Local State of Emergency Declared for SRC

Tropical Storm Isaac Update #3

• The Citizens Information Line is open. Citizens may call (850) 983-INFO (4636) with questions.
• The Navarre Beach Bridge will remain open until the onset of sustained tropical storm force winds, which is 39 MPH.
• Evacuation orders will not prevent residents or businesses from securing or accessing their property on Monday.
• Santa Rosa is currently under a Hurricane Warning. A Flood Warning for Blackwater River and Big Coldwater Creek has also been issued.

Storm Information as Currently Forecasted by the National Weather Service

·        Current projections indicate a strong category 1 hurricane at landfall. 

·        It is still too early to highlight a specific location for landfall. Do not focus on the center which represents the current forecast track, but rather, on the cone of uncertainty.

·        You have today and possibly early Tuesday morning to wrap up preparations.  Weather conditions are anticipated to worsen Tuesday afternoon and evening.

·        By Tuesday afternoon and evening there is a possibility the winds along the coast could be gusting 40 to 50 mph at times in passing rain squalls.

·        Rough surf and dangerous rip currents will increase today into Tuesday as swells off of Isaac approach from the southeast.  Surf conditions at the beach will worsen significantly on Tuesday into Wednesday.

·        There is a chance that 6 to 12 inches of rain could fall over portions of our area Tuesday into Wednesday.  This would result in an increased risk of inland flooding by Wednesday.

·        Tornado risks will be increasing as the system approaches the coast.

Actions Taken by Santa Rosa County

• A local state of emergency was declared at 10 a.m.  Declaring a local state of emergency allows the county to make formal requests to the state and FEMA for assistance.
• The emergency operations center is currently activated at a level two and will remain so overnight.  
• Santa Rosa County officials have issued a mandatory evacuation order for Evacuation Zones A & B including all mobile homes, RV parks, campgrounds, those living in low-lying areas and all ofNavarre Beach beginning at 8 a.m. Monday, August 27.
• The Citizens Information Line is open 24-hours a day.
• Tolls on Garcon Point Bridge are waived until further notice.
• Road department resources are being staged at strategic locations around the county, and staff will be ready to begin any necessary clearing of road as soon as it is safe to do so.

Shelters

• Milton Community Center located at 5629 Byron Street in Milton is open as both a special needs and general shelter. No other shelters are open at this time. DO NOT CALL schools for shelter information.
• Additional locations will be announced as they open. All designated shelter locations may not open. Please monitor the local media for announcements for specific shelter openings.
• Shelters are opened to ensure your safety. Please remember they are crowded and usually uncomfortable. It is recommended that other arrangements be made to stay at a hotel or with a friends or family in a well-constructed home out of the evacuation area that is properly protected to withstand hurricane force winds.
• Anyone needing transportation assistance to a shelter, call (850) 983-4636.  We will only provide transportation to a designated shelter.
• If you go to a public evacuation shelter, you will need to take the following items:
  • Personal identification
  • A change of clothing, rain gear and sturdy shoes.
  • Toiletries and personal items.
  • Blankets or sleeping bags.
  • Identification and any important papers.
  • Games or toys for children; books for adults.
  • Special items for infants or elderly family members.
  • Any special dietary needs and nonperishable foods for snacks.
  • Battery operated radio, flashlights and plenty of spare batteries.
  • Prescription medications or any over-the-counter medications you normally take.
  • Those with special needs must come with their own caregiver.

A shelter map and tipswww.santarosa.fl.gov/news/factsheet/2012%20Disaster%20Guide.pdf#page=12

Evacuations

·        Residents living in the mandatory evacuation areas are reminded that you need not travel outside the county. It is often easier to shelter with family or friends who live outside the called evacuation zones, a hotel or a public shelter.

·        To find out if you live in an evacuation zone, visit www.santarosa.fl.gov/gis and enter your address.

·        If you are going to evacuate, do so as soon as possible to avoid heavy traffic and line.

·        Don’t wait! Downed power lines, trees and flooding make it difficult, if not impossible to reach shelters during a hurricane. Remember, for their safety and protection, emergency and rescue personnel will not be able to respond to a call for assistance at the onset of sustained tropical storm force winds. After the storm, help may not be able to immediately respond to your area because of damage, road debris and downed trees.

·        When evacuating, be sure to evacuate in daylight if possible, tell someone outside the warning area where you are going, take your important papers like insurance documents and any prescriptions you may need, and follow the official evacuation routes.

·        Navarre Beach residents, who have not yet done so, can obtain a re-entry permit on Monday, August 27 from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Navarre Beach Utility Office located at 1411 Utility Drive.

·        Visit www.floridaevacuates.com for state-wide evacuation & shelter information.

·        Tips for evacuations can be found online atwww.santarosa.fl.gov/news/factsheet/2012%20Disaster%20Guide.pdf#page=12

Public Schools

• The school system will be closed on Tuesday, August 28. A decision about school on Wednesday will be made on Tuesday morning.

University of West Florida

       Ÿ    Due to Tropical Storm Isaac, UWF has cancelled classes through Wednesday August 29th.

Ÿ        Classes will resume Thursday August 30, weather permitting.

Ÿ        The Department of Housing & Residence Life encourages residents to leave campus during the three day closure, if they can safely travel home or to another location.

Ÿ        At this time, UWF residential students who remain on campus will be asked to shelter in place during the storm. A decision will be made about moving residents to the campus shelter, as more information is received and assessed by UWF’s Emergency Management Team over the next 12 to 24 hours.

