Glades County Public Safety

09/14/2026

TRAINING OPPORTUNITY: Learn the warning signs of su***de and how to offer help at the QPR Training on September 30, 2026 from 11:00a - 12:00p at the FL Dept of Health LaBelle Office Conference Room located at 1140 Pratt Blvd LaBelle, FL 33935

You can learn the warning signs of su***de and how to offer help at the upcoming QPR Training on Sept. 30.

09/14/2026

September is National Preparedness Month and we are reminding Glades County residents of the importance of being prepared before a storm hits. Severe weather can strike at any moment, so it is imperative to have a plan in place in the event of an emergency.

Get started and use our partner Florida Division of Emergency Management’s disaster supply checklist to make sure you have everything you need beforehand.

For a full list of permanent tax-exempt items, visit: https://bit.ly/3UWGZR7

09/14/2026

🚧FDOT Roadwatch Report for Glades County 🚧

❗️U.S. 27 from South of the Caloosahatchee River Bridge to Old U.S. 27 Road: Routine maintenance: Crews will perform nighttime milling and resurfacing operations on northbound and southbound U.S. 27 from south of the Caloosahatchee River Bridge to Old U.S. 27 Road in Moore Haven to repair deteriorated asphalt.

· Nighttime lane closures will occur from 7 p.m. to 5 a.m. while milling and resurfacing activities are underway.

· Motorists should expect lane closures in both directions; however, traffic-control operations will be implemented as necessary to maintain safe travel through the work zone.

· Motorists should use caution, follow posted traffic-control signs, watch for workers and equipment, and expect possible delays while traveling through the area.

• Current schedule: Milling and resurfacing activities are scheduled to be completed by October 18, 2026.

🚗 Motorists are reminded to wear safety belts and drive with caution, courtesy, common sense, and patience as they travel through work zones. Remember, speeding fines are doubled in work zones.

As a reminder, travelers can visit www.FL511.com or dial “511” from their phone to learn about traffic conditions on major roadways across the state. If you know before you go, you can plan accordingly and save time and money.

09/11/2026

🇺🇸 REMEMBERING SEPTEMBER 11, 2001 🇺🇸

Today, Glades County Public Safety & Emergency Management pauses to remember the nearly 3,000 lives lost on September 11, 2001.

We honor the firefighters, law enforcement officers, emergency medical personnel, dispatchers, and civilians who made the ultimate sacrifice while helping others. We also remember the families, friends, and communities whose lives were forever changed.

As those who serve our community, we recognize the courage, sacrifice, and commitment to others that September 11 represents.

We remember those we lost.
We honor those who served.
We will never forget.

🇺🇸 September 11, 2001 — Always Remembered.

09/07/2026

🇺🇸 Happy Labor Day from Glades County Public Safety! 🇺🇸

In observance of Labor Day, Glades County BOCC administrative offices are closed today, Monday, September 7, 2026, and will reopen tomorrow, Tuesday, September 8, at 8:00 AM.

🚑🚒 This closure does not affect Emergency Medical Services (EMS) or the Fire Department. Services will continue to be provided as usual.

A special thank you to our first responders and public safety personnel who continue to serve and protect our community today. Your dedication and commitment to Glades County are greatly appreciated!

Have a safe and happy Labor Day! 🇺🇸❤️🤍💙

Glades County Public Safety
People • Service • A Safer Glades

08/20/2026

⚠️ SEVERE THUNDERSTORM WARNING – CENTRAL GLADES COUNTY ⛈️

The National Weather Service in Miami has issued a Severe Thunderstorm Warning for Central Glades County.

🕕 Issued: August 20 at 5:59 PM EDT
⏰ Expires: 6:45 PM EDT
📍 Affected area: Central Glades County, including Palmdale

🌩️ Hazards:
• Wind gusts up to 60 MPH
• Nickel-size hail
• Radar-indicated severe thunderstorm
• Storm was nearly stationary near Palmdale

Potential impacts: Damage to roofs, siding, and trees is possible.

Residents in the warned area should seek shelter indoors immediately and stay away from windows. If you are outdoors, move to a sturdy enclosed building.

📲 STAY INFORMED WITH ALERT GLADES!

Sign up for Alert Glades to receive emergency notifications and important community alerts, including severe weather events.

👉 https://member.everbridge.net/453003085614931/login

Stay weather aware and stay safe, Glades County!

08/10/2026

💧 Stormwater Management Matters – Protect Our Waterways! 🌧️

When it rains, stormwater runoff flows across roads, driveways, yards, and parking lots, carrying pollutants like litter, oil, fertilizer, bacteria, and chemicals into our lakes, rivers, streams, and canals.

We all play a role in protecting Glades County’s water resources! Here are a few simple ways you can help:

✅ Never dump anything into storm drains.
✅ Keep grass clippings and leaves out of ditches and drains.
✅ Pick up litter and dispose of waste properly.
✅ Maintain your septic system.
✅ Recycle used motor oil and properly dispose of hazardous materials.
✅ Report illegal dumping when you see it.

Clean water is essential for drinking, fishing, boating, wildlife, and reducing flooding. Preventing pollution is far easier—and less costly—than cleaning it up after it reaches our waterways.

Glades County is committed to protecting our environment and complying with state and federal stormwater regulations. Learn more about stormwater management and water quality resources by visiting www.myglades.com/water_quality/index.php.

