Due to Hurricane Milton, which is expected to make landfall on the west coast of Florida on Wednesday, Oct. 9, SCCF is closing the Native Landscapes & Garden Center, public trails, and Sanibel Sea School for the week of Oct. 7-11.

Tickets will NOT go on sale on Oct. 10 as previously announced for our signature Wines in the Wild event on Nov. 8. An update will be issued once we’ve had a chance to assess the impacts of the storm.

Where Milton’s landfall will occur on Wednesday remains uncertain within the forecast cone. Our area is expected to experience life-threatening storm surge (up to 12 feet), damaging winds, heavy rainfall, and flooding. Tropical storm-force winds are expected to arrive by Tuesday evening.

SCCF enacted its Hurricane Plan on Saturday, Oct. 5, and our staff have worked diligently over the weekend and Monday to prepare our facilities and secure and/or move our vehicles, vessels, and equipment. All of our staff will be off the islands for the storm.

As of Oct. 7, the City of Sanibel has issued a mandatory evacuation order, with residents expected to leave by 10 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 8. See all recent city news here. Lee County has also instated a mandatory evacuation for zones A and B.

Watch the City of Sanibel’s Monday morning Facebook live update.

We wish everyone in Florida safety and shelter as we all continue to grapple with increasingly frequent and intense storms. 

For resources regarding hurricane preparation and resources for post-hurricane assistance, visit https://www.leegov.com/hurricane.