County Offices

• County offices will  be open on Monday, August 27. Offices will be closed on Tuesday, August 28until further notice.
• The MSBU Public Hearing scheduled for Tuesday, August 28 at 6 p.m. will be continued until September 4 at 6:30 p.m. immediately after the scheduled Budget Public Hearing in the board room located at 6495 Caroline St., Milton. This means the August 28 hearing will not take place.
• County parks, the Navarre Beach Pier, and Central Landfill will close on Tuesday, August 28 until further notice.
• County libraries will close early, at 5 p.m. on Monday, August 27 until further notice.
• Santa Rosa Transit will suspend bus service for Tuesday, August 28.

Southend Garbage Pickup

·      Residential pickup in the southend franchise area, generally Navarre and the unincorporated areas of Gulf Breeze, has been cancelled for Tuesday, August 28.

Court System

Ÿ        Please be advised that the Santa Rosa County courts will be closed Tuesday, August 28th andWednesday, August 29th.   We will resume regular business hours Thursday. 

·        Criminal Traffic arraignments scheduled for August 28th at 8:30 a.m. have been rescheduled forSeptember 4th at 8:30 a.m. and Misdemeanor arraignments scheduled for August 28th at 1:30 p.m.have been rescheduled for September 7th at 1 p.m.

City of Gulf Breeze

      Ÿ    The city transfer station will not be open on Tuesday.

      Ÿ    Yard waste pickup is postponed until Saturday.

      Ÿ     As a general precaution, the City has postponed the normal yard waste collection Wednesday, August 29

      to Saturday, September 1.  DO NOT place yard waste curbside until after the threat of storm has passed. 

City of Milton

Ÿ        City offices will be closed on Tuesday, August 28. Employees are to call (850) 983-5472 after 3 p.m. on Tuesday for information on when to return to work.

Baptist Hospital

Ÿ        Baptist and Gulf Breeze hospitals remain fully operational for hospitalized patients and emergency

department services.

Ÿ        Elective and diagnostic services at Baptist and Gulf Breeze hospitals will be suspended fromMon., Aug. 27,   

      at 10 p.m., until Wed. Aug. 29, at 5 a.m.

       Ÿ     Such services include those for physician appointments, physical therapy, lab and imaging.

Ÿ        In addition, Andrews Institute and Baptist Medical Parks on Nine Mile Road and in Navarre will be

      closed  Tuesday with normal business hours resuming on Wednesday morning. Please note that Baptist     

      Health Care facilities are not severe weather shelters. For Baptist Health Care updates please check your        

             local news or visit eBaptistHealthCare.org.

Traffic Conditions

• Bridges will be closed at the onset of substained tropical storm force winds, or 39 MPH.
• Residents are asked to stay off the roads on beginning Tuesday afternoon. 
• Any closures will be announced as they occur.

Gulf Island Nation Seashore

• Gulf Islands National Seashore closed at 6 p.m. Sunday night in Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and Escambiacounties.
• J.E. Bowden Way is expected to close at 7 a.m. on Tuesday, August 28.

Sand & Bags

Sand and sand bags are available at local home improvement stores for purchase. Santa Rosa County is making limited supplies available at no cost at several locations. Residents should bring shovels and be prepared to fill and load their own bags. County and fire department staff ARE NOT available to make home deliveries.  If fire department staff are on calls, they will not be available to hand out sand bags.

·        Sand only is available at the following locations while supplies last.

–        Tiger Point Park-1370 Tiger Park Lane, Gulf Breeze

–        The intersection of Pine Forest Road and Carroll Road in Milton

·        Empty Sandbags (25-bag limit per vehicle) while supplies last at:

–        Midway Fire District Station at 1322 College Pkwy.

–        Midway Fire District Station at 1801 Abercrombie Rd.

·        Sand & Sandbags (25-bag limit per vehicle) while supplies last at:

–        Pace Fire Rescue District at 4773 Pace Patriot Blvd.

–        Holley-Navarre Fire District at 8618 East Esplanade St. starting at 2 p.m.

Power Outages

• Please do not call 9-1-1 to report power outages. Power outages should be reported to Gulf Power at 1-800-GU-Power (1-800-487-6937) or Escambia River Cooperative, Inc. at 1-877-688-3732.

Price Gouging Hotline

      Ÿ    Report any suspected price gouging by calling 1-866-9-NO-SCAM (1-866-966-7226). Florida law prohibits     

            extreme increases in the price of essential commodities such as food, water, hotels, ice, gasoline, lumber and     

            equipment needed as a direct result of an officially declared emergency.

Steps Residents Can Take Now

• Fill vehicle gas tank.
• Get cash and secure papers and valuables.
• Refill medications.
• Bring in outdoor objects such as lawn furniture, toys and garden tools.
• Shutter your windows.
• Prepare boats.
• Help neighbors with their preparations.
• Make final preparations to secure your home so you can leave as soon as an evacuation order is issued.
• If you are registered for transportation to a public shelter, be sure you have everything you need for your “go bag.”
• Santa Rosa County Division of Emergency Management’s latest all-hazards disaster guide is now available online at www.santarosa.fl.gov/news/factsheet/2012%20Disaster%20Guide.pdf or at county offices and libraries, local chambers of commerce, and local retailers.

General Safety Information

·      www.santarosa.fl.gov or follow us on Twitter at @SRCBOCC

·      Please monitor your home weather radio and local media outlets for the most up-to-date information.

·      Your best defense in any disaster is a NOAA Weather radio.

·      Citizens can signup to automatically receive breaking news alerts from Santa Rosa County Emergency Management via e-mail or as a text message on their cell phone at: www.santarosa.fl.gov/emergency/publicwarning.html