Together, we can keep Glades County clean, healthy, and beautiful for generations to come. 💙🌎

07/28/2026

❗️Notice of Traffic Impacts at the LaBelle Bridge ❗️

(July 28, 2026) – LaBelle, Fla. – Please be advised that, between Wednesday, July 29th and Monday, August 3rd, there will be minor traffic delays on State Road 29 at the LaBelle Bridge.

Motorists should expect periodic one-way traffic and flagging operations between 10am and 3pm and short duration closures (less than 15 minutes) during the overnight hours of 7pm – 2am while Florida Department of Transportation crews make final adjustments, install sensors, and perform load testing on the bridge.

The 17-ton load restriction on the LaBelle Bridge will remain in place for commercial vehicles. Commercial vehicles over 17-tons must continue to use the designated truck detour route.

Law enforcement will maintain their presence at Alva, Ft Denaud, and LaBelle bridges to prevent overweight vehicles from crossing the bridges.

Passenger vehicles should plan extra travel time and may experience brief delays.

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07/27/2026

Looking forward to seeing all the smiling Glades County student faces!! 🍎✏️

07/17/2026

‼️PRESS RELEASE‼️

S.R. 29 LaBelle Drawbridge to Close for Two Consecutive Weekends for Temporary Repairs; 53-Mile Truck Detour Required

LABELLE, Fla. – The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) District One will implement a temporary full closure of the LaBelle Drawbridge carrying S.R. 29 (locally known as Bridge Street) over the Caloosahatchee River in Hendry County to perform urgent repairs to the bridge.

These urgent repairs are required to ensure the long-term safety of the traveling public. Additional repairs will be necessary in the future.

To minimize the impact on weekday commuters, the structural repairs will be completed over two consecutive weekends, from Friday through Sunday, for a total of six days of closures.

❗️The first weekend closure starts Friday, July 17th and runs through Sunday, July 19th. (Crews expect to have the bridge reopened before Monday morning rush hour.)

❗️The second weekend closure starts Friday, July 24th and runs through Sunday, July 26th. (Crews expect to have the bridge reopened before Monday morning rush hour.)

Beginning Friday, July 17, a strict 17-ton weight limit will be enforced on the bridge. All vehicles with a Gross Vehicle Weight (GVW) of 17 tons or more are prohibited from crossing until repairs are complete and engineers certify its safe load capacity. In the meantime, commercial truck drivers exceeding this limit must utilize a 53-mile detour and should plan for significant extra travel time.

⭕️ Again, beginning Friday, July 17th, all vehicles with a total weight of 17 tons or more will not be permitted on the bridge until repairs are complete and engineers certify its safe load capacity.

⭕️Vehicles less than 17 tons will have access to the bridge between closures and after the work is done.

S.R. 29 through LaBelle serves as a vital regional corridor, moving an average of 17,300 vehicles per day. Commercial trucks account for 18 percent of this daily volume, consisting of heavy-duty transport such as semi-trailers, double-trailers, agricultural-haulers moving cattle and produce, and heavy dump trucks. This intense concentration of heavy-tonnage routing has placed tremendous stress and cyclic loading on the bridge’s bearing stiffeners, resulting in structural fatigue that requires immediate, proactive intervention.

To safely restore the structure to fully operational health, specialized crews must isolate the bridge from all traffic loads to execute critical engineering repairs. Due to the precision nature of these steel repairs, the bridge cannot accommodate moving traffic while work is underway.

FDOT has established two designated detour routes to safely redirect traffic during the closure periods:

DETOUR ROUTES

🗺️ MAP 1 – Regional Detour (All Commercial Trucks & Heavy Vehicles)

Due to weight limits of 17-tons or more and turning constraints on local roads, all commercial trucks and heavy vehicles must utilize the 53-mile regional detour via state roadways:

Northbound (From South of LaBelle to Palmdale):
• From S.R. 29, head east on S.R. 80 to U.S. 27
• Head north on U.S. 27 to S.R. 78
• Head west on S.R. 78 to return to S.R. 29

Southbound (From Palmdale to South of LaBelle):
• From S.R. 29, head east on S.R. 78 to U.S. 27
• Head south on U.S. 27 to S.R. 80
• Head west on S.R. 80 to return to S.R. 29

🗺️ MAP 2 – Local Traffic Detour (Passenger Vehicles Only — NO TRUCKS)

Local passenger car traffic may utilize Fort Denaud Road as a localized bypass. Trucks are strictly prohibited from this route.

Northbound (From South of LaBelle to North of LaBelle):
• From S.R. 29, head west on S.R. 80 to Fort Denaud Road
• Follow Fort Denaud Road to Fort Denaud Bridge Road
• Head north across the river on Fort Denaud Bridge Road to C.R. 78
• Head east on C.R. 78 to return to S.R. 29

Southbound (From North of LaBelle to South of LaBelle):
• From S.R. 29, head west on C.R. 78 to Fort Denaud Bridge Road
• Head south across the river on Fort Denaud Bridge Road to Fort Denaud Road
• Head east on Fort Denaud Road, which becomes Cowboy Way (S.R. 80A), to S.R. 80
• Head east on S.R. 80 to return to S.R. 29

🚨 Law enforcement will be in full force on both sides of the bridge to observe commercial drivers and enforce the TRUCK ROUTE Detour.

Traveler Advisory & Reminders

FDOT recognizes the critical role this bridge plays in regional agriculture and local commerce, and crews will be working expeditiously to complete these repairs safely and quickly.

All motorists are strongly urged to plan alternate routes well in advance of the July closures, allow significant extra travel time, and utilize regional navigation tools like FL511.com, mobile mapping applications, or GPS devices to monitor real-time traffic conditions. All scheduled work is weather permitting.

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