Essential Information
- Escambia County is working with the Town of Century and various agencies today to complete damage assessments and remove downed trees.
- Search and Rescue was completed Monday evening, however teams rechecked homes this morning in the daylight
Damage Assessments
- An estimated 40-50 residences/business were affected by the storm
- Governmental and not-for-profit agencies are working to complete damage assessments
- The National Weather Service out of Mobile has a crew en route to survey damage starting in the McDavid/Century area. They will post updates throughout the day @NWSMobile
Road Closures
- Pond at Highway 29
- Hecker at Highway 29
- Salters Lake at Highway 29
- Front at Highway 29
- Bradley at Highway 29
- Alger at Highway 29
- Freedom
- Jefferson
- Ramar
First Responders
- Early estimates are that there were 120 first responders on scene Monday night
Debris Pickup
- Special debris pickup has not been determined yet but will be addressed in the immediate future
Shelter Information
- The shelter at Northview High School is closed. There were two residents at the shelter last night
- The Century Community Center (6001-A Industrial Boulevard) is now open and the Red Cross is on scene for assistance
Red Cross
- Meals being delivered
- Clean-up kits/comfort kits will be available soon
- A family service team is being assembled
Other Escambia County Issues
- 9 Mile and Jernigan Road - Currently working a gas leak; once that is repaired power lines and signal will be restored
- Creighton and Spanish Trail - power out, signals out
- Creighton and Scenic - area still closed, city cannot access to evaluate
- Creighton and 9th - power out, signal out
Electrical Issues
- If electrical circuits and electrical equipment have gotten wet or are in or near water, turn off the power at the main breaker or fuse on the service panel. If you must enter standing water to access the main power switch, then call an electrician to turn it off.
- Never turn power on or off or use an electric tool or appliance while standing in water.
- Do not connect generators to your home's electrical circuits without the approved, automatic-interrupt devices. If a generator is on line when electrical service is restored, it can become a major fire hazard and it may endanger line workers helping to restore power in your area.
Reentering Buildings
- Stay away from damaged buildings or structures until they have been examined and certified as safe by a building inspector or other government authority. You may want to wait to return to buildings during daylight hours, when it is easier to avoid hazards, particularly if the electricity is off and you have no lights.
- Leave immediately if you hear shifting or unusual noises that signal that the structure may fall or if you smell gas or suspect a leak. If you smell gas, notify emergency authorities and do not turn on the lights, light matches, smoke, or do anything that could cause a spark. Do not return to the house until you are told it is safe to do so.
- Keep children and pets out of the affected area until cleanup has been completed.
Chain Saw Safety
- Become familiar with the recommended safe operational procedures before attempting to work with a chain saw.
- Be sure that you are in top physical and mental condition when operating dangerous machinery.
- Medications and alcohol can cause you to be a hazard to yourself and others when working with chain saws.
- Equip yourself with protective clothing and equipment including safety goggles, hearing protection, steel-toed shoes, hard hat, gloves, and close-fitting clothing.
- Always avoid making cuts with the saw between your legs; always cut with the saw to the outside of your legs.
- Don’t stand on a log and saw between your feet.
- Always stand to one side of the limb you are to cut, never straddle it.
- Always keep in mind where the chain will go if it breaks; never position yourself or other people in line with the chain.
- Keep the chain out of the dirt; debris will fly, the teeth will be dulled and the chain life shortened considerably.
Cleaning Up Safely
- Always wear gloves and work boots when cleaning or removing debris.
- Discard unsafe food.
- Open windows to provide ventilation.
- Remove wet contents including carpet, furniture and building materials.
- Do not allow children to play in or around debris piles. Check play areas for hazards.
- Do not try to move any displaced propane tanks. Get in touch with fire officials to provide them the location of these tanks.
- Mold growth can be removed from hard surfaces with commercial products, soap and water, or a bleach solution of no more than one cup of bleach in one gallon of water. Never mix bleach with ammonia or other household cleaners; mixing can produce dangerous, toxic fumes.
