SRC Hurricane Isaac Update #6
Hurricane Isaac Update # 6
Santa Rosa is currently under a Tropical Storm Warning.
A Tornado Watch is in effect until 7 a.m., Wednesday, August 29.
Due to the public safety hazard created by a large number of sightseers on Navarre Beach, the Santa Rosa Sheriff’s Office will limit access to Navarre Beach to residents, employees of Navarre Beach businesses, and visitors who can provide documentation of a Navarre Beach rental, from 6:30 p.m. tonight to 6 a.m. on Wednesday, August 29.
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.
Beachgoers, swimmers and surfers should heed the double red flag warnings and stay out of the water as deadly rip currents and rough surf conditions are present.
Storm Information as Currently Forecasted by the National Weather Service
Isaac is expected to make landfall in southeast Louisiana tonight as a category 1 hurricane.
Tuesday afternoon winds of 30-40 mph sustained winds with 50 mph gusts are expected through Wednesday evening.
Storm surge is currently forecasted to reach three to six feet. Maximum storm surge along the coast will be late tonight and Wednesday morning as we approach high tide.
Rainfall is forecasted at five to six inches over the next two days.
Rough surf and dangerous rip currents will continue as swells off of Isaac move up to the coast.
Tornado risks will continue through Wednesday.
Actions Taken by Santa Rosa County
A local state of emergency was declared at 10 a.m. on Sunday, August 26. 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 of Navarre Beach.
The Citizens Information Line is open 24-hours a day.
Tolls on Garcon Point Bridge continued to be waived until further notice.
Over 10,000 sandbags and 200 cubic yards of sand have been distributed to sandbag sites.
The Citizen Information Center has taken over 400 calls today, totaling over 800 calls for Isaac.
County Offices
County offices, including the library system are closed on Tuesday, August 28 and Wednesday, August 29. Offices will open on Thursday, August 30.
The Central Landfill will be open on Wednesday, August 29 at 7 a.m. or as soon as weather conditions allow.
County parks and the Navarre Beach Pier will close on Wednesday, August 29. They will reopen on Thursday, August 30 weather conditions permitting.
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.
Santa Rosa Transit will suspend bus service for Wednesday, August 29 resuming service on Thursday, August 30.
Public Schools
- Due to the fact a Tropical Storm Warning may still be in effect on Wednesday morning with winds exceeding 39 MPH making the transporting of students hazardous, the school system will be closed on Wednesday, August 28. Parents and students should prepare to attend school on Thursday, August 30
Childcare Facilities
- Childcare Network locations in Santa Rosa County will not open until 10 a.m. on Wednesday.
Department of Children and Families
- Santa Rosa County DCF offices will remain closed on Wednesday, August 29.
- Essential services in all counties, including the investigation of child and adult abuse cases requiring immediate attention, will continue as normal.
- A new web page on our internet site will give you updated information about DCF-related issues and office closings during hurricanes and other disasters. Please go to www.myflfamilies.com/disaster for more information.
Traffic Conditions
Road Closures
o South Garcon Point Road
o Vista Del Mar
o Pearson Road, open with hazards- water across part of roadway
o Andrew Jackson is closed from 3600 block to the end due to two feet of water over roadway. The rest of the road is open with hazards.
o J.E. Bowden Way or Hwy. 399 at 6:30 a.m. on Tuesday.
The stormwater pumping stations on East Madura and West Madura have been shut down due to storm surge intrusion into the drainage system. County personnel are monitoring the areas and will turn the pumps on when the storm surge is not longer impacting the drainage system, which will likely be sometime Wednesday.
Bridges will be closed at the onset of sustained 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.
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-OUT-EREC (1-877-688-3732).
Outages as of 3 p.m. for Gulf Power:
o Bay – 1
o Santa Rosa – 1,380
o Escambia – 4,402
o Okaloosa – 100
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.
o Current shelter population: 72 including shelter staff
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.
Health Department
Santa Rosa County Health Department locations have suspended client services, except for those individuals with an immediate need.
All clinic locations will be closed on Tuesday, August 28. The health department will resume normal hours of operation in conjunction with the reopening of Santa Rosa County Offices.
