More Rain for Our Area

The National Weather  Service in Mobile is forecasting an additional four inches of rain and as much as eight inches in localized areas of Santa Rosa County, beginning late Monday evening. A flash flood watch has been issued until Wednesday, April 30. Emergency management and public works crews are monitoring the situation and are ready to respond as needed. This is the same system that produced severe weather in Arkansas.

The first round of storms is expected after midnight and lasting until Tuesday morning, April 29. Along with flash flood conditions, strong winds and hail are possible. The second round may reach our area Tuesday afternoon and impact the county until Wednesday morning, bringing more rain, flash flooding conditions and a risk of high winds. Currently the rivers in our county are not expected to reach flood stage; however, staff will continue to monitor.

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 Citrus Drive and Leisure Street in Holley By The Sea

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

–        From 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. at Midway Fire District Station at 1322 College Pkwy.

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

–        Holley-Navarre Fire District at 8618 East Esplanade St.

According to NWS radar estimates, Santa Rosa is already experiencing a 200-600 percent departure from normal rainfall in the past 30 days. The wetlands and ground are saturated, which will cause additional rain to pond and create flash flooding in low-lying areas including roads and bridges. This can create very dangerous driving conditions even when only a portion of the roadway is flooded. More deaths occur due to flooding each year than from any other thunderstorm or hurricane related hazard. Many of these casualties are a result of careless or unsuspecting motorists who attempt to navigate flooded roads. The National Weather Service now warns anyone who comes to a flooded roadway to “Turn around… don’t drown!”

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.