From water to horticulture waste, many Lee County residents might have questions about Hurricane Ian recovery.

Lee officials provided updates Friday to a number of issues facing hurricane-weary residents. Here's what they said:

Lee County has been able to get water flowing to the residents of the unincorporated county but boil it, and be aware there could be some issues on the other end with waste water.

A boil water order is still in effect for unincorporated Lee County. County officials say it is because it is waiting for two clean tests from the state.

The boil water order was handed down because the earth shifted under the pressure of the immense weight of the water that surged ashore during the hurricane.

It meant the pipes shifted and were prone to cracking, County Manager Roger Desjarlais said.

The ruptures were patched, but the sand that infiltrated the pipes needs to be cleaned out before it's all clear for water use. 

The wastewater system is now under greater pressure, and County officials suggest you let them know if you see it.   

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Fixing the traffic lights damaged by Ian is proceeding, with 75% of the approximately 450 signals that guide your daily driving working.

Desjarlais asked motorists to "please remember the intersections are four-way stop, but if they have flashing lights or you see traffic signals that are not operable, treat it as a four way stop."

"This  is a time in one of these disaster responses  where people are getting pretty anxious and and patience is wearing thin, particularly for those who don't have running water or electricity."

Some roads are still closed. The county lists the major bridges as Sanibel Causeway, New Pass Bridge on from Fort Myers to Bonita, Big Pass Bridge and Big Hickory bridges.

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The shelter at South Fort Myers High School has closed.

Two shelters were still open for the weekend, Estero Recreation Center, 9200 Corkscrew Palms Blvd. and Hertz Arena, 11000 Everblades Parkway.

Some who may have stayed in shelters during Hurricane Irma five years ago may have done so to have access for food.  In the current crisis there are nine places where people can get food. Check leegov.com.

Nine "active points of distribution" have served about 21,000 people. They are open form 8 am. to 5 pm. seven days a week for now.

Resource centers are also available to get assistance from local or federal authorities. Local government sponsors a resource center at Lakes Park regional library.

Federal disaster centers are open at Lakes Park library and at locations on Victoria Avenue near downtown Fort Myers which offer connections with FEMA and federal agencies. More information is available from disasterassistance.gov.

Housing needs are expected to grow as shelters are phased out.

County officials aren't sure what is going to be needed, but it will be a large number. 

"It's going to be in the thousands and thousands," Desjarlais, the county manager, said. "A key place to start is to register with FEMA for individual assistance at disasterassistance.gov."

The extent to which housing has been trampled and put out of service by the hurricane continues to be calculated. 

To get help for temporary rental assistance, and other federal programs, the county is working to increase housing stock. Human and veterans services agencies are making plans to help residents transition from shelters.

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Hurricane Ian turned many trees, or at least tree limbs, into rubble.

Piles of decaying vegetation have been scooped up by residents who now wonder how to get rid of it. After Hurricane Irma five years ago, the county signed a deal with CrowderGulf of Alabama to get their trucks here first after a natural disaster. 

The company had 50 trucks and trailers on the road Friday and was gradually increasing the number of trucks available to cart off rubbish this weekend to 100 trucks and 100 crews.

If you are tired of waiting, debris can be brought to any one of four self-serve, self-dump facilities where all your horticultural waste can be taken.

If you're waiting for one of the 100 contracted trucks to pick up your waste, officials say they'd appreciate it if the horticultural debris from trees and other plant life  is separated from your garbage.

For best results, put the dead tree and plant waste in piles that can be picked up by the mechanical cranes used to gather the waste. Such vegetative waste does not need to be bundled.

Most importantly, keep your piles that are waiting for the truck away from power lines so that it does not pose a deadly hazard.

Also needing a cleanup: the places where all the battered and sunken boats ended up as the hurricane sped away. 

Desjarlais estimates thousands of boats have been scattered about the county, some sunk, others piled in driveways and backyards; others have ended up in ecologically fragile mangroves.

Park boat ramps have been closed for an indefinite period because the boats in the water are a threat to navigation.

One big safety risk: Debris that is below the water near the shore or in back bays.

"We are still cleaning those up, and we have not completed our damage or safety assessments at those points," Desjarlais said.