Pensacola State College
Pensacola State College is closed on Tuesday, Aug. 28, and Wednesday, Aug. 29. Unless the situation changes, PensacolaState will reopen for classes Thursday, Aug. 30. If plans change, the College will notify students, faculty and staff through email, social media, and the College web site.
Deadline to drop and add classes will be extended through the end of the day, Friday, Aug. 31.
University of West Florida
Due to Tropical Storm Isaac, UWF has cancelled classes through Wednesday August 29th.
Classes will resume Thursday August 30, weather permitting.
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.
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.
Waste Pro and Waste Management will resume garbage collections on the next routine garbage collection day. There will be a makeup collection day on Saturday, September 1 for recycle and yard waste collections.
Santa Rosa County Court System
- Please be advised that the Santa Rosa County courts will be closed Wednesday, August 29. We will resume regular business hours Thursday.
- Criminal Traffic arraignments scheduled for August 28 at 8:30 a.m. have been rescheduled for September 4 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.
- Judge Rimmer Felony Court scheduled for Tuesday, August 28 at 9 a.m. is rescheduled for August 30 at 9 a.m.
- Jurors scheduled for trials on August 28 and August 29 will be sent a new schedule.
- County Court Division l VOP’s scheduled for August 29 at 8:30 a.m. have been rescheduled to September 5 at 8:30 a.m. and County Court Division II Motion Hearings scheduled for August 29 at 9 a.m. have been rescheduled to September 7 at 10:30 a.m
First Judicial Circuit Courts
Escambia County will be closed Tuesday, August 28. No decision has been made regarding Wednesday at this time.
Persons scheduled for Plea Day before Judge Williams on Tuesday, August 28 have been rescheduled to Friday, August 31 at 1 p.m.
Persons scheduled for Docket Day before Judge Shackelford on Tuesday, August 28th have been rescheduled to Thursday, August 30 at 8:30 a.m.
Santa Rosa County will be closed Tuesday, August 28 and Wednesday, August 29.
Walton County will be closed Tuesday, August 28.
Okaloosa County courts will be closed Tuesday, August 28.
If you were scheduled for any matter not included in the rescheduled events above, please contact your attorney concerning your rescheduling. If you do not have an attorney, please contact the court for a new date.
Please continue to monitor your local media as well as the courts web site at: www.firstjudicialcircuit.org for updates.
City of Gulf Breeze
The city transfer station will not be open on Tuesday.
Yard waste pickup is postponed until Saturday.
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
- The City of Milton offices will be open on Wednesday, August 29. City parks will remain closed until further notice. There will be no garbage pickup scheduled for Wednesday, August 29.
Baptist Hospital
- Baptist Medical Park-Nine Mile Urgent Care is open. No appointment is required. Urgent Care provides services for minor illness or injury, and is a convenient option if your regular physician’s office in closed. Baptist Medical Park-Nine Mile Urgent Care is located at the corner of University Parkway and Nine Mile Road. For more information call 850.208.6000.
- The following Baptist Health Care Emergency Departments are open 24 hours a day to treat serious illness or injury:
o Baptist Hospital -1000 West Moreno Street in Pensacola
o Gulf Breeze Hospital -1110 Gulf Breeze Parkway in Gulf Breeze
o Atmore Community Hospital – 401 Medical Park Drive, Atmore, Ala.
o Jay Hospital -14114 Alabama Street in Jay
- Baptist Health Care facilities continue to be fully operational to care for hospitalized patients and those seeking care in our emergency departments.
- Elective and diagnostic services at Baptist, Gulf Breeze, Jay and Atmore Community hospitals; The Andrews Institute; and Baptist Medical Parks on Nine Mile Road and in Navarre will resume normal business hours on Wednesday, Aug. 29. These services include those for physician appointments and physical therapy.
- Today, in Atmore, Ala., ACH Family Physicians and ACH Primary Care offices are open normal business hours with limited services.
Florida Forest Service
Blackwater River State Forest will be closed to camping beginning Monday August 27 and day use areas will be closed Tuesday, August 28 until further notice.
Forest Service offices in Santa Rosa and Escambia counties will be closed Tuesday.
Gulf Island National Seashore
Gulf Islands National Seashore closed at 6 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 26 in Santa Rosa, Okaloosa and Escambia counties.
Price Gouging Hotline
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.
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
