collier County shelters opened at 9 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 9:

Golden Gate Elementary Intermediate, 5055 20th Place SW, Golden Gate
Golden Terrace Elementary Intermediate, 2965 44th Terrace SW, Golden Gate
Golden Gate Middle, 2701 48th Terrace SW, Golden Gate
Lake Trafford Elementary, 3500 Lake Trafford Road, Immokalee
Pinecrest Elementary, 313 S 9th Street, Immokalee

According to the Emergency Operations Center, cats and dogs are welcome at the shelter. They must be in a cage.