Record rains cause Naples flooding

Christina Cepero and Jason Cook, jcook@news-press.com 5:57 p.m. EDT August 4, 2014


(Photo: Rich Masterson/news-press.com)

The Collier County Sheriff's Office advises motorists the county is under a flash flood warning until 5 p.m. today.

Because of heavy rainfall there is severe flooding on most roadways in the Naples area from Collier Boulevard west to U.S. 41 East and U.S. 41 North.

The National Weather Service in Miami has reported 6.45 inches of rain in Naples so far today.

People are advised to stay where they are and off the roadways. If you are stranded, contact a tow truck to assist and notify the Collier County Sheriff's Office on the agency's non-emergency line at 239.252.9300. Use 911 for emergencies.

The sheriff's office is keeping an updated list of flooded areas at facebook.com/colliersheriff, and is asking motorists to avoid the following intersections:

  • U.S. 41 East and Commercial Boulevard
  • Fifth Avenue North and Goodlette-Frank Road
  • Santa Barbara Boulevard and Golden Gate Parkway
  • Airport-Pulling Road and Mercantile Avenue
  • Airport-Pulling Road and Estey
  • Naples Boulevard and Airport-Pulling Road
  • J&C Boulevard and Airport-Pulling Road
  • Hunter Boulevard is under 15 inches of water.
  • Goodlette-Frank Road and Golden Gate Parkway
  • Vineyards Boulevard and Vanderbilt Beach Road
  • Trade Center Way
  • Airport-Pulling Road from Radio Road to Golden Gate Parkway is impassable.


The City of Naples recommends avoiding the following roadways:

  • Fleischmann Boulevard and US 41
  • Golden Gate Parkway and US 41
  • Crayton Road area, including at Park Shore Drive
  • Gordon Drive, 18th Avenue South to Broad Avenue South
  • Central Avenue, Goodlette-Frank Road to 8th Street
  • Riverside Circle at Goodlette-Frank Road
  • 10th Street South
  • 8th Street South
  • 5th Avenue South




NEWS-PRESS Rain, thunderstorms to continue through evening commute

Flooding at Golden Gate Pkwy between 41 and Goodlette (Photo: Alexandra Sizemore- Martin/special to news-press.com)
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Some of the tow companies are having a little bit of trouble getting out to certain areas because their wreckers are in flooded areas and they can't get out," said sheriff's office spokeswoman Michelle Batten.

"Please find an alternate route, or better yet, don't go out if you can avoid it."

The Marbella Lakes community off Livingston Road just south of Pine Ridge Road in North Naples has also been flooding.

North Naples Fire assists flooded individuals

North Naples Fire crews assisted individuals in four flooded areas south of Pine Ridge Road, north of Golden Gate Parkway, east of U.S. 41 and west of I-75 this afternoon:

  • Grey Oaks subdivision
  • Poinciana Village
  • Frank Whitman Boulevard
  • Forest Lakes Boulevard in the Forest Lakes subdivision


"Helped people with their vehicles, getting them transported," North Naples Fire Deputy Chief Sal D'Angelo said.

"As of now it's subsiding. As long as everything stays this way, things should get back to normal once drainage can catch up with the water volume."

Interstate 75
While areas of Naples have experienced flooding on roads this afternoon, the interstate appeared to be fine as of 3:45 p.m.
Interstate 75 signs.(Photo: news-press.com)

There are low areas that the Florida Department of Transportation keeps an eye on, said public information director Debbie Tower, but I-75 was "in good shape" as of about 3:40 p.m.

The area – between mile marker 107 and 108 near Pine Ridge Road – is the first place FDOT looks during heavy rainfall, she said. But unless there is a "significant" rain event, the chance it floods is low.

So far this afternoon, FDOT has not had to close lanes on I-75, Tower added.

"We're very much aware of the situation," she said, "right now, we're good."

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