Severe Weather Update #10

Severe Weather Update

• Downed power lines and site safety remain a priority this morning.

  • As soon as the damaged area is safe, the Sheriff’s Office will allow residents to return to their homes.

  • Once this occurs, give road and utility crews plenty of room to work.

  • Citizens clearing debris around their homes need to separate vegetative debris from construction debris as it is place on the right of way.

• Gulf Power is working to restore power to approximately 3,300 customers. Additional crews will bearriving from Southern Company to assist.

• Damage assessment operations will begin this morning.

• At least 70 homes in addition to the 24 apartments at the Moorings have sustained damage.

• Approximately 50 Escambia County Sheriff’s Deputies

• More than 120 responders from the Escambia County Fire District.

• More than 170 emergency responders have worked throughout the night .

• Shelter population from overnight:
  • American Red Cross shelter at Cokesbury United Methodist Church (3300 Summit Boulevard) had 27 people

  • American Red Cross shelter at the Pensacola State College Century Center  located at 440 E. Hecker Road in Century had 5 people

  • Salvation Army Headquarters (1310 North S Street)had 15.

• Due to dangerous surf conditions, red flags are posted along Pensacola Beach.

• Escambia County Area Transit (ECAT)  Route 43 that services the Moorings Apartments andportions of Olive Road may experience delays and will be detoured today, February 24th.

• The closest bus stops that will be serviced in the affected areas are:

  Eastbound- Ninth Avenue at the Northwood Apartments

  Westbound – Olive Road at Northwood Apartments

Road Closures

• FHP closing I-10 from mile marker 17 to mile marker 43 due to a possible tornado. Stay home and off the roads.

• Road closures for site security and public safety:

  • Old Spanish Trail at Olive Road

  • Harbor Square at Olive Road

  • Squire at Olive Road

  • Holgate at Olive Road

  • Northpointe at Olive Road

  • Scenic at Olive Road

  • Northpointe and Lavorde

  • Olive Road and 9^th Avenue

•  Roads will open when power lines and debris are cleared. Residents will get priority access to the area.

Damage Information

• 9th and Olive: Several reports of damage; crews on scene
• Multiple trees down: Scenic Hwy to Highway 90. Please stay out of the area.
• Traffic on I-10 is stopped both ways in Santa Rosa County due to a traffic accident in the eastbound lane
• Moorings Apartments
  • 3 buildings with heavy damage
  • Crews on scene performing search and rescue as needed
  • Reports of Yacht Harbor Subdivision damage
  • Units were on scene within five minutes of the first call
  • Preliminary estimates are that 24 units are destroyed and approximately 6 have minor damage
  • All residents have been evacuated, however search and rescue operations continue on site
  • Updated reports show no reported injuries to date from the Moorings
• Preliminary path estimate is 2 miles long from Northpointe Boulevard to Scenic Highway

Essential Information

• The Escambia County Citizen Information Center is open for questions from residents at (850) 471-6600.

• Any road closures will be announced as they occur.

   

  Storm Information as Forecasted by the National Weather Service

• There is a significant risk of severe weather for our area until midnight.

• Tornadoes, damaging winds, and large hail are all likely.

• Strong, long tracked tornadoes are possible.

• Winds will be gusty (30-40 mph) outside of thunderstorms.

• High surf along the coast (5-8 ft. surf heights through Wednesday).

   

  Shelters

• The American Red Cross has opened a shelter at Cokesbury United Methodist Church (3300 Summit Boulevard)
  • Buses are transporting residents from the Moorings Apartment

• The American Red Cross has opened an evacuation shelter at the Pensacola State College Century Center  located at 440 E.Hecker Road in Century for residents who do not feel safe in their homes.  Shelters are opened to ensure your safety. Please remember shelters can be crowded and uncomfortable.

  • There are currently 15 citizens at the Red Cross Shelter in Century

• The Salvation Army Headquarters (1310 North S Street)is available as a shelter as necessary.

• If you go to a public evacuation shelter, you will need to take the following items:

• Personal identification and any important papers.

• A change of clothing, rain gear and sturdy shoes.

• Toiletries and personal items.

• Blankets or sleeping bags.

• 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.

   

  Military Installations

• Pensacola NAS, Saufley Field and Corry Field closed at 4 p.m. to all but mission-critical personnel

   

  Escambia County Board of County Commission Actions

• All Escambia County Board of County Commissioner offices resumed normal operations at 8 a.m. today (Wednesday, Feb. 24)

• All BOCC related evening meetings are cancelled and will be rescheduled for a later date.

• Local state of emergency is enacted until Monday, Feb. 29.

• Public works crews and the Escambia County Sherriff’s Office are on standby to respond as needed.

   

   

  Other Updates

• Escambia County Health Department will resume normal operations tomorrow.

• The University of West Florida have resumed normal operations .

• Fort Pickens is closed until further notice.

   

  Escambia County School District

• School will be in session on Wednesday for all Escambia County Schools

   

  ECAT Service

• ECAT and Community Transportation will continue to offer service unless the weather intensifies to a point that it is no longer considered safe. Announcements regarding service will be made when available.

   

  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.

• An outage map is available atwww.MyGulfPower.com

• Never touch a fallen power line and assume all wires on the ground are electrically charged.

• Escambia River Electric Cooperative is not experiencing any outages as a result of this evening's storms.

General Safety

• For more information, visit www.MyEscambia.com or follow us on twitter @MyEscambia

• 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.

• In times of an emergency, the Escambia County Division of Emergency Management can notify participating residents via text message, email or phone call. When signing up for Alert Escambia, residents can choose their preferred method of notification. Sign up here.